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Time of India
28-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Young orators shine in war of words, Mumbai collegian takes the crown
Mumbai: The Maharashtra edition of Speak for India , an initiative by the Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India and Maharashtra Times, came to a close with eight young and budding orators demonstrating excellence in their persuasive, well-researched arguments on Monday. Abhay Aalshi (22), a student of V G Vaze College in Mulund, Mumbai, emerged winner of the inter-collegiate competition as he impressed the judges with his quick and witty thinking and extremely compelling arguments against the given topic: 'With the advent of premier sporting leagues in most sports, is it advisable for youngsters to take up sports as a career?'. His competitor Chaitanya Kamble (21), from K H College in Kolhapur, spoke for it. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai From among thousands of students from over 36 districts in Maharashtra who competed at various levels, Aalshi took home the trophy and cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh. "If you want something from your heart, please always give it a chance," said Aalshi , who had opted at the last minute to participate as his college exams clashed with the audition rounds in Mumbai. Runner-up Kamble was overwhelmed on receiving the Rs 1.5 lakh cash prize and said he felt he has achieved something great since the last time he participated in the Speak for India competition he could not make it till the final round. The six remaining finalists received Rs 50,000 each. The grand finale of the Speak for India Maharashtra edition was held at Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Before the final round, the eight finalists argued on two topics, some speaking in English and some in Marathi, 'Shouldn't we have the right to sell our own organs?' and 'Is mandatory student drug testing the answer to the youth drug crisis?' Their arguments were judged by Satish Rajwade, film director and business head at Star Pravah Marathi; Nidhi Choudhari, an IAS officer and director at National Gallery of Modern Art; and Commodore Kuldeep Tanksale, a former navy officer and a specialist in aviation. After hearing the debates between the eight participants, an impressed Ashish Shelar, state minister of IT and cultural affairs who was also the chief guest, called Speak for India the 'Strength of India'. Actor Vikrant Massey, who was the guest of honour, said: "India has a young population and after seeing the debate today, it is safe to say that India is in safe hands." He advised the students: "Being successful is great, making money is great and fulfilling all your aspirations is great, but also by the end of it, I think collectively we have a responsibility, a social responsibility to empower the ones who are around us, to progress together and to move together." Federal Bank vice president Ajit Deshpande, said, "This competition serves as a valuable platform for students to voice their ideas and showcase their talents. Partnering with leading publications like The Times of India and Maharashtra Times adds significant prestige to the initiative. The event is held in Karnataka, Delhi NCR, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu and Kerala. A key highlight of the event is the expert guidance students receive from distinguished chief guests and judges. Successfully organised for the past 10 years, this initiative has empowered thousands of students across the country by giving them the opportunity to shine." Dr Harmeet Kaur Bhasin, principal, Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce and Economics, said: "India's strength has always been the voice of its youth, fearless, thoughtful and determined. Today, each word spoken here is a promise to our nation, a dream given ways." Mumbai: The Maharashtra edition of Speak for India, an initiative by the Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India and Maharashtra Times, came to a close with eight young and budding orators demonstrating excellence in their persuasive, well-researched arguments on Monday. Abhay Aalshi (22), a student of V G Vaze College in Mulund, Mumbai, emerged winner of the inter-collegiate competition as he impressed the judges with his quick and witty thinking and extremely compelling arguments against the given topic: 'With the advent of premier sporting leagues in most sports, is it advisable for youngsters to take up sports as a career?'. His competitor Chaitanya Kamble (21), from K H College in Kolhapur, spoke for it. From among thousands of students from over 36 districts in Maharashtra who competed at various levels, Aalshi took home the trophy and cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh. "If you want something from your heart, please always give it a chance," said Aalshi , who had opted at the last minute to participate as his college exams clashed with the audition rounds in Mumbai. Runner-up Kamble was overwhelmed on receiving the Rs 1.5 lakh cash prize and said he felt he has achieved something great since the last time he participated in the Speak for India competition he could not make it till the final round. The six remaining finalists received Rs 50,000 each. The grand finale of the Speak for India Maharashtra edition was held at Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce and Economics in Mumbai. Before the final round, the eight finalists argued on two topics, some speaking in English and some in Marathi, 'Shouldn't we have the right to sell our own organs?' and 'Is mandatory student drug testing the answer to the youth drug crisis?' Their arguments were judged by Satish Rajwade, film director and business head at Star Pravah Marathi; Nidhi Choudhari, an IAS officer and director at National Gallery of Modern Art; and Commodore Kuldeep Tanksale, a former navy officer and a specialist in aviation. After hearing the debates between the eight participants, an impressed Ashish Shelar, state minister of IT and cultural affairs who was also the chief guest, called Speak for India the 'Strength of India'. Actor Vikrant Massey, who was the guest of honour, said: "India has a young population and after seeing the debate today, it is safe to say that India is in safe hands." He advised the students: "Being successful is great, making money is great and fulfilling all your aspirations is great, but also by the end of it, I think collectively we have a responsibility, a social responsibility to empower the ones who are around us, to progress together and to move together." Federal Bank vice president Ajit Deshpande, said, "This competition serves as a valuable platform for students to voice their ideas and showcase their talents. Partnering with leading publications like The Times of India and Maharashtra Times adds significant prestige to the initiative. The event is held in Karnataka, Delhi NCR, Maharashtra,Tamil Nadu and Kerala. A key highlight of the event is the expert guidance students receive from distinguished chief guests and judges. Successfully organised for the past 10 years, this initiative has empowered thousands of students across the country by giving them the opportunity to shine." Dr Harmeet Kaur Bhasin, principal, Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce and Economics, said: "India's strength has always been the voice of its youth, fearless, thoughtful and determined. Today, each word spoken here is a promise to our nation, a dream given ways."
Time of India
27-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
War of Words: 8 students make it to Speak for India final today
Mumbai: Eight students made it to the finals of the Speak for India Maharashtra edition scheduled on Monday. The event, an initiative by the Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India and Maharashtra Times, will be held at Lala Lajpat Rai College of Commerce & Economics. The semi-finals of the Maharashtra Edition was held on Sunday at Guru Nanak Khalsa College of Arts, Science and Commerce and saw 32 students from across the state battling it out for a place in the finals. The college students walked up to the stage, took the mic, locked eyes with the audience and started speaking with extreme confidence. They were eloquent, bold and charismatic, and showed no signs of being intimidated by the occasion. Vinay V Nair, advocate Supreme Court, Prof Dinkar Gitte, principal of Navi Mumbai's KLE College of Law, and Abhishek Ajit Deshmukh were the judges for the semi-final. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai For the final event on Monday, Ashish Shelar, Minister of IT and Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra govt, will be the chief guest, with actor Vikrant Massey as the guest of honor. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The eight finalists were Abhay Krushnakant Aalshi- VG Vaze College (Mumbai), Aditya Deshmukh- Joshi Bedekar College (Thane), Saumya Bansal- Dr Ambedkar College of Law (Nagpur), Yash Chavhan- AISSMS IOIT (Pune), Krishikaa Mishra- DY Patil College of Engineering (Pune), Shlok Shah-MPSTME (Mumbai), Chaitanya Kundalik Kamble (KH College (Kolhapur) and Priya Soly, St Xavier's College (Mumbai). Speak for India provides a platform for college students from across Maharashtra to voice their views on contemporary issues and become the change-makers of our society.
Time of India
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Eight college students clear Speak for India semis; final lap today
New Delhi: Confidence radiated from the stage as college students walked up, took the mic, locked eyes with the audience and launched into powerful speeches. Eloquent, bold and charismatic, they showed no signs of nervousness despite the high-pressure setting — the semi-finals of Speak for India , Delhi-NCR edition, an initiative by Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India and Navbharat Times. The semi-finals took place on Thursday at Mata Sundri College for Women , where 32 students from across the region competed fiercely for a place in the finals, scheduled for the following day at the same venue. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi After intense rounds of argument and rebuttal, eight students emerged as finalists — Prikshit Deswal from Bennett University, Greater Noida; Deepanshu Jha from Delhi School of Journalism; Naman Sharma from GKFTII, Film City Noida; Shivank Trivedi from Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi; Jasmehar Kaur from Sri Guru Gobind Singh College of Commerce, Delhi; Deepansh Jawrani from OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat; Aradhya Maithani from St Stephen's College, Delhi; and Niyati Gautam from Inderprastha Engineering College, Ghaziabad. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo The round was judged by Uzma Nadeem, assistant professor in the environmental studies department at Mata Sundri College for Women, and Sapna Kumari, assistant professor in the English department at Lady Irwin College. Both judges expressed admiration for the depth of thought, the quality of articulation and the confidence displayed by the participants. "It has truly been an honour to serve as a judge for today's contest. It was a pleasure to witness such passionate and articulate young minds engaging in meaningful debate. The level of preparation, clarity of thought and confidence was truly commendable. Each speaker brought unique perspectives, making the contest intellectually enriching," said Nadeem. Kumari said events like these played a vital role in nurturing future leaders and critical thinkers. "I encourage more youngsters to use this opportunity as a source of growth and confidence," she said. Maithani, one of the finalists, said, "I enjoyed each and every stage of this competition. I believe that for developing the skill of debating in a country like India, this competition is a must." Speak for India provides a platform for college students from across Delhi-NCR to voice their views on contemporary issues. Top debaters were identified through multiple levels. Students could choose Hindi or English as their preferred language to debate in. The winner will get a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh while the runner-up will receive Rs 1.5 lakh. Each of the finalists will get Rs 50,000.
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sirsi boy wins Karnataka edition of Speak for India
Bengaluru: Karkihakkalu is a small village, about 25kms from Sirsi town. No one there had heard about debating competitions until 2023, when Prateek Hegde reached the semi-finals of the Speak for India event, an inter-collegiate debate competition. In 2024, Prateek reached the finals, and in 2025, he emerged as the winner of the Karnataka edition, bagging Rs 2.5 lakh and a trophy, leaving the village joyous. The BCom final year student of JSS SMI UG & PG Studies, Dharwad, was adjudged the winner of the Speak for India Karnataka edition, an initiative by Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka Tuesday. The finals were held at Kristu Jayanti College. "This was my last year to attempt the competition, and I am glad I made it. It is a great opportunity for youth. Students in villages have no exposure; they do not know about such platforms or how to improve their communication skills. After hearing about my experiences here, about 40-50 students from Sirsi participated in the district-level competition in Udupi," said Prateek. On Tuesday, Prateek rubbed shoulders with the best debaters from the state. About 5,000 students from 600 colleges participated this year in the competition. In the finals, he argued for the topic on whether euthanasia should be made a fundamental right, against Chandan M Naik, a psychology and journalism student of MES College of Arts, Commerce and Science, Bengaluru. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trade Bitcoin & Ethereum – No Wallet Needed! IC Markets Start Now Undo Prateek presented his points in Kannada, actively listening to his opponent, who articulated in English, and refuted the arguments. The competition permits students to take the debate in their preferred language. Madhu Y N, engineer and writer, Keertana Venkatesh, assistant professor of law, National Law School of India University, and K Narayana Gowda, ex-vice chancellor, University of Agricultural Sciences, were the judges. Son of a retired KSRTC employee and a housewife, Prateek's journey in the debate competition was not easy. "My father is a public speaker. I took inspiration from him. When I participated for the first time in Speak for India, I did not even understand English. I could not follow the arguments of my opponents when they made points in English or the questions the judges asked me. My first task this time was to learn the language. Last year, I came in touch with a few people and learnt to sharpen my skills and widen my knowledge," he said. Chandan, on the other hand, was a debutant at Speak for India. However, a regular at debating competitions, he was at the Parliament of India, representing Karnataka for the National Youth Parliament competition. "I started debating when I was in class 6. The prizes really excite me! I realised how important communication is in any walk of life. So I honed my skills, attended Toastmasters, and started mingling with NGOs and a student organisation, where I was exposed to public speeches," he said. A final year student in psychology and journalism, he is preparing for civil services and will attempt his prelims this May. Raised by a single mother, Chandan lives in Mahalakshmi Layout. "The best part about Speak for India are its topics. They are contemporary, interesting, and current. It calls for a lot of hard work to research, gather data, find court rulings, and prepare your arguments," he said. On Tuesday, about eight semi-finalists debated in two separate rounds. Each group debated on whether AI takes away our privacy and whether mandatory drug testing for students is required in colleges. Two candidates were selected for the grand finale.
Time of India
21-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Eight students reach Speak for India K'taka finals after intense competition
Bengaluru: Confidence radiated from college students as they stepped on to the stage, took the mic, and spoke with clarity and conviction during the semi-finals of Speak for India–Karnataka edition. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Organised by the Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka, the event saw participants deliver powerful speeches with ease. It was held Monday at Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous), Bengaluru, with 29 students from across the state competing for a spot in the finals, scheduled to be held Tuesday at the same venue. Eight finalists emerged from the round: Amshu Hegde (Yuvaraja's College, Mysuru), Vasudeva Thilak (Vaikunta Baliga College of Law, Udupi), Ananya Vinod (Reva University, Bengaluru), Ifra Ayesha (School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya, Mangaluru), Chinmay Gowda KT (University Law College, Bangalore University), Manya MV (MS Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bengaluru), Chandan M Naik (MES College ACS, Bengaluru), and Prateek Hegde (JSS SMI UG & PG Studies, Dharwad). The panel of judges included author and public speaker Abhishek Shivaram, academic and former state-level debater Shrutha Nadig, and Kumaran P, assistant editor at Happiest Health. Judge Abhishek Shivaram, author and public speaker, called the session "extremely enthralling" and applauded the participants for their performance. "The quality of debaters was top-notch, and we as judges found it extremely difficult to do the scoring! Great job TOI and Federal Bank," he said. Judge Shrutha Nadig added, "It was a pleasure to serve as a judge for the debate competition. The session was challenging, with participants showcasing remarkable skill and insight. We look forward to witnessing more such events in the future." Chandan Naik, the finalist from MES College, Malleswaram, expressed his excitement, saying: "The D in Democracy stands for debate and discussion. The Speak for India debate competition upholds that spirit among the youths of the country. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now I'm grateful for the opportunity and excited for my finals." Students descended from different parts of the state to rub shoulders with their peers. Speak for India provides a platform for college students to voice their views on contemporary issues and become the change-makers of society. Top debaters in Karnataka were identified through multiple levels of competition. Students could choose Kannada or English as their preferred language to debate in. The winner will get a cash prize of Rs 2.5 lakh, while the runner-up will receive Rs 1.5 lakh. Each of the finalists stands to win Rs 50,000.
