In a whirlwind of words, wit and wisdom, a fierce battle of intellect was played out at the Inter Martiniere Boys Debate in the La Martinere School for Boys (LMB), Kolkata. The occasion for the debate was the 76th Inter Martiniere Meet, which took place from 22 August to 24 August 2023. During this meet, LMB Kolkata and La Martiniere College (LMC) Lucknow contingencies visit each other alternatively every year, for a week of competitions and camaraderie.
John Stephen, the principal of LMB Kolkata, encapsulated the evening’s spirit as he stated in his opening address, “Asking questions is more important than having answers because asking questions broadens how we think while having answers narrows it down.”
The motion of the debate stood, “The growing power of media is a threat to democracy.” LMB Kolkata and LMC Lucknow took the sides of proposition and opposition, respectively. The members of side proposition spoke spiritedly to build their case, stating that the media has evolved from being a source of information to a platform that tells us what and how to think. Team opposition strongly countered the motion by highlighting the media’s role as the fourth pillar of democracy.
Fake news, social media, and corporate control, the evening’s proceedings covered all and showcased the astute debating skills of the La Martiniere students. The visiting team of LMC Lucknow was declared the winner at the end of the event.