Debates over truth, technology and how charity can or cannot alleviate poverty were held over two days at a time the world is grappling with a pandemic.

The BP Khaitan Memorial Discourse 2020, an international online debate competition, was organised by The BSS School in collaboration with Calcutta Debating Circle and in association with The Telegraph Young Metro on Friday and Saturday.

“We had to connect everyone on a virtual platform within a specific time limit and ensure that we do not lose out participants while they are speaking. Students from four countries and as many as 10 cities living in different time zones participated in an online war of wit... everyone had to be more alert and proactive,” said Sunita Sen, the principal of the school.

“Our students and teachers have really learnt to face real-time challenges and if efforts are honest, results will always show.”

Twelve schools participated in the prelims on Friday and six of them made it to the final.

The topics for the prelims were “Technology has dulled the human mind” and “Charity is wasted as it cannot alleviate poverty”. One of the prelims was moderated by communications coach S.V. Raman and the other prelim and the final by Swati Gautam, trustee, Calcutta Debating Circle.

The topic of the final round, held on Sunday, was “Truth is what the masses believe in”.

The topics were shared with the students three hours before the debate.

“We wanted to choose a topic that was universal in its appeal, relevant and contextual and that made maximum impact in times of fake news. We also wanted to bring our youngsters in touch with what is the ultimate truth,” Gautam, said before starting the finals.

“Debating isn’t as much about winning arguments as it is about finding common ground and bringing both sides together. Our founder president, B.P. Khaitan, a well known solicitor, would at times use this principle in his legal practice,” said G.K. Khaitan, trustee and secretary, The BSS School.

The participating institutions were Harrow School, UK; Headington School, Oxford; Delhi Public School, RK Puram; Delhi Public School, Sharjah; Gems Modern Academy, UAE; Pathways School, Aravalli; Podar International School, Mumbai; Seth MR Jaipuria Schools, Benaras; Sunbeam School Lahartara, Varanasi; The Assam Valley School, Assam; The Bishop's School, Pune; and The BSS School, Calcutta.

The winning team was Bishop's School, Pune. The first and second runners-up were Harrow School, UK and DPS Sharjah.