Embarking on a nostalgic trip to trace and join the missing links in the historic Borasambar- Senapati annual debate series, the Ravenshaw University has made an open request for assistance and extension of any information on the glorious tradition spanning over 70 years.
The University wishes to document all available information on the prestigious debate series, from details of winners, participants, judges, subjects and topics as well as incidents relating to them for its archive.
While this would not only serve the purpose of preserving the past heritage of the erstwhile Ravenshaw College, it would also throw light on the prevailing trends, issues and concerns of the different periods.
The annual debate was discontinued in 1970, in the centenary year of Ravenshaw College, and the exact reasons for it are still to be uncovered. Information collected can also help in unravelling the reasons.
The debate was restarted last year after creation of Ravenshaw University by the efforts of Vice-Chancellor Devdas Chhotray, a winner of the debate in 1963, and enjoys the status of Chancellor’s debate.
It was instituted in 1937 under the stewardship of the then Deputy Commissioner Nilamani Senapati, who parted with the Rs 600 bestowed on him as farewell gift by the Raja of Borasambar principality in Sambalpur upon his transfer to Cuttack to create an endowment for awarding a prize to the best debater in English. The annual event continued till 1970 but stopped abruptly after that.
The debate was revived after 36 years with the prize purse increased to Rs 5,000.
It has also been decided that the winner of the debate would also be awarded the Chancellor’s Cup and no separate debate would be held for the latter. Last year the winner was Ruchira Nanda. The debate for this year was held on Tuesday with as many as 45 students participating in it.
Among others Vice-Chancellor Devdas Chhotray, former Chief Secretary Pratip Mohanty and State Election Commissioner Sanjeev Hota were present.
Original post here.
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