If school life was more about debates, public speaking and anchoring the events rather than studies,then surely the first society that held your attention in DU was Debating Society.
This is what happened with me, a fresher who got into debating society after multiple rounds of auditions and interview. It was the most prestigious feeling even better than getting into a good college of DU. Who knew that it hadn’t yet begun.
The  initial days of training in the society made me question the hardwork and training that I had received in school. The idea of “one man army” was now changed to “three muskeeters”. The debating circuit followed “The Asian Parliamentary Debating” format and it was nowhere near to school level debates.
I suffered a serious mental drainage when asked to get in depth of knowledge of issues on Syria,Turkey,Dalit issues in India and what not. That is when I realized newspapers are more than the headlines and Page 3.The importance of questioning every argument and the ability to defend even the most failed idea became a habit.
After 3 months of training,innumerable mock debates and two tournaments debating is now a part of lifestyle.Every basic idea prompts me to ask a “POI” and every conversation involves me rapping the table on each good argument and a “here, here” on favourable ideas.It has now become an inherent function of mine.
It no more feels a burden to attend mock debates at 8 in the morning,infact,it is burdensome to spend even a single day without debating.Debating societies make you more intellectual and open to ideas. The seniors become your best friends and tournaments become your favourite weekend outing.
Who said debaters are boring? They can quickly change sides and are open to all ideas 😉
