Annual Debate

As part of the academic curriculum, the annual debate was held on January 23, 2013 and the theme, “Nuclear Energy is the Best Energy Resource for India: Yes or No?” The moderator of the debate was Professor Mohan Rao from Vizag. 

There were three brothers for the motion and three brothers against the motion. All of the speakers did their level best in affirming their standpoints. After the individual talks, all the brothers were charged to release missiles in the form of questions against each other. It showed that brothers were really involved in the topic. The question and replies enriched the whole community. The rebuttal speeches of both the groups convinced each one in the hall that Nuclear energy is good and bad and only we should go for it as per the need. 

Fr Rector, Fr Balaswamy and Br Anil were the judges for the debate. Big kudos to Fr Wilson, the principal, for making the debate a big success.

Annual Debate 2011

We had the annual Debate this morning and the theme of discussion was 'Lokpal bill is the solution to Corruption in India'. Somehow, as in the last four years, the team 'against the motion' won the debate with just 10 points more than their worthy opponents (the total being 277). The debate was moderated by Fr Joseph Anithottam the Parish Priest of Kondadaba. Srs Prasanna and Abilasha, our immediate neighbours, were among the judges for the debate. Fr C. Thomas, the present spiritual director and Fr Devadas, our former spiritual director too were present as judges for the occasion.

The eight speakers did their best in presenting their arguments which were well supported and interspersed by the informative videos and presentations prepared by Fr Wilson, the Principal. Thanks to his zealous efforts, the debate had a particular quality of its own. The floor discussion which followed the talks was vibrant with each group trying to get the better of the other. Of course, given the nature of the theme, Anna Hazare was the focus of the whole discussion. Finally not going by the numerical result of the debate, the fact that corruption needs to be uprooted was the unanimous voice.

The speakers for the motion highlighted the following issues: Lokpal being an effective and transparent tool in modern administration, an additional help for the wearied middle class man, the advantages of speedy justice and accountability that Lokpal promises and so on. Those arguing against the motion pushed forward their arguments to prove that through Lokpal bill, Anna Hazare and his team, are trying to form a parallel government or an unconstitutional body, that the hidden agenda behind this so-called 'second freedom struggle' is to topple the government, that what is needed is not a new body but a reformation within existing structures...
Thanks to Fr Wilson and the Rainbow group which organised and prepared for this annual feature of the Seminary.

Annual Debate: TECHNOLOGY AND RELLIGION

Technology and Religion, both are needed and a greater complementarity is to be ensured for a better living. This was perhaps the winning argument (or proposal) of the Annual Debate held at St. John's Regional Seminary, Kondadaba on December 14, 2010. The College witnessed a lively volley of arguments to and from peppered by few torggers by Fr. Anthony Puthussery,

The Moderator, on the theme 'Technology and Religion are Complementary'.

The eight speakers of the day, representing a growth group each were well prepared with their talks and set in motion the arguments during the 50 minutes floor discussion. The Presence of Fr. Anthony as the Moderator proved to be a great help in directing the flow of the debate. He rightly clarified terms, rephrased questions, tickled deeper reflection, and offered valuable insights all along. Though the focus of the discussion stayed mostly on the technological front the validity of the arguments could not be denied.

The strongest argument of the team against the motion was that God was being replaced by modern adrared technology and that technology is a greater distraction than aid in evangelization. Those for the motion strongly argued that Technology and Religion have a common origin, goal and their difference in the method of reaching the goal, only endorses the complementarity.

Fr. Rinoy Joseph, in his concluding remarks pointed out that in and through the whole procedure there were more proposals them opponents. He complimented the students for taking an active part and encouraged them to continue reading, reflecting and challenging one another in line with the theme of the debate.

Prof. Ratnasekhar and Br. Vincent Castilino were the judges - The team which argned against the motion were eventually declared winners. Fr. Wilson Jose, the Principal was the main brain, hands and legs behind the whole programme, with a little help from the Rainbow Group.

Report by M.H. Wilson