The 20th All India Hugh Catchpole English Debate 2025 was hosted by the prestigious Rashtriya Indian Military College, Dehradun from 28th to 30th April, 2025. A total of 17 teams participated in the event which incorporated several phases and 5 rounds.
The team Rkk which consisted of
Eshal Bindra, Pari Salecha and Piya Salecha was one of the key finalists. Mrs Priti Goyal also judged some phases that were running parallel to our debates.
The first day began with the conference photograph and the draws for phase one of the preliminary round being released. The topic for the pool A was THBT Privatization of public sector units is a progressive step, which was conducted in Oxford Format. Team RKK made it to the quarterfinals, securing the first position in the eliminator round.
The next day started with the draws and topics for Quarter Finals being released. Team RKK was pitted against Welham Boys’ School. The Modified Cambridge Format was followed, wherein Team RKK stood for the motion THBT Economic sanctions can be a sufficient and ethical substitute for military intervention in international conflicts. After a round of heated debates, the results for the quarter finals were announced. Team RKK advanced to the semi finals.
The draws and topics were released in the morning on the final day. Team Rkk was against the Tonsbridge School in the semi-finals. The topic was THBT learning a foreign language must be made mandatory in the curriculum. The open-endedness of the topic came out to be challenging as the debate grew compact. Right before lunch, the results declared Team Rkk as one of the finalists.
The topic for the finals was THBT NEP2020 is truly transforming the Indian Education System. Team RKK stood as the proposition against the Doon International School. The Asian School and Welham Girls’ School debated on the topic THBT media trials are stumbling blocks for justice. The Doon International School clinched the trophy. While, the Asian School bagged the runners up.
Team RKK won individual prizes through the rounds- Eshal Bindra for being the Best Speaker in the eliminator round, the Best Speaker in the Quarterfinals, the most promising speaker in the Semifinals round and for receiving the Commandant’s Special Award in the finals. Pari Salecha for receiving the Best Speaker in the semi-finals and Piya Salecha for being a member of the team.
Team RKK left an indelible mark on the judges and the audience with their exceptional constructive.
