Dubai Modern High School bags Rolling Trophy for 8th Annual Inter School Debate organized in Dubai by the Indian Consulate and Our Own Indian School
06 October, 2007

The Rolling Trophy for the prestigious 8th Annual Inter School Debate organized in Dubai by the Indian Consulate and Our Own Indian School on October 4, 2007 to mark Gandhi Jayanthi and Sixty years of Indian Independence was won by the Dubai Modern High School.

Mr. Rajeev Naresh of the Dubai Modern High School bagged the prize for the Best Speaker in support of the motion - "Values have taken a backseat in our path to progress." Ms. Krishna Sruthi Srivalsan of Our Own English High School, Sharjah (Girls) won the prize for the Best Speaker against the motion.

Mr. Venkatraman Ganesh of Our Own English High School, Sharjah (Boys) was adjudged Second Best Speaker in support of the motion and Mr. Abhilash Krishnan of the Abu Dhabi Indian School was awarded the prize for the Second Best Speaker against the motion.

The Consul General of the United States of America in Dubai, Mr. Paul R. Sutphin inaugurated the event while the Consul General of India in Dubai, Mr. Venu Rajamony gave away the prizes. Mr. Sunny Varkey, Founder and Chairman Varkey group, Welcare World and GEMs group graced the occasion along with Principals of different schools in Dubai, officials from the Consulate, parents and students.

Opening the event, Mr. Sutphin, the Consul General of USA spoke glowingly of Mahatma Gandhi and the power of his message which inspired Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King and others, to motivate a generation of Americans overcome the injustice of racial segregation. He said Dr. King came to realize the power of Gandhi’s philosophy to make the ethic of love a "potent instrument of social and collective transformation"". Dr King adopted this philosophy as his own and by doing so, changed the face and morals of the US. Dr King was firm in his view that the Gandhian technique of non - violence was the only viable means to overcome the deep seated and often official discrimination that for so long had kept Americans of African origin second class citizens. Dr. King was so enthused by the Mahatma that he said during his first visit to India - "I may go as a tourist to other countries, but to India I come as a pilgrim." Mr. Sutphin also noted that the partnerships between the great democracies of the United States and India have never been stronger and the ties between their diverse peoples never closer.

Addressing the students, Consul General Venu Rajamony drew attention to the long history of debate, reasoning and criticism in India. He referred to the writings of Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen on “The Argumentative Indian” and exhorted students to uphold and enrich this great tradition.