Speak for India 2024-25 inaugural event inspires change

Bengaluru: At inaugural event of Speak for India, which is in its 10th year now, the stage was set for discourse. What followed was a series of inspiring speeches, life stories, and calls for change.
The inauguration of 2024-2025 session of Speak for India debate competition on Tuesday morning, organised by Federal Bank Hormis Memorial Foundation in association with The Times of India and Vijay Karnataka, was held at The Oxford College of Science, Commerce, Management, Arts, and Law at HSR Layout.
Ravi D Channannavar, deputy inspector general of police, fire & emergency services, Bengaluru, called upon the students to live for a cause. "I was inspired at an event where a retired police officer said that if you become a civil servant, you can become the agent of change for all those people who are underprivileged and don't have voice to raise their concerns," he said.
Narrating how he hailed from a tribal area, the IPS officer said: "What prompted me to participate in speech, debate, and essay competitions was the prize money we used to get. What you speak today will not vanish after this competition is over. The data you collect, the research you do, the people you share the stage with, the chief guests you meet — all these things will play a very vital role."
"The lifeline of a democracy is that people should be there to question the authority. Live for a cause. That will give the ultimate satisfaction," he added.
Dileep B, senior vice president & zonal head – Bangalore, Federal Bank, urged students not to be afraid of pursuing their passion and to take their own decisions. "Go into a field of your interest. Think about it and develop your skills," he said.
SNVL Narasimha Raju, chairman, The Oxford Educational Institutions, noted how the debate competition has changed the personality of the participants, shaping them into confident individuals. "Looking at the confidence, depth of information, and how they were nurtured by the competition, I wish this for each one of you," he said.
The inauguration kicked off with a fiery debate between Shama Prasad H P, winner of 2023-24 edition of Speak for India, and Chandana H Venkatesh, runner-up for 2022-23 season, on whether artificial intelligence in the job market is a threat or opportunity.
Speak for India, which started in 2014-15, has turned out to be the most coveted debate competition in the country. Over six lakh students have registered in the competition since its inception. In this year's edition, the initiative will be held in four states: Delhi, Karnataka, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu. Speak for India 2024-25 Karnataka edition will see participation from 800 colleges.