Success in any walk of life is hard to achieve in this razor-edged highly competitive age. Besides knowledge, one has to be well versed in the art of forceful communication, an essential pre-requisite of a qualified man, lack of which renders him unfit for high posts in any sector. Participation in debating activities makes a man forceful communicator.
Debating is an art and it can be mastered and developed by constant practice. Fluency in speech enables a man to express views effectively and convincingly.
Debates are nowadays a regular feature in schools and colleges. Pupils are assigned debatable statements to argue either in favour or against the motion on occasions like Independence Day or Republic Day. Often inter-school competitions are organized on such eves and the best debater is conferred with prizes. In competitive as well as school tests, examinees are asked to put forward their pros and cons views against a debatable statement.
The dearth of books on debatable topics is being felt seriously which could cater to the needs of participants. Most of the participants exhibit no interest due to lack of guidance and sufficient materials and prefer to remain mute spectators in the debating hall. Here relevant topics of general interests have been compiled and presented both ways—positively and negatively with a view to provide feedback to young debaters.

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Contents

Acknowledgements — 7

Author’s Note — 9

How to Develop Debating Skill — 11

1. Statement — Science is a boon or a curse. — 17

2. Statement — Co-education is the need of time. — 23

3. Statement — Are games and sports essential? — 29

4. Statement — Computerization: A boon or bane — 34

5. Statement — Television is affecting society adversely. — 39

6. Statement — Should we go back to villages? — 48

7. Statement — Child labour is a social evil which needs to be eradicated. — 51

8. Statement — Beauty contest should be banned. — 55

9. Statement — Should we marry at an early age? — 61

10. Statement — Given the chance women can create better India and better world. — 66

11. Statement — Tradition hinders progress. — 71

12. Statement — Money is the root cause of unhappiness. — 77

13. Statement — Music today cannot be called music. — 82

14. Statement — Greed brings unhappiness in life. — 88

15. Statement — Are we happier than our forefathers? — 90

16. Statement — Health is wealth or wealth is health. — 96

17. Statement — Is examination real test of merit? — 100

18. Statement — Cinema has affected and will go on affecting society adversely. — 104

19. Statement — Teenagers should be given more freedom. — 110

20. Statement — Begging should be banned in India. — 114

21. Statement — Should drinking be banned? — 119

22. Statement — Should military education be made compulsory? — 125

23. Statement — Female foeticide should be curbed through religious sanctions, not by laws. — 129

24. Statement — Brain drain is a national loss. — 135

25. Statement — Capital punishment should be banned. — 139

26. Statement — Should India go nuclear? — 144

27. Statement — Casteism be abolished is India. — 148

28. Statement — Should students join politics? — 154

29. Statement — Are we growing more and more superstitious? — 159

30. Statement — Strikes hamper the growth of a country. — 165

31. Statement — Ragging should be banned in schools and colleges in India. — 170

32. Statement — Mercy-killing should be allowed and legalized. — 175

33. Statement — Population in India is not a liability. — 181

34. Statement — Observance of St. Valentine’s Day be banded in India. — 186

35. Statement — East is East, West is West and the two shall never meet. — 190

36. Statement — Crisis in India is moral not economic. — 196

37. Statement — India, yet not come out of colonial outfits. — 202

38. Statement — Should India switch over to some other form of government? — 207

39. Statement — Should there be reservation? — 213

40. Statement — Cloning:: A blessing or a curse. — 219

R. Shankar, born and brought up in Patna, is a post graduate in English Literature from the Patna University. A visiting guest faculty to various institutes and colleges, he is involved in creative writing. He also guides students in developing communication skills in English. This is his maiden book.