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Introduction
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Beyond the
silt and gathering rubbish of the banks of the Ravi is a mystery.
Beyond the 7 Doors, is a marvel- the city of Lahore, as it sits
proudly on cushions of tradition, heritage and culture. On the fine
line between old and new Lahore stands tall the century-old tower of
GCU and under its magnificent shadow rests MB-4. The
Majlis-e-Mubahis Government College University Lahore has a rich
tradition of extra-curricular activities that has continued to
polish its students since the establishment of the Government
College in 1864. In its modern form, the Debating Society is a
microcosm of such excellence, but its history dates back to the time
of the elected Students’ Union and its brother society, the Young
Speakers’ Union (later changed to Young Students’ Union, to the
delight of Intermediate Students).
Since the
1930’s, the college has boasted the most refined tongues and
sharpest minds. While earlier, debates revolved largely around
simplistic, social topics pertinent to the locals, the Debating
Society has now expanded its horizons. Its current pursuits and
knowledge stretch out to cover the fields of economics, politics,
entertainment and even science and technology. A good amount of
research is now put into the accumulation of updated facts, reports
and objective analysis of current affairs and global issues. The
University’s library has an area dedicated to the collection of
books, magazines and other periodicals for the aid of the Society. Ravians have always prided themselves of the fact that senior
speakers have always been skilled enough to train them, thus
removing the need to hire external coaches. This practice has only
contributed to further strengthening the bonds of Ravians, past and
present.
It is true
that the most constant thing in life is change. Our students have
and do embrace this fact with enthusiasm, having always risen to
challenges and avidly availed the opportunities they have been
provided with. Model UN sessions and exchange debates with fellow
students from across the border may be novel today, but right in the
early days of our nation’s life, Government College speakers had
taken these initiatives to help foster amiable relations with our neighbouring youth. The College also saw its students initiate
bi-lingual debates, an unparalleled concept in the art of oratory in
the region and in 1968, ventured into a tri-lingual House of Commons
style debate, which outshone all other annual competitions
throughout the country. In 1971, a step was taken further and
history made again when the 1st-ever tri-lingual selection debates
were held for inducting girls into the coterie of orators. While
some events like the Annual Students vs. Staff debates have now lost
steam, the Annual Old Ravians vs. Ravians are still eagerly awaited.
Although
declamation has historically been GC’s strong point, in recent
years, the Debating Society has made its mark in extemporary public
speaking. Apart from outstanding team efforts resulting in
consecutive wins at Kinnaird, LACAS (Sondhi) and Risalpur for over 4
years, certain individuals have merited specific mention.
The 1993-1994 session saw M. Sabeeh Anwar selected as a
representative of Pakistan in the U-19’s World Schools Debating
Championship held in New Zealand. In 1997, 3 of the 5 members of the
Pakistan National Team were Ravians, namely, Ali Raza Naqvi, Usman
Shaukat and Riaz Hussain. Senator Aitzaz Ahsan is also a product of
the Society’s grooming. 2 of the University’s most prestigious
medals are named after former debaters, the Daud Ilyas Medal for
Best Overall Intermediate Student and the Muhammad Idrees Medal for
Best Debater.
Today, under
the auspices of Staff Advisor, Dr. Haroon Qadir and Co-Staff
Advisor, M. Siddique Awan, the Debating Society continues to
flourish, annually securing an average of 25-30 trophies nationwide.
As of late, girls have become exceptionally adept at their verbal
skills with Masuma Farooki (on study leave) having been appointed as
Co-In Charge Debating Society and students Sana Gulzar and Soufia A.
Siddiqi completing Rolls of Honour within short spans of 1-1.5
years.
So come knock
on our brown doors and talk to us. Because that is where the debate
is. That is where the life is. Any time of year.
GCUDS Annual Progress
Report 2011-12
Since its inception in
1993, the Debating Society has trained and groomed countless
debaters who have proved their mettle at both the national and
international level. During the last seventeen years, the Debating
Society has won more than two thousand prizes in various genres of
debating and has emerged as the most successful debating fraternity
in the country. Session 2011-12 again was a continuation of our
great tradition of excellence and distinction.
Last year GCU Debating
Society won a grand total of 130 prizes which includes 30 Best Team
trophies, 06 Runners Up trophies and 01 Third Position Team
trophies. Individually, our debaters won 35 best speaker prizes, 23
second position awards, 30 third positions and 05 consolation prizes
at various Declamation, Parliamentary, Recitation and Poetry
Competitions in English, Urdu and Punjabi languages at both the
national and international levels.
In declamation and
parliamentary competitions that were held last year, Ravians lifted
the team trophy at All Pakistan Parliamentary Debating Championship
2011 at Kinnaird College Lahore. Another milestone achievement of
GCU students was when they lifted Allama Iqbal Shield at Higher
Education Commission Islamabad. More over we lifted team trophies at
Govt. College of Home Economics, FAST Lahore, Beacon House Liberty
Campus, Aitchison College Lahore, Lahore School of Economics, LUMS,
WISE College, King Edward Medical University Lahore, Fatima Memorial
Hospital and Nazria e Pakistan Trust. Saad ul Hassan was declared
the best Urdu Speaker of Pakistan in 14th All Pakistan
Urdu Debate Competition for the award of Allama Iqbal Shield 2012
held by HEC Islamabad.
The speakers of Debating
Society also took part in the Punjab Chief Minister’s Debate and
Essay Writing Competition last year. Three debaters from our
university qualified to the Provincial round after successfully
competing at District and Divisional levels. In English Debate
Category at Degree level Shoaib Ahmed secured 3rd
position and Ali Moeen was declared the third best urdu speaker at
degree level.
This remarkable
performance at various debates and declamation competitions was made
possible due to the untiring efforts of our speakers. Ali Zafar,
Ahsan Raza, Zinnia Mansoor, Saad ul Hassan, Omer Jee Saleemi, Almas
Sabih Saqib, Shoaib Ahmed, Ali Jee Salimi, Hafiz Ali Moin Ud Din
Virk, Zahid Ali, Ahmed Chaudhary, Adnan Farooq, Khwaja Yaseen, Amna
Kaleem, Ayesha Urooj, Misbah Mukhtar, Maham Naz, Raza Gillani, Jawad
Ali Abid, Umair Mushtaq, Khaqan Arshad, Haider Hayat Khan were
members of the award winning teams.
In November 2011, GCUDS
hosted 55 teams from all across the country in the 31st
All Pakistan Allama Muhammad Iqbal Declamation. The Annual
Parliamentary Debating Championship 2012 was organized in March in
which 40 teams and more than 100 speakers participated from all over
the country.
Apart from participating
in external competitions, the GCUDS also organizes a wide range of
events and tournaments to promote the art of Public Speaking. To
train and nourish the skills of young orators, the Society regularly
organizes Noon-Meem-Rashid Monthly Debates. These debates not only
provide practice sessions for our experienced debaters but they also
give a platform to a new breed of GCU speakers.
When one messiah leaves
another arise. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Khaleeq-ur-Rehman an acclaimed
academician and a profound physicist had taken charge of the
University and has been very supportive towards co curricular
activities. Dr. Khaleeq-ur-Rehman himself being a public speaker has
shown a special interest in Debates and we hope that he will
continue to supervise us. Sir, debating society thanks you for your
patronage.
(26-11-2012)
Contact Us
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Dr.
Muhammad Haroon
Qadir (Urdu Dept)
Staff Advisor,
M. Siddique Awan (Eng Dept)
Co-Staff Advisor
Email:-
debatingsociety_gcu@yahoo.com
UAN:
111-000-010 Ext: 267
Fax:
042-99213337 |
