Vaktavya 2016- Hindu College Parliament.

Array of eminent personalities from different spheres of the society were seen at the Hindu College during the just concluded power packed 2 day prestigious annual event -Vaktavya 2016. Speakers and panelists from various walks life and achievers in their own fields, shared their perspectives on the issues which are vibrant in the society, taking part in Intense debates, discussions, deliberations on vast topics from startups; media, responsibility and power; global society to social causes -Sex, Marriage& Society; Women empowerment and Malnutrition still thronging Indian children; Intolerance and Internet in Today’s world; everything was taken thread bare at Vaktavya, at the Hindu College, University of Delhi. The event was partnered by premier business school of the country, FORE School of Management, Delhi.

The 2-day conclave took off with a with inaugural speech by Dr. Anju Srivastava, Principal Hindu College followed by a Start Up session by Ankur Warikoo, CEO Nearby (erstwhile Groupon); Mr. Sachin Bhatia, Co-Founder MakeMyTrip; Ajay Chaturvedi, Founder & Chairman, HarVa and Parliamentary secretary, Minister of Delhi Adarsh Sastri.

Next in line of speakers were Radio Jockey Naved from Radio Mirchi; journalists Rajdeep Sardesai, Prabhu Chwala, and Pankaj Pachauri who fascinated the packed auditorium sharing insights and talking about media, responsibility and power.

The ‘Rainbow Session’ witnessed panelist, Anand grover- Advocate, Manvendra Singh Gohil- Maharaja of Rajpipla in Gujarat, GautavYadav, Laxmi Narayan Tripathi, Teesa Das, discussed and highlighted issues of LGBT rights in the country. Leading social entrepreneur of the country, P R Ganapathy, President (India) at Villgro, spoke about innovation based social entrepreneurs impacting lives of the poor while leading novelist, Ira Trivedi, spoke on Sex, Marriage & Indian Society and issues faced.The cultural session had the popular Nizami Brothers who enthralled the vast audience with Sufi and Kawaali melodies.

Next day morning saw Varun Gandhi, sharing concerns about Global Society and issues likemalnutrition and anemia still affecting Indian children. Abhishek Manu Singhvi spoke on Intolerance while Maneesh Tewari, touched up on Internet in today's world. Brainstorming session on women empowerment was moderated by Rakhee Bakshi, participated by Chhavi Rajawat, Aditi Rao, Geetanjali Babbar. The concluding session sawthe multi-talented singer, theatre personality, actor, director, composer script writer, Piyush Mishra, captivating the audience in the campus.

 

[Swaswati Borpuzari]

Vaktavya 2016, the much-anticipated annual parliamentary debate competition organized by Hindu College, Delhi University, was a resounding success, bringing together young minds from various colleges across the country. This event, held in the heart of Delhi, not only showcased the intellectual prowess and oratory skills of the participants but also underscored the importance of constructive dialogue and debate in a democratic society. The theme for Vaktavya 2016 was particularly relevant, focusing on contemporary issues that resonated with the youth and the broader community. The competition was structured to mimic the procedural and rhetorical aspects of a real parliamentary session, complete with opening and closing remarks, rebuttals, and voting procedures. Participants were judged on their clarity of thought, depth of argument, and ability to engage with the audience and fellow debaters. The event also featured guest speakers and panelists from academia, politics, and media, who provided valuable insights and critiques, enriching the experience for all attendees. Vaktavya 2016 not only highlighted the importance of critical thinking and public speaking but also fostered a spirit of camaraderie and healthy competition among the participants, making it a memorable event in the academic calendar of Hindu College.