For Immediate Release
St. Joseph’s Academy Fosters Oratorical Excellence at 18th Brother ET Dunne Memorial Debates
Dehradun, August 11, 2026 – St. Joseph’s Academy (SJA) today hosted its prestigious 18th Brother ET Dunne Senior Inter-House English and Hindi Debate, a vibrant annual event that celebrates the enduring legacy of Brother ET Dunne. Students from Classes IX to XII converged in the school auditorium to engage in spirited intellectual discourse, showcasing their prowess in public speaking, critical thinking, and the art of persuasive argumentation.
The Brother ET Dunne Memorial Debates are a cornerstone of SJA’s academic calendar, held in honor of a figure renowned for his significant contributions to education and his unwavering dedication to discipline, service, public speaking, and intellectual rigor. The event serves as a dynamic platform where young minds are encouraged to articulate their viewpoints with confidence, clarity, and conviction, demonstrating that constructive disagreement is a powerful catalyst for both individual and collective growth.
The occasion was graced by a distinguished panel of guests and adjudicators. Principal of SJA, Brother Joseph M Joseph, and Community Leader, Brother Ernest Martin, presided over the event. The panel of judges brought a wealth of experience and diverse perspectives: Randeep Arora, a seasoned entrepreneur with over four decades of cross-industry experience; Nadira Ahmad, a respected alumna and Senior English Teacher from St. Joseph’s Academy; and Shivangi Srivastava, an accomplished educator from New Doon Blossoms School. Their presence underscored the significance of the competition and provided invaluable expertise in evaluating the debaters’ performances. The audience, comprising coordinators, teachers, and students from Classes IX to XII, offered enthusiastic encouragement throughout the day.
The proceedings commenced with a solemn and heartfelt prayer, setting a reflective and respectful tone for the intellectual contests to follow. This was succeeded by the traditional ceremonial lighting of the lamp, a symbol of knowledge and enlightenment, performed by Brother Joseph, Brother Ernest Martin, and the esteemed judges.
The Inter-House English Debate was structured into two engaging rounds: the Extemporaneous Debate and the Turncoat. For the Extemporaneous Debate, participants tackled the thought-provoking motion: “This House believes that success should never be measured by social acceptance.” This round challenged students to formulate and present their arguments with minimal preparation, testing their spontaneity and analytical skills. The Turncoat round proved equally captivating, demanding that participants adeptly argue both for and against a given proposition, thereby showcasing their ability to understand and defend contrasting viewpoints with equal conviction and rhetorical skill.
The Hindi Debate centered on the motion: “This House believes that learning from books is better than learning through experience.” This topic sparked a lively exchange of ideas, prompting students to explore the nuances of pedagogical approaches and the value of theoretical knowledge versus practical application.
Across both debates, the four participating houses—Donovan, Bergin, Dooley, and Duffy—demonstrated an eloquent clash of ideas. Each participant exhibited remarkable confidence, spontaneity, and an impressive command over both English and Hindi, engaging the audience and judges with their well-reasoned arguments and compelling delivery.
Adding a melodious interlude to the intellectually stimulating event was a soulful Casio performance by Arnav Sharma. His captivating musical rendition provided a harmonious dimension to the day, perfectly complementing the impressive display of oratory and intellect showcased by St. Joseph’s Academy’s talented students.
The results of the fiercely contested debates were as follows:
English Debate:
- Best Speaker: Vijay Rudraksh Swami (Donovan House)
- Runner-up Speaker: Kushagra Kandwal (Duffy House)
- Best Interlocutor: Avik Chaabra (Bergin House)
- Best Rebuttal: Kushagra Kandwal (Duffy House)
- Best Speaker Turncoat: Palakshi Sahni (Duffy House)
- Best Team: Donovan House
Hindi Debate:
- Best Speaker: Mahir Mehboob (Duffy House)
- Runner-up Speaker: Rudra Ghildiyal (Donovan House)
- Best Rebuttal: Rudra Ghildiyal (Donovan House)
- Best Team: Duffy House
In a remarkable display of consistent excellence, Duffy House emerged triumphant, securing the coveted Overall Trophy in both the English and Hindi Debates. Their collective effort and individual brilliance brought the 18th Brother ET Dunne Senior Inter-House Debates to a memorable and fitting conclusion, reinforcing St. Joseph’s Academy’s commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals equipped with strong communication and critical thinking skills.
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