DOHA DEBATES IN ST. STEPHEN’S COLLEGE
15. 2. 2010

Mr. Tim Sebastian, the global face of the Doha Debates, the distinguished speakers of the day  -Mr. M. J. Akbar, Ms. Teesta Setalvad, Ms. Seema Musthafa, Shri. Sachin Pilot- the supporting staff of the Doha Debates, special invitees of the evening, Junior and Senior Members of the College,  alumni of St. Stephen’s, guests from other colleges of the University, Ladies and Gentlemen.

St. Stephen’s College is synonymous with commitment to freedom of expression which includes, among other things, a keenness to promote, even celebrate, the art and discipline of debate. This presupposes commitment to objectivity, truth and mutual respect. Without these, debate is more likely to generate heat than light. It comes to us as no surprise that the debating tradition of the College is known and respected beyond our national borders.  When the Qatar Foundation looked for an appropriate venue in an Asian institution, St. Stephen’s sprang upon them as a natural and compelling choice.

We, in St. Stephen’s, believe that debating is an affirmation of our humanity and an exercise in social health. This fact has a special poignancy for the College. St. Stephen, after whom this College is named, was killed because his detractors could not debate. They found it easier to kill than to debate. Because they could not debate, they killed. That is how it is even to this day. And it is a serious matter. To devalue the doctrine and discipline of debate is to legitimize, albeit unwittingly, the cult of violence. With Maria Montessori, the great Post II World War pioneer of education, we too believe that “all of education is for peace”. Hence it is that an unapologetic commitment to freedom of thought and expression has been intrinsic to our vision for education.

Celebrating, and not only tolerating, diversity is the hallmark of our country. Arguably, India has been, for centuries, a robust garden of religious, linguistic and cultural diversities. There is something about the genius of this land that makes harmonious living together second nature to us. The windows of the soul of India have remained open to the best religious and cultural drafts from the rest of the world. Such has been the power of the spiritual hospitality of the Indian sub-continent that incoming religious traditions have been warmly welcomed and subtly transformed. Christianity is a case in point. Catholics and Protestants have fought elsewhere: Ireland being a familiar, contemporary example. In India, Catholics and Protestants get along famously. Sunnis and Shias fight each other in a neighbouring country. They live together in peace in India. We recognize that what separates us as distinct religious communities is as nothing compared to what we hold in common: our shared spiritual destiny and the mystique of our Indianness. Within the broad places of this sanctuary of mutual trust we are free to think and to debate freely as a litany of our bonding and belonging together.  This is the irreducible article of faith that underlies the very foundation of St. Stephen’s College. The fact that the Doha Debate is about to unfold itself in our midst on what some members of the media fraternity might consider a controversial subject is an affirmation of the vitality of our faith in the resilience of our country and the invisible threads that bind us together as Indians.

Today, therefore, on behalf of the extended family of St. Stephen’s College, I feel happy and self-assured in welcoming the Doha Debate to this demesne of debates, in affirmation of our irreducible commitment to engaging, if need be, even unpleasant realities so as to look truth in the face and to embrace the changes it might mandate, which is true humility. As I do so, I remember with respectful gratitude the many debating geniuses who, in their times, made this very hall resound with their eloquence and helped to weave the motif of debate into the variegated tapestry of our College: its life and its rich heritage. It is eminently appropriate that this distinguished galaxy of Stephanian debaters is ably represented this evening by Mr. Sachin Pilot who combines puissance of expression with clarity of thought as well as suave humaneness of expression.    

I wish to acknowledge the goodwill that the concerned officers of the Ministry of External Affairs as well as the Indian Embassy in Qatar extended to the Doha Foundation and to St. Stephen’s College in facilitating the Debate by clearing the programme and issuing the requisite visas expeditiously.  

Having watched and admired Mr. Tim Sebastian for long, in particular his passionate commitment to freedom of speech, truth and justice wherever they are imperilled, I feel especially happy to have him in our midst. I welcome Tim to St. Stephen’s most warmly. Let us rise and welcome Tim and the eminent speakers at this edition of the Doha Debate by putting our hands together.

I now call upon Ms. Tanya Sakzewski to set out the rubrics of the Doha Debate.  

Rev. Dr. Valson Thampu
Principal
St. Stephen’s College