DEVELOP DEBATING SKILLS

DEVELOP DEBATING SKILLS

We have to learn to be focussed in our arguments with pin-pointed assertions and questioning, and not stray at all amidst verbal ornamentation of what we say. The adversary in debate must be pinned down with accurate darts of query and rebuttal instead of allowing him an escape route to safety. If necessary the same question must be repeated in terse terms and answer elicited from the adversary in disputation which will seal the argument to the aspired end.

Sadly, we lack in skilled debaters in sufficient numbers who can represent the cause of the Hindus well enough. We need to develop a think-tank which is capable of tackling this problem. Ancient India and medieval India had sages and savants who were great in disputation, and in modern times we had Swami Vivekananda who excelled in this regard. We need to follow in their footsteps and bolster our debating skills. Less words, greater focus  pin-pointed arguments and clear rationality -- these must be the fourfold criteria in debating by Hindu debaters if they wish to successfully overcome their adversaries in debate. This is a science and this is an art that must be mastered before we can claim to rightly represent our dharma in public fora where inter-religious disputations are staged. 🕉 

Written by Sugata Bose