It was a sunny December afternoon when the chaos began. Maha Behes - our national debate finale, our biggest event of the year, was in full swing at a sprawling school campus teeming with debaters, spectators, and a crew of exhausted-yet-enthusiastic team members.
When I first received the invitation to conduct a Behes Boot Camp in Hardoi, a small town nestled in the heart of Uttar Pradesh, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. Known for its temples, narrow roads, and warm hospitality, Hardoi seemed an unlikely place for a debating camp.
When I think about the power of public speaking activities in building confidence, one story stands out in my mind—the story of Naman (name changed). Naman was one of my quieter students, a thoughtful young man with a visible stutter. When he first joined my language class, he was incredibly shy and often sat at the back, avoiding any situation where he might be asked to speak.
As I stood in front of the buzzing crowd at the Gangtok round of Behes, India’s largest school debate platform, I felt a mixture of excitement and nerves. I had been part of debate competitions before, but this one was different—it was Behes, a place where young minds from all over the country gather to engage in thought-provoking conversations. This wasn’t just another event; it was an opportunity to challenge myself, make new friends, and grow in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
I remember sitting there, anxiously waiting to hear feedback after every round in various school debates, hoping I had done enough. Now, I’m on the other side, giving that same feedback. But being an adjudicator isn’t just about deciding who wins or loses—it’s about guiding the next generation of debaters, helping them spot their strengths in public speaking and areas where they can improve, just like someone once did for me.
When I first heard about it, I thought it was just another extracurricular activity, something that would look good on a college application. But I quickly realized it was so much more, especially in the context of school debates in India. After my child’s first Behes tournament, I noticed a real change. It wasn’t just about learning to speak in front of an audience—Behes was teaching my child how to think deeper, express their thoughts clearly, and confidently hold their ground in a discussion.
It helped me find my voice, think outside the box, and step out of my comfort zone. The camp provided an incredible introduction to school debates, setting a solid foundation for anyone looking to excel in public speaking. The camp started with debate theory, and I’ll admit, it felt a bit overwhelming at first. I had no idea what terms like “POI” or “rebuttal” even meant! But as soon as we started the practical sessions, everything began to make sense. We didn’t just learn about debating—we practiced it. Every day, we got to try out different motions, work on our speeches, and get feedback that helped us improve round after round. These exercises helped me understand what it takes to be part of the best debate teams.
The motions felt impossible to argue, the judges looked serious, and my competition seemed way too confident. But as the rounds went on, something shifted. I found my voice, my confidence grew, and I realized I was part of a larger community of people who loved to think and debate as much as I did. This experience is a testament to how school debates can transform a student’s perspective on public speaking.
Jammu Sanskriti School hosted ‘Behes’ National Level Debate Competition, an event that unfolded as a symphony of eloquence and erudition. This illustrious gathering was graced by luminaries in the field of education and administration, rendering it an affair of exceptional distinction. Dr. Ashok Sharma, Director Education was the chief guest and Subha Mehta, Joint Director Education was Guest of honour on this occasion while in the closing ceremony Ishita Rathi, Assistant Collector, Jammu was present as chief guest.
Behes debate competition was organized at Indirapuram Public School, Indirapuram, on 07 and 08 October 2023 in which 13 students - in the Senior LIONS Category, four students of classes 9 and 11 in the Junior CUBS Category, nine students from classes 6 to 8 participated. They were escorted by Mrs. S.K. Manimekalai, PGT English. All the participating teams qualified for the Mahabehes Round to be held in July 2024 by clearing the knock out rounds held on Day 1.
Noida (Uttar Pradesh) [India], July 12: Ramagya proudly announces the successful conclusion of the 2023 edition of the Battle for Effective Public Speaking (BEHES). The event, held over 2 days, brought together some of the most talented debaters from across the nation to engage in a battle of wits, intellect, and persuasive communication.
Shiv Nadar School. Noida was proud to host Behes – an inter school debate competition. The school hosted the event in association with the Behes, a non-profit organisation that works towards organising debates across the country. The competition saw a participation of 240 students across 17 schools.
A Debate workshop was arranged at DPS RN Extension on 8 July 2019 to introduce the format that isbecoming the trend in debating circles. The resource persons were Mr. Nabhneel Tiwari And Mr Naimish Tripathi from Behes – a Non-profit making organization which organizes debate tournaments in various schools across the country.
The Orbis School, Keshavnagar, won the winner's and runner-up trophy in the lions division (senior category) at the first Pune regional round of the national debate tournament 'Behes'. It was hosted by The Orbis School.
Early Times Report JAMMU, July 28: An on- the-Spot Inter-School Team Debate Competition was held at APS Kaluchak, organised by BEHES. The aim was to enable the students to sift the knowledge, comprehend, analyse and prepare script with strong arguments in a planned and organized manner.
Sometime in October last year, we held the second Kathua round. To give you a little context, this was two weeks after the abrogation of Article 370, and J & K was in a state of partial lockdown. Businesses were in trouble, the internet had been shut down and we were being warned constantly about the timing of the event. We managed to keep the school on board though, and figured that Kathua is the first district across the border from Punjab and things would not be so bad.
While Behes objectively might mean a debating organization to you, for me it’s the essence of life. For someone like me who wanted to spend her life debating on topics, thinking out of the box, and taking public speaking to new heights; but is now spending hours buried under books, playing with numbers, and dealing with taxes ; to be a part of something like this, feels nothing less than homecoming after a long consuming day.
When I was 5 years old, I fell in love. It was not a transient, reciprocative sort of an affair that I expected anything from. It was a love I knew most wouldn't understand. It was a love that a toddler was handed over by her class teacher in the form of a poem recitation competition and a stage. It was a love for the mic. I vividly remember the moment I knew that the two of us, the mic and me, had a long journey ahead; that of a lifetime. Ever since that moment, I have strived to encompass as many eyes and ears as I could, through my voice.
I was supposed to reach Bhopal Junction at 4:30 AM and I was hoping my train would be at least a few hours late, so as to not get caught unawares in Madhya Pradesh during odd hours. To pass time, I get acquainted with a fellow passenger from Vijayawada, working and studying in Delhi. Daniel, a young doctor, was real worried about the Covid-19 outbreak and I couldn't help but be a little concerned, myself, going by what he had to say. I won't forget his sombre tone as he speculated about a techie from Bangalore, who tested positive for the novel Coronavirus, touring the southern states, leaving who knows how many infected people in his wake. And who all amongst them would unknowingly facilitate the spread of this ongoing pandemic.
Debating is not an easy activity to be engaged in. You have to bow down to the whims of the jury and try your best to convince them that you are right. To be told that you are wrong would make one feel queasy and we tend to dismiss the criticism as misguided, when we truly need to reflect within ourselves to decipher what went wrong.
A few years ago, I left my destiny at the mercy of the ‘yellow wood’ when I decided to take the road less travelled by. Little did I know I will walk over the thorns, find shelter in the rain and well, get a first-hand experience of State Roadways! One good thing about the unused road is, you have the freedom to imagine and make your imagination work. There are no signs, no google maps to direct, just you walking and constructing the path for anyone who is willing to follow and make this street a better one.
