The Yale Hindi Debate

THE YALE HINDI DEBATE

Born as a student’s idea in a Yale classroom, the Yale Hindi Debate has grown exponentially, from an ambitious venture to an intellectual, cultural, and social institution. 
The debate was established as a Yale-only event in 2008, and now sees participation from faculty and students from USA’s preeminent schools, including Yale, Harvard, Princeton, Columbia, the University of Pennsylvania, NYU, Cornell, UCLA, Wesleyan, Rutgers, the University of Texas at Austin, and Wellesley College.

Yalies, sign up to host a student!

February 26, 2014  /  Akhil Sud

Be a Yalie - and host a student on the night of the national round (18 April).

The motion is on the table

February 25, 2014  /  Akhil Sud

The motion for YHD 2014 has been decided.

 

Globalization diminishes the significance of ethnicity.

वैश्वीकरण में जातीय सांस्‍कृतिक पहचान का महत्व कम हो जाता है| 

 

Come see it be debated - defended staunchly or torn apart - in the Luce Hall Auditorium, on 4 April (Prelim) and 18 April (National), at 6 pm.

Let it snow - take 2

February 13, 2014  /  Akhil Sud

The cat just wasn't enough. If you stepped out today, then this was you:

modelsnowyhd.gif

No matter how cold it gets, we sure can extend a warm welcome to our friends from warmer climes on the day of the national round. Who's on the list this year? Well, you'll have to wait to find out...

Let it snow

February 13, 2014  /  Akhil Sud

Congrats to all the Yalies that braved the storm today. If you weren't among the lucky few who had their classes cancelled, then you know exactly what this feels like:

Source: Fidgety Fingers

Source: Fidgety Fingers

Beauty and the beast

February 04, 2014  /  Akhil Sud

“I’ve worked my heinie off - literally. It’s smaller now.”
— Nina Davuluri at Yale University
Nina, when she became Miss America - Source: The Washington Post

Nina, when she became Miss America - Source: The Washington Post

The first Indian Miss America, Nina Davuluri, spoke to Yale on 4 February, 2014, at Battell Chapel. She spoke candidly about her past, and the backlash she received - first as Miss New York, and later, as Miss America. As articulate as she is beautiful, Nina addressed matters including beauty, race, religion, and even dating. 

Miss America at Yale, in casual conversation with members of the Yale family before addressing the gathered students and faculty - Source: Akhil Sud SM '16

Miss America at Yale, in casual conversation with members of the Yale family before addressing the gathered students and faculty - Source: Akhil Sud SM '16

Listening to her, one can't help but think about ethnicity in the context of a globalized world - where distances between people are shrinking, while barriers between them continue to persist. For the Yale Hindi Debate, the mixing of cultures is of paramount significance. Perhaps YHD 2014 could debate this issue. We haven't decided on a topic yet - and this certainly seems ripe with potential.

Our love affair with the paparazzi

October 28, 2013  /  Akhil Sud

“...a pride for Yale, [the Yale Hindi Debate] was started in 2008 as an internal competition; it has since over the years grown to become a national event.”
“...has truly emerged as one of the most unique and significant efforts of the Yale India Initiative and the growth of South Asian Studies in the USA.”
“...not only bolsters the study of South Asian languages and cultures at the universities, but also transcends it, as the issues debated pertain to society as a whole, not only to members of the South Asian community.”