First inter-school debate competition “Shyamala Manthan” to be organised under Shimla Summer Festival

As part of the International Shimla Summer Festival 2026, the Shimla District Administration is organizing, for the first time, an ambitious literary and intellectual initiative, “Shyamala Manthan.” This inter-school declamation competition will provide a powerful platform for students to showcase their expression, logical reasoning, creative thinking, and public speaking skills. The competition is open to students from grades 8th to 12th studying in Shimla district.

Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap stated that the International Shimla Summer Festival is not limited to cultural performances, but also aims to engage youth, students, and various sections of society in positive activities. In keeping with this vision, an innovative competition, “Shyamala Manthan,” has been introduced for the first time this year, which will provide students with an opportunity to express their ideas, cultivate a culture of dialogue, and foster healthy intellectual competition.

He said that in today’s digital age, the young generation spends most of their time on social media and in the virtual world. At such a time, it is essential to provide students with platforms where they can channel their thoughts, reflect on social issues, and develop their personalities holistically. “Shyamala Manthan” is the result of this thinking, which will inspire youth towards positive dialogue, creative expression, and responsible citizenship.

The Deputy Commissioner stated that the tradition of debate is a rich intellectual heritage of Indian society. It is only through the exchange of ideas and healthy debate that awareness and positive change in society are possible. This competition will foster logical thinking, self-confidence, effective communication, leadership skills, and a sense of social responsibility among students. This initiative will also help keep youth away from drug addiction, antisocial activities, and other negative influences.

The Deputy Commissioner said that through these subjects, students will not only have the opportunity to demonstrate their oratory skills, but will also be able to research, study, and reflect deeply on important issues of the present time. This will develop logical thinking, analytical abilities, and a sense of conscious citizenship.

Anupam Kashyap called on all government and private schools, teachers, parents, and students in the district to participate enthusiastically in this unique initiative. He stated that “Shyamala Manthan” is not merely a competition, but a powerful campaign to develop youth into thoughtful, aware, confident, and responsible citizens. This platform will provide students with an opportunity to raise their voices, establish meaningful dialogue on contemporary issues, and understand their role in building society and the nation.

He expressed confidence that Shimla students would enthusiastically participate in this competition, showcasing their outstanding talents, and meaningfully carry forward the message of “Speak for Shimla.” The district administration is committed to establishing this event as a prestigious intellectual and literary tradition of Shimla in the future.

Deputy Commissioner Anupam Kashyap stated that two highly contemporary and thought-provoking topics have been identified for the first phase of the competition. These topics were selected keeping in mind the significant social and technological changes currently affecting the lives of young people.

1. The first topic is “Will Generative AI Create Pioneers or Bystanders?” (Will Generative AI Make Us Leaders or Mere Bystanders?) Through this topic, students will share their thoughts on the growing impact of artificial intelligence, innovation, creativity, employment, education, and future prospects. This topic will provide young people with an opportunity to consider whether AI will elevate human potential to new heights or reduce humans to mere bystanders, making them overly dependent on technology.

2. The second topic is “The 15-Second Attention Economy: How the Doomscroll is Rewriting our Brain.” This topic focuses on the changes taking place in youth’s concentration, thinking abilities, mental health, and behavior due to the growing culture of social media, reels, and short videos. Through this, students will analyze how the rapid pace of digital media is affecting our learning, decision-making, and concentration.

The competition will be held in two categories—Hindi Debate and English Debate. Students from grades 8th to 12th will be eligible to participate. To ensure maximum participation, the competition will be organized in four zones. Preliminary competitions will be held in designated nodal schools within each zone.

Three best speakers will be selected from each zone in the Hindi and English categories. A total of 24 participants from each zone will advance to the final round. The final competition will be held at the historic Gaiety Theatre, The Ridge, Shimla.

Each participant will be given 4 to 5 minutes of time to complete the competition. Participants will be judged on the quality of the content, originality, clear pronunciation, voice modulation, confidence, expression skills, stage presentation, and overall impression.

Attractive prizes have been set for the winners of the competition. The first-place winner will receive a cash prize of ₹50,000, a certificate of appreciation, and the prestigious “Shabd Shilpi” running trophy. The second prize will be ₹30,000, and the third prize will be ₹20,000. Additionally, two consolation prizes will be awarded in both categories, and all participants will receive participation certificates.

The zonal competitions will be held on June 2, 2026. The final round topics will be announced on June 5, 2026, and the final competition will be held on June 10, 2026. Each school can nominate one participant each for the Hindi and English categories. The deadline for submitting nominations was May 24, 2026.