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.

The Big Day, 4.17.15

April 20, 2015 / Akhil Sud

Participants arrive at Yale on a beautiful Friday afternoon,

Old Campus on the afternoon of Friday, April 17th - Source: Akhil Sud, SM '16

and head to 34 Hillhouse Avenue.

Luce Hall Common Room, 5:00 pm
Tea Reception
Students and faculty meet each other and eat delicious snacks; to calm the nerves and the appetites.

Luce Hall Auditorium, 6:00 pm
The stage is set.

Left to right: Smita Shukla, SM '15, Student Organizer; Akhil Sud, SM '16, YHD President

The 2015 motion waits for its attackers and defenders:
"आज का मन्त्र - बस काम ही, आराम नहीं |"
"All work and no play is the dictum of today."

Opening Remarks

Professor Seema Khurana, Senior Lector, SASC, Yale University; YHD Faculty Co-ordinator

Professor Geetanjali Singh Chanda, Senior Lecturer, WGSS, Yale University; Member of YHD Judging Panel

Finally, debate ensues.

Meet the Stars of YHD '15

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Adam Willems, Yale

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Hallie Swanson, Columbia

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Brenna McDuffie, Harvard

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Robert King Bruce, NYU

Jessica Saifee, Wellesley

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Emily Hays, Yale

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Megan Moran, UCLA

Iqra Bakhsh, UCLA

Tazin Banu, NYU

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Anjali Aidasani, Columbia

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Divya Alukal, Wellesley

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Diksha Brahmbhatt, Yale

Sukriti Chadha, Princeton

Pranam Daga, Purdue

Yamna Anwar, Harvard

A mesmerizing a cappella performance by Yale's
Sur et Veritaal

The Award Ceremony

Best Speaker, Non-Native Non-Heritage
Adam Willems, Yale

Second Best Speaker, Non-Native Non-Heritage
Brenna McDuffie, Harvard

Best Speaker, Non-Native Heritage
Iqra Bakhsh, UCLA

Second Best Speaker, Non-Native Heritage
Divya Alukal, Wellesley

Best Speaker, Native
Sukriti Chadha, Princeton

Second Best Speaker, Native
Yamna Anwar, Harvard

Best Interjector
Pranam Daga, Purdue

Second Best Interjector
Diksha Brahmbhatt, Yale

The interjector prizes: a $25 iTunes gift card for play, and a $25 Starbucks gift card for those late nights of work that could do with a bit of caffeine - Source: Akhil Sud, SM '16 — The interjector prizes: a $25 iTunes gift card for play, and a $25 Starbucks gift card for those late nights of work that could do with a bit of caffeine - Source: Akhil Sud, SM '16

Click to read the YHD '15 program

Awake with celebratory festivity, Luce looks out into the dark Hillhouse night as participants leave.

Luce Hall on the night of Friday, April 17th - Source: Akhil Sud, SM '16 — Luce Hall on the night of Friday, April 17th - Source: Akhil Sud, SM '16

Perhaps it means to say:

See you next year!

Event photograpahy by Anamika Veeramani, Yale University