Colloquy 2025 - Inter-Year Debate Competition
On 10th September 2025, the Department of Economics, Loreto College, Kolkata, in collaboration with the Internal Quality Assurance Cell, hosted its annual inter-year debate competition, Colloquy 2025. The motion for the debate was: "The House believes, the future of the Indian Economy depends on harmonizing the Indian Knowledge System with Modern Technological Innovations."
The event was moderated by Ms. T. C. Shinali, Research Scholar, Department of Economics, University of Calcutta, and judged by Ms. Sreeparna Dasgupta, Faculty, Department of Political Science, Loreto College, Kolkata, and Dr. Shubhasree Ghosh Basu, Faculty, Department of English, Loreto College, Kolkata.
Each year was represented by a team of two members, one speaking for and the other against the motion. After a stimulating exchange of ideas and effective rhetoric, the title of Best Team was awarded to the third-year representatives - Vanshika Agarwal and Tanweesha Poddar.
The debate saw participants critically engage with both traditional frameworks and modern technological innovations. Those speaking for the motion emphasized that India's future lies in fusing Indian Knowledge Systems (IKS) with modern tools like AI and IoT, thereby ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and globally credible growth. They argued that tradition and technology together can create a robust, equitable economy rooted in civilizational values.
On the other hand, speakers against the motion highlighted that India's future should not depend on merely "harmonising" IKS with modernity, as that assumes our heritage is supplementary. They argued that IKS itself provides the blueprint for rebuilding the economy, while technology should play a supportive role. Others pointed out that while IKS is self-sufficient and rooted in sustainability, its methods need modern validation and accuracy for wider acceptance.
The competition proved to be an intellectually enriching experience, encouraging students to analyze the intersection of tradition and modernity, explore economic policy implications, and sharpen their debating and analytical skills.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
