Sivasagar, October 21, 2024: The All-Assam Inter-Institution Debating Competition, Wave of Words 3.0, organized by Sahitya Sabha, Nitaipukhuri Branch, in collaboration with Suraksha, became a vibrant stage for intellectual discourse on the role of Artificial Intelligence in society.
Participants from renowned institutions such as Gauhati University, Cotton University, Dibrugarh University, Assam Engineering College, Jagannath Barooah University, North Lakhimpur University and many others institutions across the state gathered to debate the bill in the house that stated, “The widespread application of Artificial Intelligence poses a significant threat to democracy and societal life.”
The house, with Senior journalist Shri Shankab Kaushik Baruah as the Speaker, witnessed not only high-quality arguments but also a standout speech by the judges. Shri Abhishek Kabra, former national debater and a Research Scholar from the Department of Mass Communication and Journalism, Tezpur University addressed the limitations of AI, particularly in the realms of creativity and human emotion.
He expressed, “We do not need AI to replace poetries, short stories, literature, and the arts: things that keep humans truly alive. When intelligence becomes artificial, stupidity becomes natural. But we need AI to find a quick solution for the poor road between Jorhat and Sivasagar, the way that takes us to green and beautiful Nitaipukhuri.” Kabra emphasized that a true communicator is not just a good speaker but, more importantly, a good listener, and underscored the need for rigorous research among the debaters.
In an extraordinary gesture, judges and guests were gifted with locally produced farm products, a gesture that Kabra highlighted in his speech, remarking, “AI cannot replace never replace this gesture of love, we received from the people of Nitaipukhuri-Panidihing.”
The competition saw intense performances, and the winners were announced with great excitement. Dibrugarh University took home the Best Team award, with Cotton University following as the second-best team. Individual honors went to outstanding debaters, with Utpal J. Bora of Dibrugarh University securing the Best Debater title, followed by Mrinmoy Bora from the same institution and Kapil Dev Goswami from Cotton University. Pranavanu Prantu Hazarika of Assam Engineering College received the Jury Special Award for his commendable performance.
The panel of judges for Wave of Words 3.0 included Dr. Mahasweta Devi, Head of the Department of Assamese at Assam Women’s University; Shri Chandopal Saikia, Assistant Professor at Tingkhong College; and Shri Abhishek Kabra. Their thoughtful evaluations and constructive feedback helped the participants refine their skills further. Smt. Mahasweta Devi spoke about the value of debates in personality development, while Shri Chandopal Saikia advocated for a 360-degree approach to debating that incorporates diverse perspectives and analytical rigor.
