Bengaluru boy develops world's first live online debating platform

[email protected] (CD Network)
December 5, 2016

Bengaluru, Dec 5: Siddharth Pandiya, a student of Grade 12 at Greenwood High International School, Bangalore, has developed the world's first live debating platform which allows debaters from around the globe to engage in an intellectual discussion of relevant topics. Siddharth, an avid debater and a Model UN participant, took the reins to start the initiative called Debate for Change, the first and only live voice debate platform in the world.

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The 16 year-old is an avid debater and has participated in debates and Model UN conferences since middle school. Having noticed the glaring absence of a quality debate platform to debate with people on the same level, he started Debate for Change to fill this very void.

“I realized that people who are interested in debating for joy, do not have a practice ground to learn from others and discuss the pertinent issues facing the world today, every day. Moreover, existing debates which we watch on TV and the internet often devolve into chaos, diluting the quality of debate. That is what inspired me to develop Debate for Change – as a platform for the exchange of ideas among people of all ages, across the world,” said Siddharth Pandiya about his initiative.

The website, https://www.debateforchange.com, has many unique features which set it apart from other text-based debate websites. Participants sign up, choose a topic and debate against people worldwide in the presence of a moderator, who judges the debate and decides a winner. Based on the number of participations and wins, debaters attain a worldwide ranking. The participants can discuss any topic with anyone registered.

Siddharth's other notable triumph was when he founded MUNdreas, India's premier Model UN (MUN) delegation, which has consistently won the country's most prestigious MUN, Harvard MUN, in 2015 and 2016. He is also a tech enthusiast, and aims to pursue Computer Science during his higher education. Moreover, he has quizzed at the national level, and is a footballer, having represented his school as a central defender. He wishes to become a tech entrepreneur and start something of his own in this arena. Debate for Change is clearly a leap in that direction.

Niru Agarwal, Trustee, Greenwood High International, said, “Provided with due encouragement, students will rise to the challenge to solve any impending problem. Greenwood High is proud to have had the chance to harbor such talent that inspires generations of students to reach for something great.”

Comments

suresh
 - 
Monday, 5 Dec 2016

Recently student who created braille system encouraged by our PM in his speech, printed currency by inspiration of make in India and caught.

Well Said
 - 
Monday, 5 Dec 2016

Indian brain always Rock but our dirty Politics never let to grow. Gandhi Raj Neethi, Gandhi Kel.

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News Network
May 19,2024

raghunandankamat.jpg

Naturals Ice Cream founder Raghunandan Kamath passed away following a brief illness. Born to a mango vendor in a village in Mangaluru, Kamath went on to establish Naturals, an ice cream parlour estimated to be worth Rs 400 crore today. 

"Our thoughts on the sad demise of our patron and founder of Naturals Ice Cream, Late Raghunandan Kamath. Indeed a very sad and unfortunate day for us," the company said.

Mr Kamath grew up helping his father in selling mangoes in a village Karnataka's Mangaluru. This was when he learned the art of picking the ripe fruit, plucking it, sorting it, and preserving it.

As the legend goes, a young 14-year-old Kamath boarded a train from Mangaluru and came to Mumbai (then Bombay). 

After working at his brother’s restaurant, Kamath had an idea — if ice creams have fruit flavours, why can’t they have real fruits. He decided to fill this void in the market. But unsure of whether customers would come, he began his business with serving pav-bhaji as the main dish and the ice cream as an add on.

His first ice cream parlour was launched in 1984 in Juhu, with the initial menu featuring around 12 flavours, each being a testament to the knowledge he acquired during the time he assisted his father in Mangaluru.

The demand kept growing and he opened five more outlets in 1994. Currently, it has over 165 outlets across 15 cities.
 
His story was captured expansively in ‘Intelligent Fanatics of India’, a book co-authored by Mumbai-based journalist Pooja Bhula.

Inspired by his mother's techniques, Kamath also developed innovative machines to streamline production and ensure consistency, notes the company website.

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News Network
May 5,2024

Karwar, May 5: What commenced as a mere exchange of words between spouses swiftly transmuted into a calamitous ordeal, resulting in the heartbreaking loss of their innocent offspring. The heart-wrenching incident unfolded in the serene confines of Halamaddy village in the picturesque expanse of Dandeli, nestled within the idyllic expanse of Uttara Kannada district.

In the throes of a fervent dispute with her spouse, the aggrieved wife, succumbing to an overwhelming surge of emotions, callously propelled their tender six-year-old progeny into the somber depths of a nearby canal, thereafter alerting the local populace to her grievous act.

Promptly apprised of the distressing occurrence by concerned bystanders, the authorities were swiftly summoned to the scene to confront the harrowing aftermath.

Responding to the distress call, the diligent officers of Dandeli rural police swiftly converged upon the site where the innocent child had been cast into the unforgiving waters of the canal, subsequently effecting the retrieval of the child's lifeless form. 

Regrettably, it was discerned that a portion of the child's remains had been tragically claimed by the lurking jaws of a predatory crocodile.

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News Network
May 8,2024

Mangaluru: The Mangaluru North police have apprehended a minor in connection with alleged voyeurism incident reported in a private medical college in Mangaluru. 

DCP (Law and order) Sidharth Goyal said that the minor was produced before JJ Board as per due procedure. The incident came to light when a mobile phone was found in women's washroom in the college. 

The mobile-phone was discovered as it was ringing even when no one was in the toilet by the security guard of the college. 

Investigations revealed that the mobile phone had been strategically placed in the restroom. As a result, a case has been registered under north police station.

Further scrutiny into the matter uncovered the identity of the accused, a minor male aged 17, who had gained access to the college premises under the guise of being a patient. Following his apprehension, the accused was presented before the Juvenile Justice (JJ) Board in adherence to legal protocols.

The phone has been seized and a case has been booked under IPC section 354 (C), said the DCP.

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