18 - 21 July 2019CHENNAI, INDIA

www.indianschoolsdebatingsociety.com

WelcomING YOU to Mini Worlds 2019Letter from the Chairperson of ISDS

Hindu Temple in Salem, Tamil Nadu

Dear participants of Mini Worlds Chennai 2019,

Vanakkam - Welcome to Chennai!

As you prepare for debating over the next three days, I want to give you a brief background about the Indian Schools Debating Society (ISDS) and Mini Worlds Chennai 2019, and thank you for supporting our tournament.

Over the last ten years ISDS worked to mainstream competitive debating in schools in India. ISDS has been instrumental in selecting and training teams to represent India at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC). From being a small, local organization in 2008, ISDS has now established a truly national circuit, reaching hundreds of schools and thousands of students in India, while developing a strong set of coaches and trainers. Team India has followed a similar trajectory - from being a new nation in 2008, we proceeded to become finalists at WSDC 2018, with an Indian speaker adjudged best speaker in the world.

As a natural progression of our journey in promoting high school debating in India, we are now hosting Mini Worlds Chennai 2019 - India's first international debating tournament in the World Schools format. With 12 participating national teams from every WSDC region, you have been instrumental in ensuring that we made a good start in organizing an international event.

We hope to use this opportunity to give you a platform to debate, and have a taste of our culture. We also wish that this tournament provides the opportunity for the many Indian students to watch world-class debating in live action and inspire them to start debating.

Thank you for being here with us. I hope you enjoy our hospitality.

With warm regards,

Nirmala RajaChairperson, Indian Schools Debating Society

Letter from our Tournament Director

Dear participants of Mini Worlds Chennai 2019,

As the Tournament Director, it is my privilege to extend our warm welcome to you.

We hope that Mini Worlds Chennai 2019 will give you an exhilarating tournament experience. From choosing debate venues, to planning lunches, to putting together tournament goodies, each one of you has been at the centre of our decision-making process. We, therefore, encourage you to partake in everything we have to offer - the competition, building of friendships, and taste our culture.

It would be remiss of me not to take a moment and acknowledge the collective effort of the organizing team whose tireless work has gone into curating this experience for you. We would like to thank our sponsors - the Ramco Group, the ever-supportive ISDS alumni, our team of student volunteers, our network of schools in Chennai, Mini Worlds 2019 Tournament Partners, and the City of Chennai.

We are excited to bring India’s first WSDC-style tournament to life. Welcome once again, and please reach out to us should you need anything at all - we will be just around the corner.

Nandri – Thank you for making this occasion even more special by being here!

With warm regards,

Ragini SrinivasanTournament Director, Mini Worlds Chennai 2019

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Accommodation Ramada Plaza Hotel36, Sardar Patel Rd, Little Mount, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032Contact:+91 44 45653333

Debating VenueArsha Vidya Mandir114, Velachery Road, Guindy, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600032

Emergency ContactRagini SrinivasanM: +91 9840641677

Medical EmergenciesHotel: At the hotel, there is always a doctor on call available. Please contact reception should you need the doctor’s support and consultation. For emergencies that require further attention, the hotel will take you to SIMS Hospital, who can be contacted on +91 44 42911455.

School Venues: Participants can go to the First Aid Room in the school located on the ground floor should there be any medical requirements. An ambulance will be positioned outside the school for more serious cases, and participants will be transported to either Apollo Clinic (+91 44 48551838), or the Apollo Children’s Hospital (+91 44 28298282).

INFORMATION YOU NEED

ISDS’ National Selection Camp

ABOUT US

About the Indian Schools Debating Society

The Indian Schools Debating Society (ISDS) is a not-for-profit organization, powered by the Ramco Group of Companies, that aims to take competitive debating to students across India, and officially represents India at the World Schools Debating Championships. Since its inception in 2008 in Chennai, when a mere five schools came together to learn debating, ISDS has taken on activities every year to encourage students to bloom into mature and politically involved problem-solvers. A pioneer in bringing the ‘World Schools’ format of debating to India, ISDS builds capacity within schools by training teachers with the assistance of the best debaters from around the world. The organization now has a pan-India presence, operating in over 10 cities, and reaching over 1000 students every year from diverse backgrounds.

10 years 3000+Students reached since inception

Representation of Indiaat WSDC

Teacher Coordinators trained since inception

500+

Number of teams trained to represent ISDS nationally

and internationally since inception

23Number of teams trained in 2019 to represent India at international tournaments

5India’s best performanceat WSDC (WSDC 2018)

Finalist

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About the Ramco Group

The Ramco Group is a leading industrial group in India with over 75 years of international repute. Companies within the group perform diverse activities that include manufacturing cement, cotton yarn, and green roofing products, and the delivery of innovative business solutions in aviation, human resources, and Enterprise Resource Planning. They are deeply invested in conducting Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities across India, especially in education and skilling. Over 17,000 students are currently studying in primary, secondary, and tertiary educational institutions through their assistance.

Their philanthropic support for ISDS forms a key part of their CSR initiatives. Since 2008, through their shared passion for debate and education, Ramco and ISDS have formed a lasting partnership to encourage students across India to think critically through engaging in competitive debating. Towards this end, the Ramco Group has completely sponsored ISDS’ activities, and additionally provided ISDS with logistical and structural support.

In keeping with their support, the Ramco Group is also the official sponsor of Mini Worlds Chennai 2019.

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PARTICIPATING NATIONS

12 nations from across the world are participating in Mini Worlds Chennai 2019

IndiaSri LankaSouth KoreaHong Kong

EnglandWalesIrelandThe Netherlands

MexicoNigeriaAustraliaNew Zealand

INDIA

SRI LANKA

SOUTH KOREA

HONG KONG

ENGLANDWALES

IRELANDNETHERLANDS

MEXICO

NIGERIA

AUSTRALIA

NEW ZEALAND

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Aerial View of East Coast Road Seashore, Chennai

DDE

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TOURNAMENTSCHEDULE

Day 0: July 18, 2019

1:00 pm onwards Check-in and Registration Hotel Lobby

6:00 PM – 7:40 PM Tournament and Judge Briefing AVM School Library

Day 1: July 19, 2019

7:45 AM – 8:15 AM Departures to Venue Hotel Lobby

9:30 AM – 9:45 AM Match-ups and Motion: Round 1

Match-ups and Motion: Round 2

School Auditorium

9:45 AM – 12:30 PM Round 1: Prep Time, Debate, Prep and Debate Rooms

Feedback

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch Lunch Hall

1:30 PM – 1:45 PM Lunch Hall

1:45 PM – 4:30 PM Round 2: Prep Time, Debate, Feedback

Prep and Debate Rooms

Tea / Coffee Break Lunch Hall

4:45 PM – 5:00 PM

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM

Match-ups and Motion: Round 3 Lunch Hall

5:00 PM – 7:45 PM Round 3: Prep Time, Debate, Feedback

Prep and Debate Rooms

8:00 PM – 8:30 PM Dinner Lunch Hall

TIME ACTIVITIES VENUE TIME ACTIVITIES VENUE

Day 2: July 20, 2019

8:05 AM – 8:35 AM Departures to Venue Hotel Lobby

9:00 AM – 9:15 AM Match-ups and Motion: Round 4 School Auditorium

9:15 AM – 12:00 PM Round 4: Prep Time, Debate, Feedback

Prep and DebateRooms

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Lunch Lunch Hall

1:00 PM – 1:15 PM Match-ups and Motion: Round 5 Lunch Hall

1:15 PM – 4:00 PM Round 5: Prep Time, Debate, Feedback

Prep and DebateRooms

4:00 PM – 4:30 PM Tea / Coffee Break Lunch Hall

4:30 PM – 4:45 PM Match-ups and Motion: Round 6 Lunch Hall

4:45 PM – 7:30 PM Round 6: Prep Time, Debate, Feedback

Prep and DebateRooms

7:45 PM – 8:30 PM Departures to Break Night School Auditorium

Day 3: July 21, 2019

8:30 AM – 8:45 AM Semifinal Motion and Match-ups Hotel Lobby

8:45 AM – 11:45 AM Semifinal Prep, Debate, Results Hotel Venues

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM Finals Announcement Hotel Venues

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Prep Time Hotel Venues

1:00 PM –

–

2:30 PM

4:00 PM

Grand Final Hotel Venues

2:45 PM Closing Ceremony, Results Hotel Venues

8:30 PM – 10:30 PM Break Night Dinner Barbeque Nation

4:30 PM onwards Departures Hotel Venues

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GETTING AROUND CHENNAI

Marina Beach, Chennai

About ChennaiLocated on the coast of the Bay of Bengal, Chennai is the cultural and economic capital of South India. It’s rated the 43rd best city in the world to visit and is the safest city in India. A city with a strong linguistic and cultural history known for its music, religious heritage, and diverse and vibrant food, the four-hundred-year-old city was once a prominent port city under British India. Home to 10 million, Chennai is celebrated as the city that makes everyone that seeks it thrive.

Places to VisitMarina Beach / Elliots Beach (7-10 kms)

Great to visit in the mornings or evenings, to view the sunrise/sunset, participate in games (balloon shooting, merry-go-rounds, etc.), to eat various street foods (these will be spicy, as a fair warning!), and witness Chennai’s buzzing people and beautiful culture. The Marina beach is also the second longest beach stretch in the world. The Fort St. George Museum is also a quick visit from Marina Beach. Do note that due to the strong tides, we do not recommend swimming at the beach.

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Kapaleeswarar Temple (7.6 kms)

A 7th CE built Hindu temple in the Dravidian style of architecture, the Kapaleeswarar Temple is a beautiful monument and central landmark in the city around which culture and food revolve. It is a Hindu Temple dedicated to Lord Shiva, worshipped in Hinduism as ‘the Destroyer’.

Egmore Government Museum (8.6 kms)

Started in 1851, the Egmore Museum is the second oldest museum in India and is particularly rich in archaeological and numismatic collections. It hosts an expansive physical record of Indian history, the largest collection of Roman antiques outside of Europe, and the National Art Gallery that possesses rare works like those of artists like Raja Ravi Verma.

DakshinaChitra (29.4 kms)

Aptly called “a picture of the south,” DakshinaChitra is a living history museum that recreates scenes from real South Indian life, displaying the art, folk performing-arts, craft, and architecture of South India. It is a great place to buy Indian handicrafts if you’ve got an entire day off to shop until you drop!

St. Thomas Cathedral Basilica, Chennai

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16 / 17 Masala Dosai with spicy potato filling

Food to Try

DosaSavoury crepes made out of fermented rice batter, served with various chutneys (coconut, mint, tomato-onion, to name a few) and sambar (a lentil based spicy soup). The Masala Dosa also comes with a potato filling in the dosa! A delicious staple of the South, especially if eaten crisp. If you visit Elliots Beach, try these at “Murugan Idli Shop”. Otherwise, definitely try them at breakfast at the Hotel.

‘Full Meals’A South Indian “thali” or full plate serving rice and bread with various gravies, vegetable and meat dishes, sweets, and other accompaniments, typically had for lunch. Traditionally, this entire meal is served on a banana leaf. Try a full meal in Chennai at “Sangeetha” or “Annalakshmi” (all vegetarian). If you’re up for a challenge, try the full meal that comes with 50 dishes (of which half are meat-based) at “Ponnusamy’s”.

Naan/Tandoori Roti and Butter Chicken/Paneer Butter Masala (and other gravies)A North Indian favorite. The ‘Naan/Roti’ is Indian bread that can be flavoured differently (garlic, chilli and olive/cheese, potato, fenugreek, mint, and the list is endless). These go well with the rich gravies North Indian food can offer. The paneer (cottage cheese) based gravies are especially popular. Enjoy some of these at the Rooftop Restaurant at your hotel or step out to “Cream Centre” or “Hamsa” (all vegetarian) or ‘Bombay Brasserie’.

Filter Kaapi (Filter Coffee)An infusion of “decoction”, which is obtained by letting Indian coffee drip through a fine filter, and steamed and frothed milk, a South Indian delicacy, and popular day-starter. It can also be had right after a meal, as dessert.

Dancing dolls of Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu

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Restaurants NearbyBombay Brasserie (3.7 kms) North Indian

Sangeetha (1.3 kms) South Indian

Ciclo Café (4.5 kms) Italian and American Cafe

Phoenix Market City (4.5 kms) Mall with various food options

Souvenir ShoppingChennaigagaYou can find uniquely-Chennai souvenirs at this store located at Phoenix Market City, and on TTK Road. These range from T-shirts to magnets to mugs and coasters.

TantraTantra is a popular, youth-based T-shirt company, that brings pieces of India alive through cartoons on T-shirts. You can find a Tantra Store at Phoenix Market City.

The Chumbak StoreA range of cute accessories, home décor, and souvenirs with ethnic designs can be found at this store. Phoenix Market City has a physical Chumbak Store.

TransportationUber rides in Chennai are convenient to get, and inexpensive. Book yourself an Uber to go around!

Know the Language

TamiL

Wa n t V e n u m

F o r m e E n a k k u

By e / S e e yo u l at e rP o i t u Va r e n

C o m e h e r eI n ga va a n ga

G o t h e r eA n ga p o n ga

H e l lo Va n a k k a m

M y n a m e i s E n n o da p e r u

A r e yo u w e l l? N a l l a i r u k k i n ga l a?

T h a n k Yo u N a n d r i

H ow m u c h ?E va lo ?

Bharatanatyam is the classical dance form of Tamil Nadu

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