Patna: Bihar’s rich tradition of democratic debate took centre stage at Chanakya National Law University (CNLU) on Friday as more than 100 participants from across the country gathered for the 17th Parliamentary Debate, a three-day event aimed at fostering reasoned discussion and parliamentary discourse.Inaugurating the three-day event, state cooperative minister Ram Kripal Yadav said meaningful debate required not only presenting one’s arguments but also listening to, understanding and respecting opposing viewpoints.Linking the culture of debate to Bihar’s democratic heritage, he described Vaishali as the “mother” of republican and democratic traditions and said the seeds of democracy were sown there. He urged the younger generation to carry forward this legacy through dialogue, reasoned disagreement and constructive deliberation.The minister also praised the event’s theme for bringing Bihar’s traditional Tikuli art into a contemporary academic setting, saying it effectively connected the state’s cultural heritage with intellectual discourse.CNLU vice-chancellor Faizan Mustafa, in his address, highlighted the longstanding role of debate in Bihar’s political and intellectual life.Welcoming participants from different parts of the country, he said the growing national reach of the CNLU parliamentary debate reflected its emergence as an important platform for parliamentary discourse.He added that the presence of a foreign adjudicator this year would provide an international dimension and expose participants to diverse perspectives and adjudication standards. Mustafa also expressed hope that the Centre and Bihar government would continue to collaborate with CNLU to strengthen its academic and institutional initiatives.Samridhi Priya, co-convener of the event, traced the evolution of the parliamentary debate and underlined its role in sharpening critical thinking, research, communication, listening skills and constructive engagement with differing viewpoints. Faculty members and students of CNLU were present at the inaugural ceremony.
