Odisha Debating Society

Odisha Debating Society is a registered multi-institution organization of debaters, speakers and lexiophiles from institutions across Odisha, making it the first such body that seeks to establish and promote a free exchange of ideas among individuals from middle & high schools, undergraduate and graduate schools, and in turn a strong debating culture particularly in Odisha.

It was founded by a team of three engineering undergraduates in February 2012 as a forum for discussion and debate.

The idea of ODS was first conceived when the three undergrads realized the exigency of good, fair and unbiased fora where yours truly could sharpen their knives, debate and speak and learn.

What further fueled the campaign in its infancy was the lack of awareness about the one form of debate that is now taking the country (and the world, for that matter) by storm: Model United Nations. Being avid MUN-ners with a combined experience of over 50 Model United Nations Conferences themselves, the founder members set out to introduce over 250 students from over 10 institutions to MUNing, which culminated it Odisha Debating Society's first flagship event in collaboration with UN Information Centre for India and Bhutan, ODSMUN was held from 13th to 15th April, 2012 .

Spread across 3 days and 3 councils, ODSMUN boasted of active participation from all over Odisha.

At the heart of ODS lies passion for speaking, debating and critical thought. We welcome anyone and everyone to take part, regardless of whether you have had any previous experience or not. It does not matter what academic discipline you study and we also pride ourselves on being politically and religiously neutral.

The ODS committee and membership is varied and diverse in backgrounds, but what binds all members together is the shared commitment to ODS.

We hope to build on the enduring and badass work done by the founding members to make ODS one of the most successful competitive debating and literary societies in the country.

Odisha Debating Society is always open for anyone who wishes to attend.