The Hindu Huddle on Campus, a precursor to The Hindu Huddle – The Hindu Group’s flagship thought leadership conclave – scheduled to be held in Bengaluru on June 5 and 6, was held at the Anatomy Lecture Hall on the Khaja Bandanawaz University campus here on Tuesday.

Organised by the university in association with The Hindu, the interactive event brought together experts, academicians and students to confront the growing psychological challenges of the internet era.

Delivering the presidential address, university Vice-Chancellor Ali Raza Moosvi, who was the chief guest, emphasised the critical need for platforms that enable young minds to pause, listen and actively debate modern dilemmas.

Referring to The Argumentative Indian, authored by Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, Prof. Moosvi emphasised that the spirit of argument is inherently present in every Indian.

“We believe that we have something to share with others but in the last decade or so, this spirit ‘has stifled’ for various reasons,” Prof. Moosvi observed, highlighting the cultural necessity of intellectual exchange.

Clarifying the institution’s motivation behind hosting the event, he stated that the reason for the university to be part of this deliberation is not for getting publicity but for doing its bit to ensure that the spirit of conversation is kept alive.

He stressed that democratic dialogue must transcend ideological divisions, underscoring that people who do not agree with each other should at least speak with each other.

“We inherently have the spirit of argumentation and discussion in us. It is part of our heritage, culture and history. We grew by debating. We thrived on constantly speaking with each other. If that spirit dies, a part of India will also die and that should not be allowed,” he said.

Detailing the structural blueprint and vision behind the initiative, Head of Events Operations at The Hindu Group Vikram Murali explained that the Huddle on Campus series serves as a vital precursor to The Hindu Huddle, the publication’s acclaimed flagship thought leadership conclave.

Mr. Murali observed that the campus edition is specifically crafted to engage young minds through powerful discussions on multi-faceted issues shaping society, education, politics, technology and mental health.

Earlier, Special Correspondent of The Hindu Rishikesh Bahadur Desai spoke on the vital role that debate and public discourse have played in shaping human civilization and the collective mindset of mankind.

To underline the historical and philosophical significance of keeping an open dialogue between minds, he drew extensive references from the teachings of profound philosophers across the world, including Aristotle, Gautama Buddha, and Basavanna.

Assistant Dean, Students Welfare, Geetanjali Jeevangi spoke of the process of selecting the panelists for the discussion.

“In response to this remarkable opportunity, 27 enthusiastic and talented students across all faculties of the university came forward to participate with unique perspectives and thought-provoking ideas. To ensure fair, meaningful and merit-based selection, a distinguished panel of judges carefully evaluated every candidate on various parameters, including clarity of thought, articulation, confidence and depth of understanding and selected six exceptional students,” she said.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Syed Ashfaq Ahmed, Registrar Mir Vilayat Ali, Dean of Academics Zama Moosvi, Dean of Student Welfare Anup Desai, Assistant Dean of Student Welfare N.M. Maroof, Director of IQAC and Controller of Examinations Abdul Baseer, Manager of Operations at The Hindu Group Sagar Chabria and others were present.