Respected Chairperson, members of the jury, respected teachers, my worthy opponents and fellow students, I stand before you

to express my views against the motion [A corruption free India will remain a dream] It is a widespread perception in our society that it is not feasible to eradicate corruption from India just because corruption has always been a part of our society. But I strongly believe that such statements represent an easy excuse for taking no action at all. Moreover, nothing could be more illogical than stating that corruption was and is always a part of our whole society. My opponents may then ask, if a strong belief that corruption can be eradicated is sufficient to make eradication of corruption a possibility?[Did you mean this?? Or else please rephrase it] The answer I would give is "yes", given that our belief is succeeded by resolute thought and action. For instance, when a young man was thrown out of a railway compartment in South Africa merely because he had black skin, if a question was asked whether this racial system could be changed, the answer would then have been negative. But he believed that it could be changed, and he later became the torch bearer of non-violent agitation. Hes non other than our Mahatma Gandhi. Thus, I am strongly convinced that we should start our exercise to answer the question "Can India ever become a corruption-free state?" affirmatively, with "yes, it can". If not, we will have no alternative but to continue to live and die with corruption. According to the Corruption Perception Index for 1999 by Transparency International, India is ranked 73 out of 99 surveyed countries in the planet. If there could be 72 countries less corrupt than ours, I completely fail to see any reason why India should be perpetually wallowing in corruption at the bottom of this list. To eradicate corruption we require individuals who are incorruptible and effectual. Bills such as the Jan Lokpal Bill must be drafted, adopted and enforced. Education must encompass theory as well as morality because corruption, just like violence, begins in the mind. Cases of corruption should be swiftly investigated into. Better education, stricter laws and severe penalties are all just a few of the option we have.

My next argument against the motion is that corruption exists only when there is a taker as well as a giver. If we can tackle the supply side of corruption which is composed of ourselves, don't you feel we can eradicate corruption? History is replete with examples of dramatic changes that have been brought about in various corruption scenes. At this point, I would like to raise a question: if Rudi Giuliani, when he became the Mayor of New York six years ago, could dramatically bring down the crime levels in New York; if in Singapore, Leek Kwan Yew was able to build a culture of a clean society; if in Italy, the Mafia could be taken on by the Clean Hands movement; if corruption could entirely eradicated from Lichtenstein by its government; why can't we? Reflecting on these instances, I completely fail to understand the notion that a corruption-free India will only remain a dream. I bring my speech to a close in anticipation that my friends would have now been convinced that it is indeed possible to have a corruption-free India. As the Napoleonic verse goes, nothing is impossible! Thank you!