Cracking the Harvard Schools Invitational: What It Really Takes?

There are competitions, and then there are Competitions. The Harvard Invitational Schools Debate definitely belongs to the latter category. With over 300 of the sharpest young minds from across India in the Open Category, plus another 200 in the Novice Category, it was less of a debate and more like stepping into an intellectual gladiator’s arena.

And here’s the kicker: I was in the Open Category. No safety nets. No “novice” excuse. Just straight into the lion’s den.

Somehow, against all odds (and a few existential crises in between), my team managed to land as the 10th Best Team overall. We even broke to Day 3 in the Reserve Category. And personally? I was ranked as the 41st Best Speaker out of 300+ debaters. Not the absolute top, but when you’re up against some of the best in the country, it felt like winning an Olympic medal in surviving sleepless prep nights.

But here’s the truth: the real value of the tournament wasn’t the numbers, it was the experience. I learned that debating at this level is less about throwing facts like confetti and more about strategy, wit, and sometimes just the calm confidence to say, “Yes, I did understand that obscure philosophical point, and here’s why you’re wrong.”

The atmosphere at JPIS, Jaipur, was electric. A huge thank you to IDL and the entire JPIS team for giving us such an amazing campus and environment to think, speak, and learn.

The cherry on top? Meeting some incredible guests of honor. Imagine debating all day and then listening to insights from Aman Gupta of boAt and Amit Jain of CarDekho. It was like flipping between a debate hall and a mini Shark Tank episode. Inspiring, motivating, and — let’s be honest — a little intimidating.

And of course, hats off to the judges. Special mention to Angad Singh Chawla, who didn’t just judge but gave a masterclass to all of us. It wasn’t the usual dry “feedback”; it was the kind of session where you walk away thinking, “Okay, that’s how a real debate mind works.”

Looking back, the Harvard Invitational felt less like a competition and more like a crash course in resilience, quick thinking, and staying calm when 200 people are staring at you, waiting to see if you’ll crack under pressure. Spoiler: I didn’t.

So yes, it was tough. Probably one of the hardest competitions out there. But it was also unforgettable, hilarious in its intensity at times, and genuinely one of the best learning experiences I’ve had.

Now the bar is set high, and I can’t wait to see where the next debate takes me.