Following an engaging Preliminary Round, the Final Round of the Mushtaq Naqvi Memorial Inter-School Debate Competition was held at Unity College on 24 October 2026. The event was graced by the Chief Guest ,Mr Carlyle Macfarland, distinguished educationist and former Principal of La Martiniere College, along with College Secretary Mr Najmul Hasan Rizvi, Jt Secretary Dr M Talha, Principal Mr Deepak Mervyn Mathews, Vice Principal Mr Sachindra Bharti and other distinguished guests. 

The eight qualifying teams presented compelling arguments on the motion, ‘This House Believes that Gender Equality Requires a Shift from Male Approval to Individual Autonomy.’ The judges for the competition were Professor Sangeeta Kotwal, Professor of English at Navyug Kanya Mahavidyalaya, and Ms Uzma Masih, Principal, Indian Academy.

The programme commenced with sacred recitations. 
In the opening address, Principal Mr Mathews declared the debate open and praised the event for its lively energy and high quality of participation. He lauded the Chief Guest, Mr Macfarland as a man of dignity and a powerful leader. Additionally, he  expressed gratitude to the judges and participants for their presence and contributions to the event.

The Chief Guest, Mr Macfarland commended Unity College, noting that facilities have expanded and the vibrant spirit of the College aligns with the vision of Late Dr Kalbe Sadiq Sahab. Encouraging the participants, the Chief Guest advised them to avoid overlapping  points. Addressing the topic, he offered strong views on gender equality, comparing traditional perspectives with contemporary shifts in mindset. Emphasising that true autonomy lies in mutual respect between men and women, he concluded with a powerful message: Respect the difference.

The judges shared their insightful feedback on the participants’ arguments, rebuttals and debating skills.
Ms Masih expressed deep gratitude to Unity College, describing the overall event as amazing and each participant's performance as excellent. She emphasised the fundamental values of respecting every gender and treating everyone with equal regard.

Prof Kotwal shared insightful thoughts on gender equality, pointing out that it should not depend on male approval. She stressed the vital importance of emotional and financial independence, advising participants to exercise their rights with wisdom. She further noted that rather than competing with others, the goal should be to strike an inner balance with oneself.

The Chief Guest and the esteemed judges were presented with tokens of appreciation by Secretary Mr Rizvi and Jt Secretary Dr M Talha.

The event concluded with the vote of thanks proposed by Secretary Mr Rizvi. In his address, Mr Rizvi extended formal gratitude to all participants, mentors, judges, and the Chief Guest, while praising the Chief Guest's vast experience. He commended the impressive performances of the participants and offered special thanks to the Unity team, teachers on duty, and student cabinet members for their dedicated efforts. Concluding his remarks, Mr Rizvi noted that in modern society, females are excelling across all fields, prompting males to strive harder to maintain their presence. He emphasised that the true key lies in creating harmony, stating that a society marred by gender imbalance can never be a perfect one.

The programme drew to a solemn close with the rendition of the National Anthem. All attendees stood in unison to pay respect, bringing the memorable event to a patriotic conclusion.

The results of the Competition were:

Best Team- Unity College (Anayah Siddiqui, Haya Siddiqui, Wara Zehra)

Runner-Up Team- La Martiniere College (Aditya Sharma, Kabir Bhandari, Arjun Grover)

Second Runner-Up Team- Lucknow Public School ( Navya Sharma, Divyanshi Patel, Ghazala Fatima)

Best Speaker (For)- Anayah Siddiqui (Unity College)

Best Speaker (Against)- Navya Sharma (Lucknow Public School)

Runner-Up Speaker (For)-Haya Siddiqui (Unity College)

Runner-Up Speaker (Against)-Divyanshi Patel (Lucknow Public School)

Second Runner-Up (For)- Kabir Bhandari (La Martiniere College)

Second Runner-Up (Against)-Alina Khan (Christ Church College)

Best Whip-Wara Zehra (Unity College)