Model United Nations, or MUN, is a very popular concept today, where students roleplaying UN delegates simulate UN committees. The aim is to provide students with an idea of diplomacy while handling public relations at an international level. That being said, it would not be incorrect to assume that a majority of students, today, have a fair knowledge of the functioning of the United Nations. However, it is unfortunate that being Indians, we know little about the functioning of the Indian parliament. This is precisely the idea behind the Youth Parliament, which will be held on the 23rd of October ’16, by Leaders of Tomorrow (LoT).
The Youth Parliament (YP) is a concept similar to MUN, except, it will simulate the Indian Parliament. It will consist of three components: the Joint Crisis Committee, the Joint Cabinet and, for the first time, a Moot court.
The Joint Crisis Committee, a historic committee, will involve ISI and RAW pitted against each other in the setting of Kargil War. The catch here, however, is that there will be a ‘freeze date’ and all actual events after that day will be discounted. Putting it in a simpler way, the agencies will be given a particular date ‘during’ the war and they have to plan their future course of action based on their current situation; the events after that day as they took place are discounted – if planned properly, Pakistan might just win the Kargil War! The two agencies will be made to sit in separate rooms, wherein they will discuss their future strategies. The agencies will be updated about each other’s plans. Since this requires making impromptu decisions in response to constant updates, this isn’t the best option for beginners as it would require some prior experience (it doesn’t hurt to try, though!)
The second component, i.e. The Joint Cabinet is the just the thing for beginners. Contrary to the Joint Crisis Committee, the Joint Cabinet will pertain to the current Indo-Pak situation. Students roleplaying members of the cabinet from each country will assemble in a room to discuss matters of national importance and international peace. The discussion will mainly centre around the Surgical Strike, LOC restrictions and the use of nuclear weapons – all in context of the situation hitherto. Also, the Cabinets are given all the pre-requisite information, which makes it a little simple for first timers.
The third component, the Moot Court will be a mock courtroom scenario. Participants will be grouped in teams of 3-4, depending on the response. The case for the Moot will be the Gujarat riot. The Moot, as all other Moots are, will be highly ‘debate-oriented’ and will need the ‘lawyers’ to be highly convincing, eloquent and vehement in what they have to say.
Realising the importance of knowing about the Indian Parliament, LoT is leaving no stone unturned to make the YP as resourceful as it can get. But for this, they require an equal response from students in the form of participation, enthusiasm and the urge to learn and grow.
In addition, LoT is conducting a Training session on the 18th of October (Tuesday) so as to guide beginners.
They are ready. Are you?
–Priyanjali Roychoudhury, for MTTN
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