JTP MUN : An Unforgettable Experience

JTP MUN: Carmel’s initiative for training the future MUN stars
By – Sachi Singhal
Carmel and St. Johns came together for a simulation of the Model United Nations, with 26 Carmelites and 23 johnians becoming the delegates of 24 countries, debating as well as having fun at the same time.
Model United Nations is a debate on the academic front where students represent countries and discuss various matters of global concern. The agenda for our first simulation was Kyoto Protocol in the General Assembly and Mitigation of the impact of financial Crisis on trade and development in The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC).
The Board comprised of Pearl, Rajat, Divir, and Aditya in the General Assembly while Abhivyakti, Deeksha, Karan and Aseem chaired the ECOSOC.
Sunday, 8th November… There was constant mingling, lobbying around and formation of the two blocs, namely, Anti USA and Pro USA. The committee begun with a roll call taken by our rapporteur Divir, where each “delegate” had to answer Present, or Present and voting for their respective country, after which the real cut throat debate commenced. There we sat, young delegates buzzing with fresh energy and flowing information, itching to put forward our country’s stand. At first we were kind of docile, but as we tuned in, numberless point of orders, point of inquiries, point of information were on the floor, and their was our session
With the help of chits, which were passed through messengers (namely Akshay, Ashish and Arpan)the blocs came on mutual decisions for the main aim of each committee, i.e., landing on solutions acceptable to all countries. After discussing countries’ stands on Kyoto Protocol, various moderated and unmod caucuses were passed, in which we discussed various matters in further details. Finally, the committee was adjourned for lunch, and the blocs got together to discuss solutions. In the unmoderated caucus that followed, working papers made and ready to be voted upon (we didn’t make draft resolutions this time), Sarthak (El Salvador) and Harjasleen (Iraq) on one team and Anekant (UK), Meghna (USA), Srajit (Korea) and myself (Burkina Faso) on the other, and after discussions and amendments, voting begun.
The second resolution, namely our resolution, passed by 80% votes.
And with this our committee was adjourned and we walked out of the classroom with a strange kind of happiness accompanied with a sense of accomplishment, that yes, we are officially MUNers. Collecting outside the classrooms with our friends and other fellow students, we discussed about our whole unforgettable day, and with Arpan’s rocking drumming, our unexplainably interesting, enjoyable and too great to be true day came to an end. In a tête-à-tête with some of the delegates-
Ashwan Thakur, the delegate of Kuwait (GA) shares his experience,” JTP MUN was like a dream come true. Even though I felt lost in the start, I soon caught up and as I look back to that day, I feel a sense of nostalgia when I think about how we were so awed by this eye opening experience. The JTP MUN was a completely unforgettable experience.”
Meghna Bhasin, the delegate of US, further chirps in, “Quite some time has passed since out MUN was held at St. Johns. But, I still can’t shake off the habits of the Delegate of the United States. The JTP MUN was our first experience, and it was really one hell of an experience! Our Executive Board was absolutely wonderful and we kept surprising our laugh get at the witty jokes of our Chair, Rajat Jain’s witty humor. There was a bit of friction between the two blocs – Anti USA, and pro USA, and when it finally came to making our resolution papers, it was the former’s paper which was passed. Time flew before we even realized and when we departed, I felt like a more aware person; as is my vision, which had been so limited, had been broadened! All those sleepless nights spent in research had been worth it, and now I know that I definitely want to get a chance to take part in an MUN again. The fire has been lit!!”
Kanika Sehgal, the delegate of China, with a nostalgic grin, comments,”I did something I was itching to do since forever. Now that our first simulation is over, I look back and feel a rush of adrenaline pass through, along with all the good unforgettable memories which I will cherish forever. It wasn’t just all fun, but also a lot of hard work, and I gained a lot of confidence and awareness out of the simulation. Proud to be an MUNer.”

Okay so now let me make reading this post a little more clear to you –
Bloc – A group of countries, having similar needs or thoughts (just like friend circles)
Working Paper – It contains all the solutions blocs offer
Draft resolution – A more organized working paper on which voting is done
Lobbying – Making friends with ally countries
Points – Just like questions, but in a more organized manner, different points for different uses, like point of inquiry is to ask about the procedure, etc

Idea Exchange: An encounter with an Unlikely Hero 18th November 2009

by Sachi Singhal
Indian Express: Idea Exchange Programme
People from various sections of the Indian Express media team came together to interview Mr. Om Puri, one of the best and most talented gems of the Indian Cinema. A self made personality, he has given 32 years of his life to various arty as well as publicly entertaining films like Ardh Satya, Jaane Bhi Do Yaaron and more recently Singh is King.
Standing perplexed between the constant milling and hustle bustle of the Indian Express team, while we all waited with bated breaths, there entered a man with a casual walk and a pleasant smile on his face, and his deep majestic voice intimidated us all. A man of jolly spirits, Mr. Puri was extremely open about his life, both personal as well as social. A self made personality, Mr. Puri also enlightened us about his childhood struggle, about how he used to pick up leftover coal bits thrown out of the engine, which he used as fuel at his home, and many other incidents which left us glassy eyed, wondering how actually did he reach his present super stardom.
With an applaudable sense of humor, he also related an incident of his comic encounter with Shabana Azmi when she exclaimed, after seeing this then struggling actor with a shaggy mane, “How dare you come to Bombay with a face like this!”
A firm believer of training and practice, Mr. Puri also related various incidents from his National School of Drama days. His good natured personality and his deep, almost extraordinarily masculine voice gripped our souls and left us gaping for breath.
His advice to all the journalists, both established as well as upcoming ones is that they are an integral part of the society, and are much needed in great numbers, provided they are considerate and sensitive about their fellow personnel and have a display a good deal of honesty. Cheers to all the journalists! And kudos to this Unlikely Hero! :)