'To me, happiness is dependent on the little things of life – like, taking a long walk through the lush green pathways in MCC!' ❤️

The Epic Battle of Ideas! 

The Materialists vs The Realists

II MA English | Debating Hour! ❤️

#classactivity

The great debate between The Materialists and The Realists got underway in the II MA English Classroom, QSC Building, at 9.30 am, today.

The topic for today’s Debate was –

Is being happy connected with having a lot of money?

Students were given the freedom to discuss, debate, dispute, and defend their points of view, taking care to tackle and to battle with the idea, not with the person!

While The Materialists were of the firm view that being happy is connected with having a lot of money, The Realists were convinced that, being happy ain’t got anything to do with money!

Students were at their elegant best, giving out their thoughts and ideas, in such dignified ways, with aplomb, thereby displaying the spirit of camaraderie and bonhomie all through the debate - which finally came to an end, around 10.40 am!

The battle lines were drawn when Tamil Mani – who was also the event’s Timer – flipped the coin, in the presence of Anderlin [representing The Materialists], and Sneka [representing The Realists].

Shane, the official photographer of the event, did a phenomenal photography of the event with such dedication and professionalism!

I was awestruck and amazed at the way the students gave such beautiful names for their groups - The Materialists, and The Realists!

Here’s giving y’all excerpts from the Great Debate, held today –

The Materialists, having won the toss, elected to put forth their first spirited defence, with Brindha leading The Materialists’ onslaught -  

I would like to begin, by putting forth the proposition that, even to fulfil our most basic physiological needs like food, clothing and shelter, we need money.

Hence I would like to reiterate the fact that, money is indeed connected with happiness,

she said.

The Realists, struck back, dealing their first blow, with the words –

‘Money can’t buy you, your health’.

This was seconded by Dhanavaishnavi, from The Realists, again, who underscored the phrase, ‘A lot of money’, which she said should be noted by the opponents!

Sruthi, again from The Realists, for her part, flailed The Materialists’ line of defence, delivering a fiery projectile –

Well, the very concept of ‘lot of money’ is highly relative.

Say, for example, Rs. 50/- might seem to be a great source of joy to a poor guy. However, to a comparatively rich person, Rs. 50/- might seem highly insignificant! Hence, happiness is also relative!

Abishek, again from The Realists, joined the bandwagon, reiterating what his Realists’ counterparts were saying, and added –

Money cannot give peace of mind to anyone. There are many wealthy people who are suffering from anger and irritation all of the time, because they’re always concerned about their money.

The Materialists, retaliated with Diya enthusiastically seconding the Materialists’ line of defence, saying,

You see, a person’s happiness is related with one’s quality of life; and one’s quality of life is enhanced bigtime only by money.

To this, Nishita, on behalf of The Realists, countered the claim, saying –

We find from real life experience, how even many high-renowned celebrities, down the ages, with oodles and oodles of money on them, have been battling depression, anxiety and sadness for long.

On the other hand, I’ve also known a family that stays quite close to where I dwell – they are rural people who spend quality time in family fellowship, having fun and laughter all along! I find real happiness as an ingrained ingredient of their lives.

So being happy is NOT connected with happiness,

she reiterated.

Diya from The Materialists, retaliated, saying - 

How on earth can you say that rural people in villages are happy?

When we read in the newspapers about scores of rural people, especially farmers dying every other day, because of poverty, this statement looks highly preposterous.

Moreover, Psychiatric treatment is becoming more and more expensive by the day. For just an hour’s session with the psychiatrist, we see people spending 1000 bucks and more! So this argument per se doesn’t stand any merit,

she said.

Sneha Dominic from The Materialists, seconded her counterpart -  

Even living a healthy life is a very expensive proposition today.

Especially the mentally ill people are in need of a lot of medicines to ameliorate their condition, which again, bespeaks to the fact that, health is connected with money, and money is connected with happiness,

said Sneha.

At this juncture, Abishek Rajeev, from The Realists, chipped in -  

Sometimes even therapy doesn’t help in aiding a healthy lifestyle.

So money becomes of no value here.

It’s all in one’s attitude. When you have a highly optimistic outlook and attitude, that in itself acts as a great stimulant to health and healing,

he added.

Diya, representing The Materialists, quickly intervened -  

I guess, you are undermining the knowledge of the entire medical community, by saying such statements.

And replying to Nishita, she said,

Quality of life is not dependent on money. Rather, ‘Quality of Life’ could be defined as the state of mind where you don’t worry about money!

To Abishek’s claim that, sometimes even therapy doesn’t help, Diya said –

That means the therapy is not good enough. You need advanced therapy! And for that, again, you need a lot of money!

Vinaya Mary, from The Realists’ fort, said –

In Kerala, a few years back, when going abroad to earn money was in vogue, I have known a beautiful family that stays close to ours, who were so happy and contented all of the time.

They were living in a small house, and yet, they were so satisfied and joyous beyond measure. But then, their sons settled in Germany and in Canada. Soon, things began to change.

They had enough money to build a four-storeyed house, after which, I’ve no longer seen the same, beautiful smile on their faces!

said Vinaya.

Sneha, from The Materialists, gave a rejoinder, saying –

But you see, you can’t essentialise or generalize on this subject of ‘happiness’.

In the movie titled, ‘Kerala Café’, where, Salim, who is poor, has to face a harsh dilemma – caught between his wife and his ailing mother, he has to take a call!

Although he loves his mother, he decides to abandon her, and his mother finally has to resort to begging! All this, only because he lacks money on him,

said Sneha.

Snigdha too, for her part, quickly countered Vinaya’s point, saying –

But why on earth did the family decide to send their sons abroad?

It’s all because of the simple fact that they wanted more money, ain’t they? So money is of utmost importance to one’s happiness!

On Abishek’s point, Snigdha said that,

If therapy has failed, that means there’s lack of research in the field of therapy. Hence, in order to support good therapy, path-breaking research needs to be done.

And for this, heavy investment of money is needed for research, in order to give the best therapy for such people,

she added.

Benita now joined issue with The Materialists -  

My father has a Tea factory. He sometimes takes back home, some hard cash with him. On such occasions, when we want to go out as a family, we are literally not able to go out on such long overdue family outings, because of the pressure of the cash back at home,

said Benita.

Anderlin now took exception to Benita -  

You should be happy that your dad has money to offer you, to even think of going out on a family outing.

Snigdha added ammo to Anderlin’s line of defence, saying –

You can at least think of going on an outing, but what about the working class people who can’t even think of going out on an outing, because they’ve to work round the clock, with no time to spare for the family?

said Snigdha.

Now, Saru Krishna stepped onto the battleground, and fired his first salvo - 

Supposing I give you a million dollars today, but you don’t wake up tomorrow to see the money, what is the use of all the money, then?

Snigdha, promptly stepped in to counter and to refute his hypothetical assumption, saying –

Even if, supposing parents lose their child to depression, they could still start a charity, by garnering money, to help save, and cure many such children who are going through depression.

Now, Harini, from The Realists, propelled her very first scud attack on her opponents –

When it comes to Studying Abroad, Universities like Harvard, have this system wherein, students are not expected to have a minimum bank balance to be eligible to study there. 

Hence, rightfully deserving candidates high on passion, get the chance of accessing such prestigious Universities for their Higher Studies. So life is not always about money! It’s all about passion, which can take us places,

quipped Harini.

Diya from The Materialists, countered this claim, saying –

Well, you’re talking about one or two students who can make it to Harvard, because of passion. What about the remaining 99? It’s their hefty bank balance which takes them to those Universities, and helps them to study there.

Now, Brindha, again from The Materialists, upped the ante, saying –

I hope you’d have seen Rufus sir’s Coffee statuses that he shares on his whatsapp.

He takes his coffee from ordinary coffee shops, which give him happiness. He doesn’t go to Starbucks.

So the question is – Does a mega coffee store like Starbucks give you happiness?

Absolutely not!

That’s why we wish to reiterate the fact that, the concept of ‘A lot of money’, is highly relative!

Now Jaysudha on behalf of The Realists, chimed in, saying –

Sir, I guess, the discussion is revolving more on money. In that case, I guess we are deviating from the main issue at hand. We are discussing happiness, and not money!

This point beautifully got the discussion back to its tracks.

Diya, from The Materialists, said –

Even monks who live in monasteries are dependent on donations to fund for their living and sustenance. It’s like a train of thought, wherein, there’s financial stability, which gives peace of mind, which in turn results in happiness.

Leela, again from The Materialists, joined in the discussion, saying –

Even for having your breakfast, you need money!

This morning I didn’t have my breakfast, but the fact that I have money on me, makes me happy, since I can get to the College Canteen, after class, and have my breakfast.

Happiness hence has a lot of connect with money,

she added.

Now, Sneka, speaking on behalf of The Realists, said –

Happiness is not connected with things! It is highly abstract! Most of the times, even a word of appreciation can give you happiness.

Snigdha from The Materialists’ side, gently disagreed with Sneka, saying -

Even for getting appreciation from someone, you need to wear good attire, or do things to perfection, which again requires money, ain’t it?

Jaysudha seconded her Realist friend Sneka, saying –

To me, happiness is dependent on the little things of life – like, taking a long walk through the beautiful meadows and lush green pathways in MCC – which gives me immense happiness.

The Realists now responded back full throttle, saying –

Even to walk happily through the beautiful meadows in MCC, you need to have paid your College fees, which again, requires of you to shell out your money, ain’t it?

Leela, from The Materialists, said –

I’ve seen quite a few, who flaunt their iPhones on their Instagram pages, and wear branded clothes and other attire, just for display sake, on their social media accounts, which gives them great happiness.

So for such people, such display requires a lot of money, which in turn, gives them ‘likes’ and happiness as well! What’s wrong in it,

she added.

Saru Krishna from The Realists said –

Even many of us on this side – The Realists – have an iPhone on us – but we haven’t once flaunted it on our social media accounts. That’s because for us, happiness doesn’t depend on such things!

Sneha Dominic got back to The Realists –

Well, for some who do Insta reels and stories for their revenue, iPhone supports their livelihood, and hence it’s important as such, for their happiness!

Vivilia from The Materialists, seconded Sneha, saying -

To follow your passion, you obviously need money on you. 

Diya followed her up, by asking her opponents –

Why do you think we are all here in MCC? Probably, to get a good job in life, and then to earn good money, right?

Today, there’s a placement happening in campus, and only one of our classmates has taken part in it.

That’s because the salary is just around 4.75 lakhs per annum. Just imagine if it were around 12 lakhs per annum.

Almost everyone of us would have been there, taking part in the Placement Drive, ain’t we?

Doesn’t that ring a bell in us? that we all need money for our happiness?

So I wish to conclude by saying that,

‘Money is not the only thing that gives us happiness; however, I do strongly wish to emphasise on the fact that, money is indeed a major driving force for our happiness, 

signed off, Diya for The Materialists.

Teacher’s Observations 

On the whole, the Debate today, was a highly rewarding one, with almost all students chipping in with their best thoughts and ideas!

And that... - has made all the difference!

Great going dear II MA Class. Keep up the spirit!