“Scoundrels, rascals and nincompoops”, bellows Sriram Karri, writer and journalist, whilst addressing a minor session at the Young Orators Club, Secunderabad. Nihal Kovvali,is a busy a lawyer through the week, but on Saturday evenings, he is seen at YMCA, orating and of course meeting new people. With a solemn face he says, “Some people spit while speaking, to save yourself from the misery, don't sit that close to the podium!” YOCS is filled with interesting people like these. If you think you can speak your mind, but haven't found the right avenue, Hyderabad has much to offer. The city of pearls is also home to eloquent speakers. A typical session is on at YMCA, in an old and dusty ‘meeting room' with pink and blue walls. While most of them sport glasses, the event isn't for the nerds. A bell rings and the session begins, one of them gets up to read the minutes of the previous session. After a number of observations, he also mentions that someone observed that there too many cob-webs in the room! In this discreet humour lies the fun at this club. Kriti, a lawyer in the making says she found the place by chance while looking for a place that held group discussions. The Young Orators Club of Secunderabad, has been conducting sessions for over 40 years now. Established in the year 1969, the club has provided a platform for the discussion of various topics. The YOCS sessions are divided into three sessions. First is a minor session where a member speaks on any topic for 15 minutes. An evaluator evaluates the language, matter and style of the speaker. The major session is where the evaluator presents a topic to the house to be debated on. Another is a book reading session. The YOCS sessions are free and open to all, young and old. Rambabu, who has been a part of the club for over 15 years organised the Orathon— a marathon oratory event for seven days. The feat got them an entry into the Limca book of records way back in 2001. Krishnakant Ayyagari, a college student says, “I have been coming to this club for the past three weeks, I am a new entrant. It's an interesting experience speaking in front of people from diverse fields, who are avid readers and brilliant orators. It's tough to make a mark here, but I am trying and that's what I am here for, to use their feedback and become better.” Sriram Karri adds, “YOCS might help you through interviews but really its of much help when trying to woo back your girlfriend or even while dealing with a traffic cop. Those 20 seconds that you get to come up with an argument, is what you make use of here!” In tandem with keeping the spirit of ‘talk' high, the first edition of Debate Central is being launched at Lamakaan on July 17, as an effort to bring out a frank and independent exchange of views on a topic by speakers from three leading youth and public speaking institutions— Toastmasters (Hyderabad), Young Orators Club of Secunderabad (YOCS) and Unique-Why .
