CMUN 2011: A Vision Comes Alive

“The most pathetic person in the world is someone who has sight, but has no vision.” – Helen Keller

The fifteenth annual session of the Cathedral Model United Nations (CMUN) attracted over 500 delegates from across India and abroad. Held at the spectacular Trident Hotel on the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th of August this year, CMUN is deservingly regarded as one of the most anticipated Model UN conferences in the world. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the concept – a MUN is when students assume the roles of world leaders to debate, deliberate and ultimately resolve world issues, while following the actual UN procedure. This year, there were eight committees at CMUN, including a Historic General Assembly discussing the Iran-Iraq wars, a Historic Security Council discussing the Bosnian crisis of the 90s and even a unique Al-Qaeda Core Group simulating a meeting between the world’s most wanted militants. Throughout the three-day conference, a specialised Press Corps analysed and criticised everything that took place at CMUN, highlighting the critical role played by the media in international affairs.

Can you believe that the first CMUN, in 1996, was held in a single classroom at the Cathedral & John Connon School and consisted of just one committee of only 30 delegates? Incredible, it really is, how this vision of a few young students, culminated into such a large-scale event.

Perhaps the most exciting feature of CMUN this year was the Night Emergency Session, which took place on the night of our Independence Day from 1am until 6am.  As they lay asleep in their comfortable hotel room beds, delegates were required to wake-up, suit-up and show up in committee in the middle of the night! Over Trident coffee and pizza, they were faced with a sudden dramatic chain of events and had to overcome the barriers of sleep and time to come up with a feasible solution.

Over three days, CMUN provided participants with the opportunity to enhance their debating-skills, enjoy excellent food and hospitality as well as a chance to interact with other young people.  When asked to summarize CMUN 2011, Director-General Angad Kapur said, “We took the conference to some brave new heights this year – record participation, unique committees and even a night emergency! For the first time ever, we had a delegation from across the border in the form of the Aitchinson College, Lahore. Not only did they win our Best Delegation award, but they also won our hearts over!” Clearly, this shows that with the right vision, young people can build bridges which even our aged politicians have repeatedly failed to build.