It was after quite a few years that i participated in a quiz. Yesterday.
Some two decades ago, as an over enthusiastic schoolboy, i would scout for every quiz that was scheduled in Calcutta. And a rag tag outfit from Kendriya Vidyalaya Baliganj, made up of some permutation from Anand Lakshman (the eternal quizmaster, a permanent fixture), Sandeep Padia, Ashish Jain, Arun Prasad and me would land up in whichever part of Calcutta the quiz was scheduled. Rabindra Sadan (Bankura Horse), Dalhousie Institute (North Star, Sportsworld), YMCA, Airport Ashok Hotel, GD Birla Sabhaghar, Birla Science Museum, Doordarshan Kendra at Golf Green Tollygunje, no matter what the place; Barry, Derek, Neil- no matter which O'Brien the quiz master, the boys in white&blue would always be there. We fought hard in many of those quizzes, made the finals in about a third of those, won one, were runners up in a couple, but for most part, were decimated in the prelims itself. Irrespective, there would be no let down in our enthusiasm to reach out and participate.
Participating in Brand Equity Quiz 2012 yesterday at Hyderabad was a journey to that time. Not the least because the outcome was what happened in most cases two decades ago too- we were eliminated in the prelims. But because being a part of the action set the adrenaline racing. The guessing gene got re-activated all of a sudden, and the answer sheet became the canvas to let imagination run wild.
While the nature of quizzing has changed dramatically all these years, with a lot more television like feel to it, the thrill hasn't diminished one wee bit. Anticipation for the next question, imagination's wild run while scouting for an answer, the agony of the oh-no and the intensity of the fist clenching yesss: they still remain. Alive, vibrant and kicking. And not to forget, the most important decision of my life was facilitated by a quiz contest (interested in knowing how ?- write to me)
And the next question is ...
Some two decades ago, as an over enthusiastic schoolboy, i would scout for every quiz that was scheduled in Calcutta. And a rag tag outfit from Kendriya Vidyalaya Baliganj, made up of some permutation from Anand Lakshman (the eternal quizmaster, a permanent fixture), Sandeep Padia, Ashish Jain, Arun Prasad and me would land up in whichever part of Calcutta the quiz was scheduled. Rabindra Sadan (Bankura Horse), Dalhousie Institute (North Star, Sportsworld), YMCA, Airport Ashok Hotel, GD Birla Sabhaghar, Birla Science Museum, Doordarshan Kendra at Golf Green Tollygunje, no matter what the place; Barry, Derek, Neil- no matter which O'Brien the quiz master, the boys in white&blue would always be there. We fought hard in many of those quizzes, made the finals in about a third of those, won one, were runners up in a couple, but for most part, were decimated in the prelims itself. Irrespective, there would be no let down in our enthusiasm to reach out and participate.
Participating in Brand Equity Quiz 2012 yesterday at Hyderabad was a journey to that time. Not the least because the outcome was what happened in most cases two decades ago too- we were eliminated in the prelims. But because being a part of the action set the adrenaline racing. The guessing gene got re-activated all of a sudden, and the answer sheet became the canvas to let imagination run wild.
While the nature of quizzing has changed dramatically all these years, with a lot more television like feel to it, the thrill hasn't diminished one wee bit. Anticipation for the next question, imagination's wild run while scouting for an answer, the agony of the oh-no and the intensity of the fist clenching yesss: they still remain. Alive, vibrant and kicking. And not to forget, the most important decision of my life was facilitated by a quiz contest (interested in knowing how ?- write to me)
And the next question is ...
1 comment:
Really, the joy of participating in an activity, the one which you are mad about, is unmatched! irrespective of the outcome.
And Yes Deepak, would like to know how a quiz contest facilitated a very important decision of your life?
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