Today i had the opportunity to be at the Landmark Independance day Quiz (Which is an yearly affair for Chennaiites). As always the best (landmark) always brings the best (Derek). And the event was awesome. The venue was a sellout even before it opened doors and the crowd was totally inert with energy. Some of the best young minds and youth were there. Who says that today’s children are couch potatos ? All the schools had representations and they were competing (giving a the oldies a run for the money) pretty well. There was Vikram Chandra releasing his latest book from the Penguin Publishers. The star of the event was totally Derek. His quizzing histronics had already impressed many of us at BQC (Bournvita Quiz Contest) but to see him quizing and interact with him in person is taking it to a different level.
As always quizzing was great, teams were great, questions were out of the world, answers were equally great. (Just when you thought that no way anyone can guess the answer there is someone giving it out and you feel the punch). People like me feel how much we missed such opportunities at our school days. Eventhough i had a fair amount of quizzing in my school days winning at district levels and all. Those days our preparations were based on CSR (Competition Success Review) and we used to be totally hung ho on it. Then cam the era of Entrance Exams based on cut off and book knowledge thus the dip in GK of students. But today you see the shimmer of hope that there are people who still have the thirst for knowledge and the crowd by itself was the proof of it. End of the today each of us took home some cherished moments and i wouldnt forget this for many years to come. You rock Chennai and Keep up the good work Derek O Brien!
