Prepared to face tough questions

Quizzers in the City were not only in for a treat, but also a challenge at the ‘Sweden India Nobel Memorial Quiz’ that was held recently. The inter-collegiate quiz, which was held at St Joseph’s College (Autonomous), was conducted as part of the ‘Sweden India Nobel Memorial Week’, a multi-city, multi-activity annual event organised by the Embassy of Sweden in India in cooperation with leading Swedish businesses in India. The week is instituted in memory of Swedish innovator, entrepreneur and philanthropist Alfred Nobel and celebrates the Indian Nobel Laureates as well.

Quiz master Aditya Nath Mubayi hosted the regional round, in which close to 51 teams from 21 college across the City took part. There were two rounds — a written test followed by a general round. The three-member teams really brainstormed over the 25 questions that focussed on Alfred Nobel, the winners of the Nobel Prize in all categories since inception and the country of Sweden. This year, there was a special section on Rabindranath Tagore to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of his Nobel Prize in literature. After the first round, Karthik, a student from the Azim Premji Institution, said that the quiz was good exposure. “At college, we are used to taking part in business-related quizzes but this was different from the rest. It was challenging and knowledgable as well,” he added.

As challenging as the quiz was, the children too came in well-prepared for the same. Nadia, Ankita and Piya, the team representing Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian College, said that they started studying for the quiz a week in advance. “We focussed on Sweden and the Nobel Prizes. More than the competition, this was a good learning process; we got exposed to a different country altogether,” said Nadia.

Mats Kullander, the second secretary from the Embassy of Sweden, was very impressed with the kind of knowledge the participants had. “Our main aim is to promote the country and also expose them to the educational and professional opportunities that Sweden has to offer them. There are a lot of advantages in going abroad for business or for education. As a person, one will grow, be exposed to a new culture and also improve their inter-cultural skills,” he added. Soon, six colleges battled it out for the top three positions.

Finally, it was Indian Institute of Technology that bagged the first prize, followed by Sapthagiri College and PESIT. The winning team from the City will now compete for the national title at the grand finale in New Delhi on November 16.

 The quiz will also be held in Hyderabad, Chennai, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and New Delhi. National winners will get an all-expenses-paid trip to Sweden, where they will get to visit headquarters of partner companies, universities and the Nobel Museum.