The Deccan Herald in Education (DHiE) Quiz contest held at Naukara Bhavan in Cubbon Park was a celebration of curiosity, teamwork, and intellectual engagement. Under the adept guidance of Arul Mani, Quizmaster and Dean of Languages at St. Joseph University, the quiz encouraged students to think critically, collaborate effectively, and find joy in the pursuit of knowledge.The quiz contest was part of the Bengaluru edition of DHiE Expressions 2024 – an inter-school talent competition by DHiE, co-powered by Pilot, with Wonderla Parks & Resorts & Poorvika Mobile as associate sponsors..As many as 60 teams comprising two students in a team from schools across the City participated in the contest. After the preliminary round six junior and senior teams each qualified for the finals.Briefing the contestants Dr Arul Mani, “We tried to do out best to see that it is not a memory test, Instead it is your ability to read the question, look for clues in the question and work out the answers. Another thing we are trying to do with the quiz is to get you to learn how to collaborate and work as a team and solve problems. Two heads are better than one, as the proverb goes. This is a quiz and not an entrance exam. It is not an intelligence test. There is no negative marking.”.The preliminary round for juniors comprised 20 questions. Some questions were easy, some were intriguing: 2% X is found underground. Another 2% of X is found in Antarctica and Greenland. A small volume of 0.01% is above us in the air. Give a five-letter word for X (Answer: Water). Some questions were interesting: Which story from India is called Reamker in Cambodia and Phra Lak Phra Lam in Laos? (Answer: Ramayana).The questions in the preliminary round for seniors were also equally interesting and intriguing, particularly two questions on Bangalore City: Nandidurg Road in Benson Town takes its name from the fact that it was an approach road built by the British. Where would you be headed in those days if you took the Nandidurg Road? (Answer: Nandi Hills)..The other Bengaluru question: Which area located in the south eastern part of the city, still bears part of a name which is a Sanskrit word for ‘auspicious’ to bring prosperity to the place. (Answer: Koramangala). Another similar name is Binnamangala. Apparently nobody could answer these.The five rounds, including a written round, of quizzing for junior qualifiers had same fascinating questions: Which nutritious nut with six letters has a country in its name from where it originated (Brazil Nut); Which Indian State Capital takes its name from one of the brothers of Lord Ram (Lucknow - earlier known as Lakshmanavati)..The quiz questions for the finalists were on the tougher side but nevertheless challenging and entrancing: Which country in Europe is often called a ‘hexagon’ on account of its shape (France); Which object associated with a sport was originally made from frozen cow dung, and thus retains the basic shape? (The puck in ice hockey).An offbeat question for the seniors: In 1990 this Nobel laureate stepped down from leadership and asked the others to elect a new leader. Most of them voted for this person to continue. There was only one vote against her as leader. Who is this person? Who voted against? Mother Teresa.The quiz contest proved to be a delightful and enriching experience for both participants and the audience. It showcased not only the vast knowledge of the students but also their ability to think laterally and solve problems as a team. With questions ranging from local trivia about Bengaluru to global curiosities, the event emphasized learning beyond textbooks..Prize WinnersJuniors First Prize: Vishnu A P & Ramanujan S, Sri Vidya Mandir Education Society, Malleswaram Second Prize: Ansh A & Purav D, NPS Yeshwanthpur Third Prize: Monish & Sree Hari, Jubilee English High School CBSE Consolation Prize: Deergh Jain & Sudhanva S, Sarvodaya National Public School, Vijayanagar.Seniors First Prize: Akshat Sarthak & Aniruddh R V, Ryan International School, Yelahanka Second Prize: Varad Bhatia & Vihaan Maheshwari, NPS Koramangala Third Prize: Chiranth C & Charithra G, Sarvodaya National Public School, Vijayanagar Consolation Prize: Dheeraj R & Harshel Vijayakumar, Silicon City Academy of Secondary Education, Konankunte.The way in which people are accessing information is changing. Today people have access to much more information and are slow in accessing it because there is the problem of plenty. They access information in different ways now. So the slowness to respond to quizzing. They are also quick to learn. They figure out how the quiz is working. There is a new round and new scoring format. They pick it up in one or two questions. Staking (for more points) is a new strategy which is new. So they were unsure of some things but they were quick to learn.- Dr Arul Mani, Quizmaster and Dean of Languages, St Joseph University For many kids, reading newspapers has become a declining habit. However, competitions such as quizzing can rekindle the excitement around newspaper reading, encouraging young people to stay informed and engaged.- Amitabh Bhatia, parent.One lesson I learned from the DHiE quiz competition is to expect the unexpected. When you're on stage, if you don't think quickly, you'll miss opportunities to score points. I believe in attempting every question, especially if there's no negative marking. Doing so increases your chances of earning points, even if it's just a slim possibility.- Vihaan Maheshwari, student, NPS Koramangala I’ve noticed that the last five questions of the preliminary round in quizzes are crucial; they're often called the tiebreaker questions. So, to any quizzer out there, it's essential to aim for a perfect score on these last five questions to advance confidently- Varad Bhatia, student, NPS Koramangala.It doesn't matter who has the most marks initially; things can change in the last moments of the match. You should have the sportsmanship to accept whatever the result may be. You can always try again later. I know the other school tried hard.- Ramanujan S, student, Sri Vidya Mandir Education Society, Malleswaram It’s not about winning or losing; it’s about learning, having fun, and enjoying the experience.- Vishnu A P, student, Sri Vidya Mandir Education Society, Malleswaram
