At first, Kalidasa was a dunce....
It was a recent rainy afternoon when I finally met the Duke at his sea-side palace; where he was, as you would have seen in the last two references, with "his folks".
Like one of those sessions where a Grandmaster plays thirty chessboards successively, Srinath kept flipping between sports channels, mindful of all the moves. Yes he did regularly revert to what he called "an awesome spectator sport" - golf.
And then we got-a-talking about his deep admiration for Imran Khan and somehow came around to his proficiency in Sanskrit. He is one level below the highest which, interestingly, is called Pravesham or The Entry - because, I suppose, it is one's entry into a world of erudition, as you shall see....
... while Ilaiyaraaja was always a genius
I love the way he gets so emotional and passionate while talking about Ilaiyaraaja! Don't miss the way his mouth goes dry when he talks about the Carnatic vidvaan's!
August 30, 2011
August 25, 2011
The Earl Digs Graves
The Paths of Glory
I happened to catch The Earl one evening in his humble Castle and I don't know if it was the gloomy weather or the rather depressing prospect of an impending Monday, but somehow the discussion turned rather grim. However, my camera and I, were taken by surprise when we soon saw an uncanny transformation take over. Indeed, in talking about Death , The Earl's demeanour took upon a most lively form. Just see how he laughs in an almost mocking manner at the thought of "the inevitable hour".
I happened to catch The Earl one evening in his humble Castle and I don't know if it was the gloomy weather or the rather depressing prospect of an impending Monday, but somehow the discussion turned rather grim. However, my camera and I, were taken by surprise when we soon saw an uncanny transformation take over. Indeed, in talking about Death , The Earl's demeanour took upon a most lively form. Just see how he laughs in an almost mocking manner at the thought of "the inevitable hour".
August 23, 2011
August 9, 2011
Landmark Defending Champions think Duke, Earl and Baron "swing Wildly both ways"
Mocha for Muka
In a rare interview, I managed to capture the defending Landmark Champions Konga, Muka and Vik hobnobbing with Royalty! The Duke was once again with his folks but their team received much praise for their recent performances in Hyderabad. One may attribute it to a feeling of being at home in an erstwhile princely state.
The amiable banter was followed by some refreshments. While the "rest of them" had banal blueberry muffins, the Earl smugly had an Irish caramel frappe
In a rare interview, I managed to capture the defending Landmark Champions Konga, Muka and Vik hobnobbing with Royalty! The Duke was once again with his folks but their team received much praise for their recent performances in Hyderabad. One may attribute it to a feeling of being at home in an erstwhile princely state.
The amiable banter was followed by some refreshments. While the "rest of them" had banal blueberry muffins, the Earl smugly had an Irish caramel frappe
August 3, 2011
Option 44 in Gurgaon
Option 44 is the quiz club in Gurgaon, lets have a look at why its called so and a question from one of their sessions
You'll see four photos of some men making something, you just have to say what it is they're making.
You'll see four photos of some men making something, you just have to say what it is they're making.
August 1, 2011
Card Carrying Official
Foul is Fair
Meet Paul Gatward, who when we met in Bangalore, told me proudly that "I am probably one of the few people in the world to have quizzed in five continents!"
He's also been a football referee in the same five continents. And I've seen him show a red card to a boisterous quizzer.
See him awarding a free kick, though not at a quiz ( what would that mean anyway??)
Meet Paul Gatward, who when we met in Bangalore, told me proudly that "I am probably one of the few people in the world to have quizzed in five continents!"
He's also been a football referee in the same five continents. And I've seen him show a red card to a boisterous quizzer.
See him awarding a free kick, though not at a quiz ( what would that mean anyway??)
Let Sleeping Dogs ( & Man ) Lie
Dogs: ( in order of appearance )
Chipku, Bhaloo, Hero, Sungta, Soul-kadi & Jaya
Humans ( in order of appearance )
Annie & Anjali, my wonderful hosts in Goa!
Chipku, Bhaloo, Hero, Sungta, Soul-kadi & Jaya
Humans ( in order of appearance )
Annie & Anjali, my wonderful hosts in Goa!
A Picnic from the Mahabharata
Food from the Forest
"While watching Mastermind, the only specialized topic where I scored higher than the contestant was on food", beamed the delightfully dignified Archana Garodia-Gupta. In 2001, she became the Mastermind India and later in 2002 won the Champion of Champions as well.
Bibliophile, businesswoman and brilliant, she is currently working on a book about Food in early 20th Century Delhi. Part of the book looks at what elements have changed and what have remained through time. She allowed me a little whiff of her book...
"While watching Mastermind, the only specialized topic where I scored higher than the contestant was on food", beamed the delightfully dignified Archana Garodia-Gupta. In 2001, she became the Mastermind India and later in 2002 won the Champion of Champions as well.
Bibliophile, businesswoman and brilliant, she is currently working on a book about Food in early 20th Century Delhi. Part of the book looks at what elements have changed and what have remained through time. She allowed me a little whiff of her book...
July 12, 2011
Who says Quizzing only keeps you mentally fit?
The secret of Rajiv Rai's fitness
Don't you just love the way Sumo gently goads him to "Go for it" ? But, as you can see, Sumo's gentle touch can engender a fairly high quantum of momentum.
Don't you just love the way Sumo gently goads him to "Go for it" ? But, as you can see, Sumo's gentle touch can engender a fairly high quantum of momentum.
Green on Top in Tipperary Hill, Syracuse NY
This question from the Travel Quiz had some interesting guesses, and the maximum applause
Still ( more ) Life
Sumant tells me to Rock On
The Baron and The Earl profess their Glove Love
This team from Thrissur wants to consult a spirit for the answer
Gopal and Rajiv totally relaxed during the Travel Quiz
The Baron and The Earl profess their Glove Love
This team from Thrissur wants to consult a spirit for the answer
Gopal and Rajiv totally relaxed during the Travel Quiz
July 5, 2011
Some Questions from Mega-Whats Finals
The Mega-Whats is an all-India quiz for teams of four conducted by the Karnataka Quiz Association.
Here are some questions from the finals.
1. If you can;t hear the question, pause at the ppt or read here: basically there's this cross-word setter of the Guardian who is fascinated by the monkey puzzle tree ( picture shown) and he uses its Latin genus name, Araucaria as a pseudonym while setting the crossword. So, how is his pseudonym Cinephile, while setting cryptic crosswords for The Financial Times apt?
2. Part of the Nobel Prize ceremony is the Grand Dinner. Over 250 guests are invited including royalty. In the 70's it was canceled for the first time. Why?
You have sufficient time to work this one out, as I'm showing you all the guesses. It's amazing how Samanth pronounces The-Unpronounceable-Icelandic-Volcano in one breath. The Norrmalmstorg bank robbery which gave birth to the Stockholm Syndrome happened in 1973, so that was a good guess.
But the final answer is the kind of thing that makes you go "Of Course! (pause, hit forehead softly with base of your palm) Why didn't I think of that?" thus making it a good quiz question.
July 3, 2011
Marriage Wows! 2
As Christina mentioned in the earlier post, 20th June was the wedding. And from what I've heard, it was great fun.Here's wishing you guys a great time together, to years of Happiness and Quizzing
July 1, 2011
Roadside Royalty
Isn't this lovely?
followed by the harsh Graffiti , thus bringing you both sides of the story... see how they've painted right down to the last inch of the divider. And then Wham... the Graffiti!
And Finally Dont miss
The traffic directions before the royal procession at 0:22.. its like they've stopped there scratching their bristly chins wondering where to go now.
"Just B'Coz you speak English your genitic make-up won't change Speak Kannada" !
followed by the harsh Graffiti , thus bringing you both sides of the story... see how they've painted right down to the last inch of the divider. And then Wham... the Graffiti!
And Finally Dont miss
The traffic directions before the royal procession at 0:22.. its like they've stopped there scratching their bristly chins wondering where to go now.
"Just B'Coz you speak English your genitic make-up won't change Speak Kannada" !
June 22, 2011
Of Ducks, Dons and Detergent
It was a most exciting Quiz Adda in Calcutta! I had to share this with everyone, a quick round--up of the spoils of quizzing.
The thing about the live ducks is true. Dalhousie Institute. Mid 70s. Confirmed by Mr. Neil O'Brien.
The thing about the live ducks is true. Dalhousie Institute. Mid 70s. Confirmed by Mr. Neil O'Brien.
June 21, 2011
The "Calcutta Gharana of Quizzing"
The short and short of it
The first year of Mastermind India was exciting. the rush, the black chair, the completist slogan "i've started so I'll finish" and the amazing diversity of interests of a diverse range of people. I am proud to personally know so many who sat in the black chair. The first finals had a gentleman who over the years became someone I grew to revere. Over a decade later, it's an honour to shoot in his house. He called the Calcutta style of quizzing with short pithy questions the Calcutta Gharana.
Jayshree di, one of the best quizzers in the country, agrees and Shouvik da, again , one of the best quizzers in the country provides an example of a question.
Many of you have asked me the answer: I left it for you to find out, but here goes: It's The Yugoslav Partisans under Josip Broz Tito.
"I wish there were more women quizzers!"
There's no reason to believe that men are better quizzers than women. While there are few women quizzers, the ones who do quiz regularly are exceptionally brilliant. In fact most of the winners of the Mastermnd India were women!
Quiz Moms!
Soubhadra da invents a new term - the Quiz Mom
The first year of Mastermind India was exciting. the rush, the black chair, the completist slogan "i've started so I'll finish" and the amazing diversity of interests of a diverse range of people. I am proud to personally know so many who sat in the black chair. The first finals had a gentleman who over the years became someone I grew to revere. Over a decade later, it's an honour to shoot in his house. He called the Calcutta style of quizzing with short pithy questions the Calcutta Gharana.
Jayshree di, one of the best quizzers in the country, agrees and Shouvik da, again , one of the best quizzers in the country provides an example of a question.
Many of you have asked me the answer: I left it for you to find out, but here goes: It's The Yugoslav Partisans under Josip Broz Tito.
"I wish there were more women quizzers!"
There's no reason to believe that men are better quizzers than women. While there are few women quizzers, the ones who do quiz regularly are exceptionally brilliant. In fact most of the winners of the Mastermnd India were women!
Quiz Moms!
Soubhadra da invents a new term - the Quiz Mom
June 15, 2011
Seattle Area Quizzers
ok so the other day I was chatting with an avid quizzer from India who now is a software engineer in Seattle. We were using Skype. And I for a second, wondered , lucky bugger, gets to use Skype in office.
He works for Microsoft.
Anyways, a bunch of Indians have started the Seattle Area Quizzers and they meet in the Microsoft Office on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. One yawnful morning I will catch them over Skype at one of their sessions and film what kind of fun they have!
It seems they do an India Quiz and a Bollywood Quiz. Subroutine homesick blues anyone?
He works for Microsoft.
Anyways, a bunch of Indians have started the Seattle Area Quizzers and they meet in the Microsoft Office on Wednesdays at 6:30pm. One yawnful morning I will catch them over Skype at one of their sessions and film what kind of fun they have!
It seems they do an India Quiz and a Bollywood Quiz. Subroutine homesick blues anyone?
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