Quiz enthusiasts of the Northeast must have rolled up their sleeves for tomorrow’s Brain Jam Open Quiz at Pragjyoti ITA Centre, Machkhowa, Guwahati. Different human activities for survival and development have so much destroyed this beautiful planet that all living beings on Earth seem to be heading towards a catastrophe sooner or later. As the threat of global warming assumes hazardous proportions there’s still time to mend our behaviour and actions for harmonious existence amidst the existing flora and fauna.

In fact, scientists have been warning since three decades back about the diverse adverse effects of climate change explaining in detail how we are all seemingly on our way to doom. Yes, the Brain Jam Open Quiz aims at addressing the issue of global warming.

Conceived in 2005 by Priya Communication, the quiz has been addressing such socioeconomic issues of importance every time. It is organized in the loving memory of Ram Gopal Khanna, a World War II veteran who fought for his country with the hope and vision that there is a better tomorrow for the future generation. This optimism is what the quiz has endeavoured to spread by juxtaposing awareness with entertainment.

This time climate change will be the central theme of the quiz being conducted again by Barry O’Brien, the worthy son of Neil O’Brien — the ‘father of quizzing’. It will be relevant to mention a little about the genesis of the ‘quiz-cult’ started by Neil O’Brien. In 1966 on holiday in UK the senior O’Brien discovered the delight of radio quiz shows. Back home in Kolkata, the entertainment committee of Parish Club was looking for something novel and quizzing fitted the bill. Thus the first open live quiz was conducted in 1967 and the winners were treated to ducks and beer.

The heat gained momentum when it shifted to Dalhousie Institute in 1970 and from then on, there’s been no looking back. Today we have Barry carrying the legacy of his father forward and helping spread the message and the good work. This region too boasts of its own quiz-masters — Prof Dilip Kumar Barua along with the likes of Dr Amarjyoti Choudhury and Robin Kalita. The present bunch, including Dr Abhijit Hazarika, Sailen Baishya, Monimugdha Sharma, and Abhra Das, has been successfully carrying the baton forward.

The man behind the monumental success of Brain Jam, Anoop Khanna is exhilarated at the response the show has received. This is an event which attracts people from all walks of life and hence it is only a natural corollary that the Guwahatians are given an opportunity to root for the cause of a green world. “An issue which calls for action as the need of the hour cannot be ignored by our quizzing activities also. We will be displaying various facts and figures which will inform and equip people better to understand the danger that looms over us,” he says.

Each year more than 200 teams register for the preliminary round which is an evidence of the enormous hunger for quiz in this part of the country. The event has already created its own mark in the quizzing calendar and the regular quiz buffs await it with great expectations. The quiz has always come up with something novel to offer to the people who have made it such a grand success every time.

The sponsors of the event have always acknowledged the efforts of the people by offering a spread of prizes for the participants and the audience. The 2008 winners ‘Usual Suspects’ — Amrit Pritam Chetia and Bidyut Bailung from Assam Engineering College, Guawahati — walked away with a package trip to Thailand. This year, it is a trip to Malaysia sponsored by Sona bath fittings that will go in the booty of the winners. Indian Oil Corporation, the main sponsor and The Assam Tribune, SBI, News Live, LICI, Hotel Landmark, Fast Track, BNAS and www.northeasttribune.com have all joined their hands in making the Indian Oil Golden Jubilee Brain Jam Quiz a success.
(With inputs from Manisha Saraf)

Simanta Bhagawati