Never mind the bollocks...

... here's the Bombay Quiz Club! After many quizless years in Mumbai -- we shall not count the countless business quizzes -- the Bombay Quiz Club held its first quiz, with Dhoomketu, one of the BQC winners in a quiz in Poona last weekend, conducting it. We met at the In Orbit Mall in Malad, and there were a few people down from Pune as well. Seven teams of three members each took part in the final, and the quiz was dreadfully close, with three teams tied after 58 of the 60 questions, and two of them then answering a question each to finish joint winners. Here's the scoresheet:


We didn't take down the names of all those who took part, so I can't announce the names of the winners to a virtual drumroll. That reflects the easy informality of the quiz: there was no stage, no screen, and we all sat around Dhoomketu as he read out the dry questions. There were many visuals, and at each such question the teams would sprint to Dhoomketu's table to occupy the valuable real estate in front of it and gaze intensely at his laptop screen. Elbow pokes happened, toes were stepped on, groins were kneed: who says quizzing is not a physical sport?

I exaggerate, of course. The only time physical violence entered our minds was when an officious manager of the mall came and asked us to get lost, and to conduct our "business meeting" elsewhere. We argued that were just a bunch of friends sitting together, and what we did was none of his business as long as we disturbed no one else and ordered lots of food and drink, which we continuously did. He was unconvinced, but we were adamant, and insisted on speaking to his boss. "Give me your card," I bluffed madly at one point, "and you will hear more on this matter from Mr Raheja himself." When reason don't work, flex muscle. He did leave us alone then for long enough to finish the quiz.

So while we had a lot of fun, we really need to sort out regular venues, much like they have in Poona, where they use the Boat Club for informal gatherings and the PSPL auditorium for proper quizzes. Suggestions will be welcome.

I end with a group pic of all those who took part (except me, taking the pic; Dhoomketu is in the middle, holding the scoresheet). Aren't we a happy bunch? Such is the joy of quizzing. Come next time.


(Click on pics to enlarge.)

Update: Dhoomketu's account of the quiz is here, as are a few questions.