Mind matters

Updated on: Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Sampurna Rakshit bunked class to take part in B-Genius 2010,a quiz for b-school students organised by NSHM Business School in association with The Times of India on February 18.

A few hours later, she walked away with a trophy and the first prize, a laptop.

“My family don’t know that I’m here so they don’t know that I won,” said the student from Calcutta Institute of Engineering and Management.

Over 80 students took part in the quiz held at Vidya Mandir. The best eight were selected for the finals. Chief guest Harsh Neotia inaugurated the quiz along with NSHM chief mentor Cecil Anthony.

Quizmaster Giri “Pickbrain” Balasubramanium kept the audience in good humour and the eight students on their toes.

The quiz focused on communication skills and clarity of thought. Second-prize winner Titash Banerjee from IIFT, who pressed the buzzer first the most times, believed that innovation would help him. “I believe in defying convention,” said Titash who lists Richard Branson as his inspiration.

Mohd Shabbir Haider from Jadavpur University came third. “The problem with a rat race is that even if you are win, you are a rat,” he explained. “I am not ambitious. But that doesn’t mean that I will not be successful.”

The judges said that they were impressed by the arguments. “They displayed maturity beyond their years. We were looking for someone who displayed leadership qualities,” said Samresh Shah, one of the judges at the event.

Subramanium said the felt that all the eight students had kept the discussion lively. But what was it about Samparna that set her apart? “She displayed clarity of thought and was open to not being rigid. The person who knows the most may not be the most successful. It’s not knowing facts alone. It’s also about interpreting them.”

Mind matters

More Education news