Inaugural Quiz on Wheels Event Combines City Exploration with Vital Health Awareness in Kolkata
The first edition of Quiz on Wheels, a novel initiative organized by Mosedu in partnership with Calcutta Times, successfully launched on Sunday at Freemasons’ Hall on Park Street. This unique event transformed the city into a dynamic quiz arena, where participants engaged in a treasure hunt while simultaneously promoting cervical cancer awareness.
Celebrity Involvement and Flag-Off Ceremony
The event garnered significant star power with the participation of two celebrity teams. One team featured actors Gourab Chatterjee and Roshni Bhattacharyya Sen, while the other comprised Gaboo and Raj from the popular show Lakkhichhara. Actress Ritabhari Chakraborty officially flagged off the competition, expressing her enthusiasm for the concept.
"This quiz is such a lovely way to rediscover the city, while raising awareness about cervical cancer," remarked Ritabhari Chakraborty, highlighting the dual purpose of the event.
Electric Atmosphere and Competitive Spirit
Over 120 quiz enthusiasts participated, navigating Kolkata on wheels to solve intricate clues. The competition stretched from central Kolkata to the south, taking teams to iconic landmarks including the National Library of India, Tollygunge Club, and Birla Mandir. Participants described the experience as exhilarating and immersive.
"I’ve taken part in several treasure hunts, but this one tops the list. It had time, distance and knowledge, which made the atmosphere in the car electric," said Sukrit Sen, a member of the winning team. He added that solving a full-fledged quiz and submitting it at the next venue introduced "a great twist" to the traditional format.
Winners and Special Recognitions
The team of Sukrit Sen, Shayak Chakraborty, Arijit Sen, and Ranjabati Ray clinched first place after completing the trail. The top five finishing teams were felicitated by actress Sushmita Roy. Special acknowledgements were extended to an all-women’s team, young participants, senior citizens, and the celebrity teams for their enthusiastic involvement.
Participant Experiences and Organizer Insights
Celebrity participants shared their positive experiences. Roshni Bhattacharyya Sen described it as "a fun road trip," while Gaboo noted, "Chasing clues across the city was quite an adventure." Raj added, "Once we started solving the clues, we got the kick to find all the destinations."
Gourab Chatterjee emphasized the novelty, stating, "We’ve done treasure hunts on bicycles before, but solving clues on wheels felt more exciting."
From the organizing side, Aanton Mookherjee, director of Mosedu, reported, "Over 100 people participated in the quiz, while also spreading awareness about cervical cancer." Samrat Sengupta, a member of Mosedu, expressed satisfaction with the response, saying, "We wanted to give the city a unique contest. We’re overwhelmed with the response."
Broader Impact and Future Potential
Quiz on Wheels successfully merged entertainment, education, and social cause, setting a precedent for future editions. By integrating cervical cancer awareness into a competitive and engaging format, the event not only provided a platform for quizzing but also contributed to public health education in a memorable way.
