Saarang 2007 kicked off at 9 a.m. today. The first thing to start were the daily crossword, quiz, word games and puzzle. The last two were ridiculously difficult, but the crossword and quiz were decent.
The daily events are popular because the question papers cab be taken and solved at one's own convenience. The earliest person with most correct answers wins. Of course because there is no supervision, these individual events are answered as team efforts, the prize money being split among the winners. Prizes are given to the first three.
The answers are usually discussed by all, so even though one has time till two, the chances of winning something are slender by around ten. Todays crossword winner made his submission at 9:06! Googling (a quizzers term for using google to get an answer) is common in the quiz, so the winners are not necessarily the best quizzers.
I take part only in the quizzes, whats the good word and the crosswords, so I'll be unable to comment on the music and art events, and even if I do, it'll be a spectators viewpoint.
The first event was the Sports and Entertainment quiz, kicking off at around nine thirty, half an hour behind schedule which was to be expected on day one because most things weren't in place yet. The prelims lasted an hour and a half, with thirty five questions including audios, visuals and videos. The standard was good, but not as good as the standard at Under The Peepal Tree, R.V. College of Engineering, Bangalore's annual quiz fest. Most of the questions were based on popular culture, and anyone reading their newspapers and watching the usual consistently would be able to do well. I haven't got a copy of the questions, else I would have put up the good questions. I'll try and get hold of them.
Immediately after were the main quiz prelims, which, uniques to Saarang, is a Lone Wolf (solo) event, unlike the main quizzes elsewhere in the country. The questions were better and more imaginative than the previous quiz. One of the visuals showed a sign, with the letters NL on it, and quizzers were asked for the location of the sign. Turns out it's at Berkely University in California, and belongs to a parking area reserved for Nobel Laureates!
There were other brilliant questions too, and once again, ill post them if and when I get hold of the questions.
Whats the Good Word, WTGW for short, followed after ten minutes. Its a test of ones vocabulary and ability to play with words. The prelims lasted an hour. The first section was on anagrams. Eight words, and as many anagrams as one could come up with for each word. Two of the words - reassortment and inconvenience- left everyone stumped.
The next was on two word phrases, where the second word of the first phrase happened to the the first word of the next. The first word of the first phrase and second of the second were given, and one had to figure out the common word. Here's one - square _______ beer. The answer is root - square root and root beer. Figure this one out - cat ______alarm. I'm not giving you the answer!
Section three was on heteronyms, words sounding similar but spelt and meaning differently. ' It's used for representing a percussion instrument ' . The answer was symbol and cymbal.
Next was the word pyramid. You start with two letters, and add one letter, scramble the letters and come up with a new word, building a pyramid with each successive word forming the base of the previous. The last was the etymology round, my favourite, where one is given the story behind origin of a word, and asked to come up with the word.
A half hour gap before the next event allowed us to return to the hostel, grab a bite and return. Unfortunatelt they ran out of question papers and some of the participants had to wait for more. Why they took an hour to get them is anyone's guess.
Cluedo was where we got to play Holmes. We were given two mysteries and asked to identify the thief in one and murderer in the other, justifying our answers using clues from the passge. The next two were more of puzzles where one read between the lines and tried to figure out what was being referred to, the answers being total internal reflection in a diamond to one and addition and subtraction to the other. Weird? Well, this is IIT!
That all I took part in. There were lots of informal events around, and plenty of enthusiastic people singing at the Motorola stall on one end and Radiocity on the other. The food stalls had lots of people around, but I didnt try them. From previous fests I've learned the food is expensive and not filling at all. The best is to go to a mess of canteen and have a proper meal. Allows the brain to work.
Everything today started according to schedule. There were none of delays which plague other fests. By the time events start elsewhere, people are usually angry, hungry and frustrated. The students run the whole show with a proper organisational network and chain of command. Each event has a co-ordinater, co-ord for short (everything in this place runs on short form - 'insti' , and 'crossie' being good examples) who belongs to the final year. He's usual some one who has taken part, preferably won the event he's organizing, either at Saarang or elsewhere. He has juniors under him running around and doing the dirty work, something which happens everywhere! I guess the expectations of the public as well as the fact that Saarang has been around for so long plays a role in motivating them to organize it well.
I've not had a problem with the accomodation, but a friend told me he had to wait for three hours before he finally got a room. Procedures have to be followed here, and I guess with so many outstation teams, delays are inevitable. The rooms are great. No problem with water or bathrooms. Food's being provided in the mess of Ganga hostel, and its reasonable and filling.
Its great fun to stay on campus in another college during their fest. The IIT campus is awesome, although I wish I'd brought my cycle along! I've met lots of new people, and though it sounds cliched, these fests are great for making friends. I'm a medical student, and seeing things from an engineering students point of view is refreshing. I got to meet quite a few friends from school too, some after nearly four yearss.
Todays just the first day. I'm sure things will get even better. I'm having a blast!