Quizforya in Thiruvananthapuram is a go-to platform for quiz enthusiasts

Quizforya is a platform for quiz enthusiasts in Thiruvananthapuram that conducts informal sessions

There are neither nail-biting moments nor are there prizes to be won. It is all about spending time with a group of people who love quizzing. That is Quizforya for you, a platform for quizzers from across Thiruvananthapuram and other districts.

Quizforya, the latest addition to quiz clubs in and around the district, conducts informal quiz programmes every month. Formed in November 2023, it is a quiz community under What’s Happening in TVM! (WhT!), the social media handle (@whats_happening_in_tvm) that gives an update on the events in Thiruvananthapuram. “WhT! has a discussion forum called Tatvika Avalokanam. The idea about an informal quiz club was put forward during one of its sessions,” says Swathy SB, who runs Quizforya with Adithyan DM.

QPositive is another informal quiz community in the capital city that has been around for nearly a decade now. Both Swathy, a graduate in Economics from Mar Ivanios College, and Adithyan, an undergraduate student at the same college, have been active participants at QPositive’s sessions.

Swathy says she has been a quizzer since Class VIII, thanks to her father, Santhakumar S, a quiz enthusiast and quiz master, now working at the Kerala Legislative Assembly. “Informal quiz events are interesting. There is no competition involved. But you learn a lot and meet new people,” Swathy adds.

Among the regulars at Quizforya’s sessions are school and college students, those appearing for Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) exams, and professionals. “We split those who turn up for the session into teams. Usually, there are around 20 participants,” she adds.

Topics are announced in advance. “Quiz masters are invited from across the State, especially from Kochi and Thrissur, which boast a thriving quiz culture. Those preparing for the UPSC exams have also conducted the quiz on certain occasions. Sometimes quiz enthusiasts from other districts also participate in Quizforya,” she says. Last month Quizforya hosted MahaQuizzer and AsiaSweep, two prestigious annual competitions conducted by Karnataka Quiz Association.

“Being at an informal quiz session is a different experience. Usually, for a quiz contest, you study by heart. But the approach here is different. Logic and thinking come into play. It is all about disseminating knowledge,” says Akshay Sreyas, a UPSC aspirant and regular at Quizforya’s events. “I even got the opportunity to conduct a quiz. I was thrilled when one of the first-timers told me that he enjoyed it so much,” Akshay says.