Abhra Das is a prominent figure in Assam’s quizzing landscape, known for winning over 700 quizzes across the state and beyond. A National Quiz Champion in 2000 under Derek O’Brien, he has clinched titles in Cop Quest, Brain Jam, and many reputed open and inter-college quizzes between 1995 and 2018. As a quizmaster, he has conducted over 500 quizzes across India, including at IITs, NITs, IISERs, and major institutions in Assam. He contributed questions to the prestigious Asian Quiz Championship in Malaysia and has hosted quiz shows on AIR and Doordarshan. Abhra has also penned a long-running column in The Assam Tribune and authored The Ultimate Quiz Book series. Beyond quizzing, he is a Cost Accountant working in the healthcare sector and a passionate lover of football, travel, old Hindi songs, and biryani.

1. How do you personally define the spirit of quizzing? Is it about facts, curiosity, or something more?

Ans: When you read books and then discover some true facts, you know it's a divine feeling. The spirit of quizzing is similar, a desire for learning new things, and yes, that enthusiasm stems from curiosity.

2. How did your journey with quizzing begin? What was the scene like back when you started?

Ans: I come from a sporting family. My father Ajoy Das represented the Assam state football team and my uncle Arup Das represented the Indian national football team, so I had a special interest in football and other sports like cricket and tennis. I guess that started the sparked the curiosity aspect of me. When it comes to quizzing, it all started in the early 90s when I joined Guwahati Commerce College. My first quiz was a part of college week. To be honest, those were mostly general knowledge based questions, either you knew them or you didn’t. I still remember most of the quizzers. We used to memorise quiz books, quiz columns. Questions were mostly one or two liners. We had some dedicated rounds on music, films, who-am-I rounds, clue rounds, but more or less it was all general knowledge stuff.

3. Can you share a memory or moment from your quizzing life that still gives you goosebumps? Do you remember your first quiz win? What did it feel like back then?

Ans: By the grace of God, I became the National Inter College Quiz Champion in the year 2000. It was the Zenith All India Inter College Quiz held in Mumbai and Mr Derek O’Brien was the quizmaster. It was one of the finest moments in my quizzing journey. A team from Guwahati beating quizzers from Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chennai- great memories.

4. How big is the quizzing community in Assam and what do you think sets Assam’s quizzing community apart from the rest of the country?

Ans: I am very pleased to say that today, Guwahati is no longer the only quizzing hub in Assam. Places like Jorhat, Tezpur, Moran, Dhemaji, Silchar, Nalbari, and Nagaon are doing very well. Hundreds of quizzes are taking place in these areas every calendar year. We have common quizzing platforms on social media like Facebook and WhatsApp. Quizzers from various locations meet up and exchange ideas. In the rest of the country, you will find more and more senior quizzers, many of them are above 50 years of age. But in Assam, in that age group, only a handful of 4-5 quizzers still exist, which is a point of concern. The same goes for girls’ participation in quizzing. In Assam, the majority of girl students stop quizzing once they pass out from school.

5. Over the years, how have you seen the quizzing culture in Assam evolve? What are some major changes you've noticed?

Ans: Yes, but not many changes have been observed. One good thing is that several young quizzers have started conducting quizzes. I must say that places like Tezpur, Jorhat, and Moran are doing great and organising more and more quizzes.

6. Do you feel quizzing still holds the same excitement and value for today’s generation? Or has the nature of participation changed?

Ans: Yes, it has changed. Back in the 90s, people had more interest in quizzing and in knowing things. If you remember Quiz Time by Siddhartha Basu, or Bournvita Quiz every Sunday on Zee or Sony TV, or Surabhi on Doordarshan, those were some of the finest shows. Now, every time you open the TV, you see dance shows, music shows, comedy shows, and Bigg Boss. Cannot help it. But to be honest, quizzing is not for everyone. Those who love reading books and have curious minds, they are the ones who love this wonderful world of knowledge.

7. If someone wanted to become a good quizzer today, especially in Assam, what would your advice be?

Ans: I would suggest, do not try to become a good quizzer. Try to become a knowledgeable person. Read more and more books, watch movies, and try to travel as much as possible. When you read books and newspapers, that will automatically help you become a quizzer if you are into quizzing.

8. Has quizzing helped you outside the stage too, in life, career, or thinking in general?

Ans: Yes, certainly. It gave me confidence, public speaking skills, and moreover, it gave me knowledge about several areas, sports, music, films, arts, food, and the list continues. One of the best parts is when you meet people from outside India and share some interesting info about their country. It feels nice and they really appreciate it.

9. What’s one thing about Assam’s quiz culture that you wish more people knew or appreciated?

Ans: Prize money, haha. Assam is the only place where lakhs of rupees is given as a prize money, something you won’t see in Mumbai, Bangalore, or Chennai quizzes.

10. Which quiz event in Assam do you look forward to the most every year? Why?

Ans: Last year, I attended a quiz event titled Ouroboros, conducted by Dipanjan Deb and Shouvik Bhattacharjee, two of the best quizzers.

See, there are two types of quizes everywhere one who loves hardcore, serious quiz and other one being entertainment/masala quiz. I belong to the first category. Here I can tell you one honest fact- even in a serious quiz, one can enjoy if the quizmaster frames workable but hardcore questions.

11. If you could change one thing about how quizzes are conducted in Assam, what would it be?

Ans: The standard of questions. I know hundreds of seasoned quizzers and quizmasters from Assam will be offended by my comment, but it’s a fact that quizzes in Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, and Pune are ten years ahead. Modern quizzing is different and we need to adapt here as well.

12. Do you think social media and online platforms have helped or hurt the spirit of live quizzing?

Ans: Live quizzing is altogether different. Those who are sincere and diehard quizzers prefer live quizzes. I personally feel social media and online platforms hurt the spirit of quizzing. Let’s keep KBC aside from this discussion. Nowadays, there are plenty of online quizzes in WhatsApp groups. But as you know, there is no real fun when people just Google the answers. I know several quizzers who never attend live quizzes but never miss online ones, strange, isn’t it?

13. What role do you think community led initiatives like college quiz clubs or platforms like Readiot can play in keeping the culture alive?

Ans: We need to create an environment where people are encouraged to read more and more. But we cannot deny the fact that people love spending time on mobile phones. Reading is one of the best qualities a person can have. Schools and colleges should start clubs. They can organise informal quiz sessions twice a month. It does not have to involve inviting a big quizmaster. Students can conduct the quiz themselves.

14. Finally, what keeps you going even today? What is the thing that makes you come back to the quiz stage again and again?

Ans: Before I answer this, I want to thank my family, my mother, my wife, and my daughter. Their constant support and encouragement is one of the biggest reasons I am still active in Assam quizzing. To be honest, I have not participated in a quiz for a while. My last active participation was Brain Jam in 2015, where we became champions. I have been conducting quizzes since 1997, doing research, reading books, framing good questions, and finally sharing them with knowledge lovers. That is what drives me in this wonderful world of knowledge. I would also love to mention that my recent quiz book, Ultimate Quiz Book Revisited, has been well appreciated by quizzers across India.