Durban - Two young men from KwaZulu-Natal this week jetted off to India to participate in a Know India quiz in New Delhi.
Dhanshil Jugath, 21, of Pietermaritzburg and Shravan Bhana, 25, of Westville, qualified to travel to India for the semi-final and final rounds of the Bharat Ko Janiye quiz, which is aimed at young overseas Indians.
The quiz, in its second year, is aimed at motivating Indian youth outside of the motherland to enhance their knowledge about India. Topics of the quiz include – Indian art, Indian democracy, economy, geography, personalities in music and dance, science and technology, languages and literature, education, the tradition of Indian crafts, Indian cinema, and renowned personalities.
The first two rounds of the quiz is done online. The top 10 finalists in each category are then selected, based on their marks in the second round, when they get invited to participate in New Delhi.
Jugath’s mother, Vimi, said she heard about the quiz on radio and suggested it to Dhanshil and her daughter, Sauvira, 17.
Sauvira was this week handed a gold medal by Indian high commissioner to South Africa, Ruchira Kamboj, for coming out first in the first round.
Dhanshil and Bhana’s mothers received their medals, silver and bronze, on their behalf.
Sauvira, a matriculant at Raisethorpe Secondary in Pietermaritzburg, who did not qualify to travel to India, said she was not disappointed that she could not accompany her brother.
“I am proud of our achievement as it was our first time and we did not expect to do well. We were doing it for the trip to India. From a young age, we have been exposed to the culture and we love India.
“I am not disappointed to have not made the next round. I could not afford to miss two weeks away from school as it's my matric year. I am proud of my brother,” said Sauvira.
She said would try again.
“I was exposed to information about India I never knew before. I would encourage others to participate and broaden their knowledge on India,” she said.