A JOURNEY FROM KID TO WIZKID!

The South Asian Finals of Horlicks Wizkids, B'lore

            “Nothing splendid has ever been achieved except by those who dared to believe that something inside them is superior to circumstances.”

            I believed in my dreams, my passions, my efforts and ultimately myself. And what was the repercussion? I got a brilliant opportunity of representing my city in the South Asian National Finals of Horlicks Wizkids 2011 which was held in Bangalore from 15^th November to 19^th November 2011 and thus, break new ground.

            Amazing, adventurous, prolific, spectacular, fabulous, etc. all these adjectives fail to capture the whole essence of the experience I had in the Finals with 40 extremely dexterous Wizkids. It’s rarely that one gets treated to such sumptuous fare! The South Asian Finals witnessed tremendous participation from the countries like India, Sri-Lanka and Nepal. The evaluation took place at School Of Ancient Wisdom, a sprawling institution enveloped by greenery, lush and brilliance in Yelhanka, B’lore.

            The thrilling voyage kicked off with Ice Breaker Round and Introduction Round where every Wizkid introduced himself through a prop which best described him. This helped us to know one another, swap experiences and make new contacts. An array of activities was on the horizon. The G.K Test & the Psychometric Test compelled us put on our thinking caps! Then came Wizkids Word War, a group discussion and Wizkids Wango Tango, a set of mind-boggling games, to fascinate us and give rise to the child-like attitude which was buried deep within. The Music/Dance/Theatre workshops honed and refined our skills. I opted for Theatre workshop owing to my flair and penchant for theatre. An excellent director and actor from B’lore, Mr. Aniroodh, directed a fabulously hilarious play titled “Two Sitting Ducks” where all the budding actors manifested their acting skills. This was followed by the most colorful and mind-blowing round, the Cultural Round, where all the Wizkids had to portray the culture and tradition of their regions dressed in their traditional attires. Every contestant had to decorate his stall with the delicious sweets, dishes and specialties of his region/state. What I concluded from this round was that it is only love and affection that binds all the Indians so strongly. In the teeth of great disparities, Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani! The rich beats of “The Kannad” set our feet tapping especially when the east beat developed in the west. Dance and music electrify one’s body!

            Physical activities and games are indispensable to stimulate the grey cells, provide an energetic boost up and maintain a clean bill of health. Keeping this in mind, a lot of ‘outbound learning activities’ were held which were nerve-racking yet enjoyable and grueling yet vibrant. These activities put into test every contestant’s leadership skills, patience, sense of tolerance, fortitude and guts. Then, all the Wizkids decked up for the Talent Round which was sure to set every heart on fire. The Talent Evening stunned, shook, hypnotized and regaled all and sundry. Every participant put forth a sensational performance in two minutes. I feel fortunate to join this bandwagon of extremely talented Wizkids. From rip-roaring dances to heart-warming melodies, from stunning stunts to eloquent speeches, one could sense a powerhouse of talents in offing.

            Then, the spotlight was on some serious stuff. Syed Sultan Ahmed, the man behind Horlicks Wizkids & EduMedia, addressed the Communication Workshop. It was the workshop where every participant got a chance to repair and revamp his communication skills with some impeccable pros and cons of communication. It is rightly said, “Luckily or unluckily, your conversation is your advertisement.”  It was then time to gear up for the Speaking Round where every participant had to speak about an incident that changed his/her life. This was followed by the most awaited Project Presentation & Personal Interview Round. It was incumbent on all the participants to execute a social project and thus, make a difference to the world they live in. In this round, every participant had to present his project report and inspire others to do their bit for the society. The Valedictory Function did the honours of putting full stop to the 3 days bonanza but it could not curb the unflinching passion and enthusiasm which emerged on Day 1.

The events convened from Day 1 to Day 4, the gusto and zeal of the 40 Whiz Kids, the amalgamation of fun, learning and bliss which led to production of young kids with sterling characters, and the breath-taking atmosphere were a perfect cherry and icing on the cake. How does one test character? An excellent test for character is the way a person reacts when chips are down. This test was applied in the personal interview session and Wizkids Word War.

            But the important test of character is how one behaves when no one is looking! Indeed, “Character is what one is in the dark.” The psychometric test had immense power to do this. Syed Sultan Ahmed rightly says, “We are here to make a difference.” Making a difference does not mean making a big splash or doing something which will make people yell ‘wow’. It is doing ordinary things, extraordinarily.

The brain behind the Horlicks Wizkids, Syed Sultan, deserves kudos. In four days, he transformed the participants from barren desert to a fertile oasis. I would need days, not hours to recount all his achievements.  But let me highlight one outstanding characteristic of this multifaceted person- his Most Charming Personality – in smile, in word, in deed. It is this which attracts him to all people, but the magnetic pull is most strongly felt by the youth. A special word of thanks to the Edu Media team- without them the sailing would not have been as smooth as it has, or as rough as it could have been.

The South Asian Finals of Horlicks Wizkids has been an enriching journey which has equipped me with the tools required to take wings, soar high and reach the paramount height.

Let me conclude by quoting Grantland Rice,

“When the One Great Scorer comes,

To write against your name,

He writes not that you won or lost

But how you played the game.”

SOUTH ASIAN FINALS OF WIZKIDS = GRIST TO THE MILL!

Following is the collection of some brilliant photographs:

The Introduction Round

Talent Round (Enacting Shylock From The Merchant Of Venice)

Enacting Portia from The Merchant Of Venice

Project Presentation

Har Ek Friend Zaroori Hota Hai!

Wizkids Rock!

Day 1: A pic clicked randomly before the breakfast!

Witnessing the splendid finale....

Syed Sultan Ahmed

The 40 Wizkids before the Grand Finale

Day 2: Outbound Learning Activities

With Nakul Patel Sir

Grand Finale

BEAT BOX! They set the stage on fire!

Talent Evening

Cultural Evening

The Theatre Group 

Speaking Round