BETA

In March, there was a special competition, which Tamil students across London took part in. It was the UKTSU BBP – United Kingdom Tamil Students’ Union Britian’s Brainiest Pillai (“child” in Tamil.) There was a 1st round and a 2nd round. In the first round there was a written test of 50 questions about general knowledge. If you passed that, you would go to the 2nd round, which was when a member of the UKTSU asked you questions alone verbally, and you had to answer them verbally back. There were two divisions, Under 12’s and Under 14’s, these groups would compete separately to make it fair.

Two weeks after the 1st round and 2nd round, I found out I passed to the 3rd and final round. This was would be very huge, as I would have to compete with others in front of a live audience in Copland School in Wembley. This ironically was also like my other column on the 14th of July. The 3rd round of competition took place at 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

So straight after I attended the protest rally at Trafalgar Square, I went to the competition. The well-organised members of TSU, gave us tags, with our name and a number. I was in the group 4. We went onto the stage, and got ready for the questions. I could see my Amma and my brother Mahison in the audience. It was quite tense, we had whiteboards, pens and rubbers; and the happy host called out the nine general knowledge questions, which we drew on the whiteboards, and showed to the judges and the audience. After every group was finished, and the marking was finished, it was decided who would go to the next round.

20 Under 12’s      20 Under 14’s

1st round – Whiteboard Round-10 highest scoring people progress                
2nd round-   Head to head- Balls from the hat decides which two people will face each other in head to heads. There were 5 questions; first to get 3 correct answers wins.  5 leave the contest, 5 remain

3rd Round – The Platform round- 5 mats with numbers from 1-5 on them are placed. Host asks questions first to get onto the 5th platform wins.

I reached the 2nd round, head to heads, after going through. I had butterflies in my stomach, the task ahead of us was so daunting, especially the help of a live audience! I ate the delicious cheese crisps, the association supplied us. Then the 2nd round, head to heads, buzzers to answer. I was ball number 1, and I was chosen to face the number 8, Vasuki. In the head-to-head round, I was scared, sweat down my hair, I had to defeat her. I was called on, a quick nervous smile at the audience, and my finger on the buzzer. First question; got it right. 1-0 to me, 2 more and I win. Next question, 2-0, the capital of Australia is Canberra.  1 more and I win. Oh no, Vasuki pulled it back to 2-1. Another question, the comeback is on for Vasuki, but oh yes I make it 3-1. I progress to the last 5, unlucky Vasuki.

I have a chance of winning, maybe I’ll get 1st prize (£350) or 2nd prize (Ipod), even 3rd would be marvellous for me (£50)

Final round, I’ve got this far. The nerves were really showing for me. Saying goodbye to the dear friends, knocked out in previous rounds was quite sad. Then, here goes last round, I don’t want to go home empty handed, despite thoroughly enjoying this marvellous competition.
It’s started, first question, I’ve got it right; I’m on platform 1. Second question correct, platform 2, but I’m drawing with another person. 3rd question- correct, still drawing. I now have a great chance of making the top 3, so I have a good chance of getting a prize. 4th question- right again, and the person who was drawing with me, has got it wrong. 5th question, if I get it right, I am the winner and the 350 pounds prize is mine. Last question, I got it right and I am the champion! Christina Soniya comes 2nd with the Ipod, and Tharsikan comes 3rd with the 50 pounds!

It was the end, I was Britain’s Braniest Pillai. It finished, and now for the presentation. Everyone who didn’t make the top 3, got medals for participating fantastically. Then the top 3 came out for the presentation, 3rd Thasikan, he got a trophy. 2nd Soniya, she has a trophy. But the Champion, Cheran Gobiratnam, I lifted the trophy in the air, I received a cheque for 350 pounds. I was elated, what a wonderful competition. And for the Under 14’s , the champions was Sujan, who did great.

The organisers were superb, and the participating people were magnicifient. I would like to thank the UKTSU for their fantastic work towards this well-organised competition. I look forward to the next year’s competition where I will be an Under 14, another trophy hopefully, for the cabinet I call a windowsill.