Patna: The auditorium of Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) buzzed with intellectual fervor as it hosted the Patna Crossword Contest cum NICE Zonal Round on Friday, drawing crossword enthusiasts of all levels. The event, organised by EXTRA-C, saw a diverse mix of seasoned solvers and eager novices come together, fostering a spirit of camaraderie and mental agility.
The highlight of the day was the presence of Bihar’s Governor, Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who graced the occasion as the Chief Guest. He emphasized the importance of integrating academic learning with co-curricular activities, asserting that such a blend is crucial for a holistic education. “Academics and co-curricular activities go hand in hand,” he remarked. “Crosswords are not just a test of vocabulary but a way to sharpen our intellect and problem-solving skills, which are essential for real-world challenges.”
The NICE 2024 East Zonal Round saw participation from top students representing Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, all competing for a place in the Grand Finale set to be held in New Delhi this September. The competition also marked the official launch of the National Inter-School Cryptic Crossword Contest 2024 (CCCC 12.0), where students from various Patna schools vied for a spot in the Grand Finale.
In the NICE 2024 East Zonal Round, Shivani Kumari and Aman Kumar from Government Engineering College, Vaishali, secured the first place, followed by Vaibhav Raj and Surjeet Kumar from Gaya Engineering College in second place, and Anjali Sinha and Aditi from CIMP in third. These top three teams will go on to represent the east zone in the Grand Finale. Meanwhile, in the CCCC 12.0 Patna Round, Shraddha Shree from St. Michael’s High School, Patna, emerged as the winner, with Dhairya Pandey from Don Bosco Academy, Patna, taking second place, and Vaibhav Shekhar and Anjali Sinha from DPS Patna coming in third.
Over 300 students from various schools in Patna participated in a 45-minute written preliminaries session, grappling with cryptic crossword clues. The top teams were awarded prizes and certificates, with the winning team earning a direct qualification to the CCCC 12.0 Grand Finale.
Governor Arlekar lauded the collaborative efforts of AICTE, UGC, IIM Mumbai, IIT Madras, Extra-C, and CIMP in promoting quality education. He specifically acknowledged Vivek Kumar Singh, Chairman of RERA- Bihar and Chief Mentor of Extra-C, for his unwavering commitment to fostering intellectual growth through crosswords. “According to NEP 2020, a student’s all-round development is essential, and crosswords play a vital role in that journey,” said Singh, highlighting the everyday challenges crosswords pose and their relevance in real-life problem-solving.
The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Prof. Dr. Rana Singh, Director of CIMP; Udayan Mishra, Director of the Science & Technology Department of Bihar; Robert L. Chongthu, Principal Secretary to the Governor of Bihar; and Devesh Sehra, Secretary of SC & ST Welfare.
Udayan Mishra praised crosswords for their stress-relieving benefits, while Robert L. Chongthu noted that crosswords teach problem-solving by demonstrating that every challenge has a solution. Devesh Sehra, citing Usain Bolt’s philosophy on achieving goals, encouraged the young participants to pursue their dreams with integrity and critical thinking, particularly in a world increasingly vulnerable to misinformation.
Prof. Dr. Rana Singh of CIMP expressed pride in the institute’s role in promoting crosswords in the eastern region, commending the participants’ enthusiasm and determination. The event concluded with a vote of thanks from Kumod Kumar, CAO of CIMP and CEO of CIMP-BIIF, who hailed the platform for its role in nurturing creative and multidisciplinary skills.
Looking ahead, the Grand Finale of NICE 2024 is scheduled for the first week of September in New Delhi. The CCCC 12.0 will kick off with three online rounds every Sunday from August 18 to September 1, followed by offline rounds leading to the Grand Finale in November.
