Neil O'Brien, the pioneer of quizzing in India, passed away on Friday at his home in Kolkata. His death was announced by his son and Trinamool Congress MP Derek O'Brien.
Saddest tweet I've ever written. Dad Neil O'Brien gone.Passed at home Kolkata,quiz pioneer, ex ICSE chief, AI community icon, educationist
— Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) >June 24, 2016
When the Great Questioner in the Sky asks u that Final Question even a quiz legend does not have an answer.Neil 0'Brien my dad. My champion
— Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) >June 24, 2016
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have expressed their condolences.
A former member of Lok Sabha, the senior O’Brien was also a three-time nominated Anglo-Indian MLA in West Bengal and an educationist.
He was the chairman of the Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) and managing director of Oxford University Press, India.
As a leader of the Anglo-Indian community, he was the president-in-chief of All-India Anglo-Indian Association and headed the Frank Anthony group of schools.
O'Brien conducted the first well-organized, formal quiz in 1967 at Christ the King Church Parish Hall in Calcutta.
