Successful women from various fields found mention at the Bumble Bees 2012, an all women inter-college quiz organised at the Avinashilingam University. The quiz was conducted jointly by the Quiz Club and the Biz Club of the Commerce department of the University. Besides, acknowledging accomplished women, there were also rounds dedicated to current affairs and business related questions.
The initial preliminary round saw 44 teams from 14 colleges taking part. There were twenty-five questions in all. Who is the only woman finance minister of India? (Indira Gandhi) was an easy one. Then, the teams had to identify the online game that allows players to destroy husbands that demand dowry! (Angry Brides). In a letter that modern writer, F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote to his 11-year-old daughter, he lists a number of things she should not worry about. One of the things he writes is “Don't worry about _____________”The teams had to find the missing word. It was “Boys”. Two contestants got the answer right. Seven teams made it to the final round. The question was who developed the ready to consume food, ‘amirtham'. The guesses ranged from MTR, Shakti masala to Aachi masala! When the answer was revealed, everyone gasped in surprise. The answer was Rajammal P Devadas, educationist and nutritionist, the former Chancellor of the Avinashilingam University. Another question was about International Men's day. None of the contestants knew that it falls on November 19. It was a member from the audience who gave the right answer.
The buzzer round was a rapid fire game for the quizzers. Even before the quizmaster could complete all the clues, the quizzers were shouting out the answers. This round was dedicated to legendary women, contemporary and of yesteryear. Joan of Arc, who was canonized in the year 1920, Wangari Maathaai, the woman behind the greenbelt movement, and Condoleezza Rice, whose recently published book — ‘No Higher Honour: A Memoir of My Years in Washington' were the women that were addressed in this round. A visual of a Barbie Doll was shown and contestants had to guess who it was modelled after. Nobody got it right and the answer was German Chancellor, Angela Merkel. And of course, what is a quiz on Women's day without M.S. Subbulakshmi. An audio clipping of the musician singing an English song at the United Nations was played. The team from PSGR Krishnammal College, got it right. The clipping was from a concert that is also available on DVDs.
In the last question of the day, contestants had to identify the company that had as its motto the following line: “Work hard, have fun, make history”. It is Amazon.com. The first prize was awarded to the team from PSGR Krishnammal College, PSG Institute of Management won the second prize and the hosts Avinashilingam Institute For Home Science and Higher Education For Women came third.
