Governor of Bihar Inspires Students at Patna Crossword Contest and NICE Zonal Round at CIMP, Organized by Extra-C
Patna — CIMP hosted the Patna Crossword Contest cum NICE Zonal Round today at its auditorium. This event organised by EXTRA-C attracted crossword enthusiasts ranging from seasoned solvers to novices, fostering intellectual engagement and camaraderie. His Excellency, Governor of Bihar Sri Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, was the esteemed Chief Guest for the occasion.
The NICE 2024 East Zonal Round brought together top students from Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha, and Jharkhand, all competing for a chance to advance to the Grand Finale scheduled in New Delhi this September. The event also featured the official launch of the National Inter-School Cryptic Crossword Contest 2024 (CCCC 12.0), with students from various Patna schools competing for a spot in the Grand Finale.
NICE 2024 East Zonal Round Results:
Rank-1: Shivani Kumari and Aman Kumar from Government Engineering College, Vaishali.
Rank-2: Vaibhav Raj and Surjeet Kumar from Gaya Engineering College.
Rank-3: Anjali Sinha and Aditi from CIMP.
The top three teams from this zonal round will advance to represent the east zone in the Grand Finale.
CCCC 12.0 Patna Round Results:
Rank-1:Shraddha Shree from St. Michael’s High School, Patna
Rank-2: Dhairya Pandey from Don Bosco Academy, Patna
Rank-3: Vaibhav Shekhar and Anjali Sinha from DPS Patna
Over 300 students from Patna schools participated, engaging in a 45-minute written prelims session to solve cryptic crossword clues.
The top teams were awarded prizes and certificates, with the winning team securing a direct qualification to the CCCC 12.0 Grand Finale.
Governor Arlekar highlighted the significance of integrating academics with co-curricular activities for a well-rounded education. “Academics and co-curricular activities go hand-in-hand for a holistic education. It is through a combination of these two that the real worth of a student can be gauged,” he stated. “You are intellectuals and understand the immense value of crosswords. These should be an essential part of our educational curriculum, sparking curiosity in students’ minds. Crosswords not only expand our vocabulary but also sharpen our intellect, teaching us how to approach problems and navigate challenges to find solutions. We must make it a habit,” He added.. He also commended the collaborative efforts of AICTE, UGC, IIM Mumbai, IIT Madras, Extra-C, and CIMP, and recognized Shri. Vivek Kumar Singh, IAS, Chairman, RERA and Chief Mentor of Extra-C, for his dedication to promoting quality learning.
“As per the NEP 2020, a student must have all round development, of which crosswords are an integral part,” said Shri. Vivek Kumar Singh. He added that crosswords come to us as challenges to us everyday, and prepare us to face challenges in real life, no matter their level.
The event was attended by dignitaries including Prof. Dr. Rana Singh, Director, CIMP; Shri Udayan Mishra, IAS, Director, Science & Technology Department, Bihar; Shri Robert L. Chongthu, IAS, Principal Secretary to the Governor, Bihar and Shri. Devesh Sehra, IAS, Secretary SC & ST Welfare.
“Apart from expanding our vocabulary and enhancing critical thinking skills, crosswords are also a fantastic stress-busting skill.” said Shri. Udayan Mishra.
“The beauty of crosswords lies in the fact that those who solve them understand that every problem has a solution,” said Shri. Robert L. Chonghtu.
Quoting Usain Bolt, “Dreams are free, goals have a cost. Time, effort, sacrifice, sweat—how will you pay for your goals?” Shri. Devesh Sehra, urged the young audience to pursue their goals without compromising their conscience. He highlighted the 2024 World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report, which identifies India as highly vulnerable to misinformation and disinformation, and encouraged the youth to read and apply critical thinking more.
“CIMP has been actively involved in this program to further our mission of promoting crosswords in the eastern zone. To all participants: your enthusiasm and determination to win will pave the way for your success in life,” said Prof. Dr. Rana Singh, Director of CIMP.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Shri. Kumod Kumar, CAO of CIMP and CEO of CIMP-BIIF. He said, “This is a remarkable platform that encourages students to develop their creative thinking and multi-disciplinary skills. It’s been wonderful to witness the enthusiasm and ingenuity of the participants, which has made this event so vibrant and successful,”
Looking ahead, the Grand Finale of NICE 2024 is scheduled for the first week of September in New Delhi. The CCCC 12.0 will commence with three online rounds each Sunday from August 18 to September 1, 2024, with offline rounds leading up to the Grand Finale in November 2024.