How many of you remember the very famous Bournvita Quiz Contest? I mean if you are presently in your late twenties or beyond then there is an absolute hundred percent chance you have not only heard of it but you must have also been a fan.
Well I was no exception. And to add to this my mother was an even bigger fan of the show and of course Derek O’Brien.
So you can well imagine her tyranny over me about this. And as luck would have it I always missed the regional rounds by half or one mark.
But one day Derek O’ Brien came over to my school to hold a live interactive session with students. No quiz but only general gup-shup on life and things.
It was during this interaction that me who obviously never missed a chance back in those days to show how intelligent I was (not that this has changed now) raised my hand up high and asked a question.
Do you believe television is harmful for children?
He is a staggering over six feet tall guy and one that looked even more big when compared to us minions.
He smiled, asked me my name. Nodded his head and said, “good question. In fact very good question.”
Paused.
Looked up again and said, “Excess of anything is bad. Television in moderation helps us grow. And when I say television I am not saying only Discovery channel I mean all forms of entertainment. Growth of kids need every bit. I have had questions on Bollywood in my shows. So no television is not harmful for children, excess of anything is.”
Later in the session he said he would like to give out a Cadbury to the best question of the day. No points for guessing who it went to 😀
But why this tonight?
Every once in a while follow someone else’s advice, but your own always
Watching television was a taboo when I was growing up. My parents had set curfews which relaxed for an hour after school and another half an hour over dinner time. I found this rather annoying, one may say it was my way of being tempted by the forbidden.
But I believe it was more deep rooted than that.
Bans. Forbidden. Institutions. These things they stifle me. I am my happiest when not between any kind of four walls barring of course home where I can spend a lifetime and still be at peace.
But rules, laws and order they make me run. Because in a world full of choices and random events how can we have rules? How can we tell people what to do what not to do? We can only educate them and leave our education to do its work.
My parents heard what transpired at school, they smiled. They somewhere felt my question represented a deeper psyche and consequently television was taken off the taboo list.
Do you know what was the result of all this?
I hate television. Even today the sound of it makes me restless. It is like I always say, an idiot box.
If my parents had continued to put embargoes on me it would have been a different case I believe. But it took me barely a week to say out loud at dinner table, ” I don’t think I want to watch television any more.“
No body said a word but only smiled.
Trivia. My first published poem in TOI was… ‘Television’ 😀
Like every week, connecting this with Write Tribe’s #MondayMusings
Until next time ciao!
Lovely… Yes i agree parents always had that sense of curfew situation & it’s good they understand your psyche cz in my case i was a Shahrukh fan & loved to watch movies till midnight until my mom applied the brake when i was to appear for my board exams. Wow.. What an insight 🙂
Oh you too an SRK fan wow! <3 <3
I think it is human nature to want to do the forbidden. It seems the grass is always greener on the other side until we get there.
Yes Suzy and in parenting one needs to factor this always..
So Bourvita girl, you must have enjoyed. I’d say it’s good to have a taste of forbidden for us to differentiate better. Insightful answers and thanks for sharing, Richa.
Haha I wasn’t the bournvita girl ya! Never made it due to a mark here or there miss 🙁
Hey loved our post… but was the bourvita quiz not done by Derek OBrien’s father. I know Derek from the brand equity quiz days …
Na na it was hosted by Derek always and yes he is also the person taking up brand equity 🙂
Interesting! I love your writing style! 🙂 🙂
Thanks Meera glad you liked it 🙂
Oh I remember those quizes … that made me realize how poor was my GK 😛 I had strict TV rules too. Infact till all my siblings and I went away for higher studies, we had black and white TV with just Doordarshan. It’s over 10 years I haven’t owned a TV. No wonder I get weird looks from friends when I tell them this.
haha well those quizzes were tough don’t judge yourself by them 🙂 And as for you not owning a TV- fabulous!
Hey Miss Richamoine Granger! Candid introspection into your past explaining your current revulsion for the idiot box….was very interesting! Derek O Brien will be a proud man, if he reads this!
But he never read this 😐
Oh I loved BQC! I was such a big fan and always wondered how were students chosen for the contest. Derek O’ Brien used to be my hero too. Remember that tune?
Coming to television – we had no big curfew at home cos I was pretty much a book worm. Today too, sometimes there are days when TV is not even switched on. I prefer laptop over idiot box 😀
This is that legendary post which got us connected 😀 Love this already 🙂
Please do consider the early 20s too 😛 I was a huge fan too! I just used to wait for Sunday mornings to watch that show. And now I don’t watch TV at all!
so many bloggers don’t watch tv or don’t possess one. It is uncanny really!
So many bloggers say no to TV it is uncanny!
Derek O’Brien had visited my school too! I had run up to him and taken his autograph! 🙂
Really? How lovely 🙂
I used to love that show! I don’t quite remember this, but I have a feeling he’s visited my school too.
And you’re so right about that stifling feeling you get from being restricted in an environment – any environment.
I don’t think there would be anyone not loving that show!
Bournvita Quiz Contest (BCQ) has inspired and prepared winners over the last 40 years. It still holds a treasured place in my heart.
Yes Vikram surely does 🙂
I used to love Bournvita quiz. I used to listen to it on radio first before it came on television and we could see Mr. Derek O Brien. But as you said, I am 98% off TV. I watch the odd something sometimes. But as you said, the forbidden fruit beckons always.
See see all bloggers off TV! This is a serious trend 😀
I remember Derek O brein alright ..Of course, now he seems to be nothing like the image I had of him..But I digress.. I used to watch a lot of television all thanks to my sister..still do when she is with me…these days it’s more of downloading series and watching…
Please meet my husband soon. He seems to share your love for series, tv and watching with sibling as well 😀
We didn’t have any rules for TV time while growing up. But I don’t remember this show at all. Does that mean I didn’t watch enough TV back then? 🙂
Perhaps you didn’t then Vinitha 🙂
That’s such a beautiful anecdote to present a message. I too met him back when I was working with him for a media event with Economic times Brand equity quiz. He is such a down to earth person.
Yes he is 🙂 I agree 🙂
Yes, I remember the Bournvita Quiz Contest and watching television was a taboo for me too! And, I do hate television now… 😀 a lot of things common between us…it seems 😀
Again, no tv is the order of emotion here 😀
that was some useful tip
Glad you found so 🙂
Oh those BQC were fun :). Being in Muscat, Oman I remember those quiz contests he used to conduct every year in Muscat. Whoa the fun we all had was super to say the least.
On another note, it’s always human nature to do something which you have been told not to do ;).
Oh yes Muscat always got represented every now and then. Even one quite a few times!