What is the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet?
Who was the last Tsar of Russia?
Which is the only sea without any coastlines?
If you go into this quiz expecting such questions, it might be time to read up a little further for Chennai’s iconic Landmark Quiz on Augusr 15.
Now in its 33rd year, the quiz has become as much an Independence Day tradition as the flag-hoisting ceremonies that unfold across the country. Every year, hundreds of teams, from seasoned quizzers to first-timers, school students to families, gather (this time at Sir Mutha Venkata Subba Rao Concert Hall), armed with little more than curiosity and a love for trivia.
What began as the Landmark Quiz in 1994 has grown into one of India’s largest open general knowledge quizzes, drawing participants from across the country and, occasionally, overseas. Today, under the banner of the Zifo Open Quiz, it continues to prove that in Chennai, curiosity is still a spectator sport.
Dr. Navin Jayakumar, Ophthalmologist and Quiz Master, Landmark Quiz, during an interview with The Hindu, in Chennai on Friday.
| Photo Credit:
RAVINDRAN R
“There is a culture of curiosity and knowledge-seeking in Chennai that isn’t found anywhere else. Maybe Kolkata comes close, but even there the numbers don’t compare,” says Dr Navin Jayakumar, quizmaster, Zifo Open Quiz, adding that a few years ago the quiz received registrations for over 1,000 teams and this year it has crossed 400 already.
The quiz’s longevity, however, has as much to do with the community that has rallied behind it as the questions themselves. For nearly 25 years, it was backed by Landmark and its founder Hemu Ramaiah, who, Dr Navin says, still turns up every year to help mark the answer sheets. When the bookstore chain shut down after the pandemic, he was determined to keep the tradition alive.
“I was not willing to let go of the date August 15. In 2021, even with all the lockdown restrictions, I conducted the quiz online because I wanted to commemorate it in some way. In 2022, I borrowed money from friends and organised the quiz myself. I didn’t want to let go of the tradition even without a sponsor,” he says adding that Raj Prakash G, founder of Zifo came into the picture in 2021. “He told me, ‘We used to come and enjoy the quiz. We don’t want this to die.’ The people who once took part in the quiz are now sponsoring it,” says Dr Navin.
This year’s edition promises a few new additions as well. While the questions will continue to span history, current affairs, science and popular culture, Dr Navin says the quiz has evolved with its audience. “I’m getting older. I started this when I was 30 and now I’m 64. There’s a lot of pop culture that younger people know and I don’t. That’s why, for the past three years, Siddhanth Rao has been the co-quizmaster. The quiz is now more youth-oriented because young people are the future of the quiz.”
Previous edition of the Zifo Open Quiz
| Photo Credit:
Special Arrangement
He also hints at a surprise for this year’s audience. Unlike previous editions, spectators will not just be watching from the sidelines. “We’re going to allow people to pull out their phones, but only after the preliminary round is over. They will be able to actively take part in the quiz till the very end, and we’ll have prizes for them too,” he says with enthusiasm.
And for those planning to take part, Dr Navin has one piece of advice: don’t prepare for the quiz. “Just be curious. Read the newspaper every day, but don’t stop at the headlines. If you read about the Strait of Hormuz, go and find out where it is, its history and the countries around it. Read what interests you and stay curious,” he says.
The Zifo Open Quiz is not an exam. “The joy lies in discovering something new and saying, ‘I didn’t know that. That’s fascinating.’ Above all, come with your friends and family and have a good time. The community is what keeps this quiz alive.”
The Zifo Open Quiz 2025 will be held on August 15, at 1.15pm at the Sir Mutha Venkata Subba Rao Concert Hall. For details and registration look up zifoopenquiz.com.
Published – August 06, 2026 10:08 am IST
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