Written by Asmit Kumar Once just a Sunday morning hobby, crosswords are finding pride of place in college competitions these days. Studies tie the puzzle to improving memory and decision-making skills, and civil society groups are on a mission to help Gen Z reclaim the lost charm of cracking a difficult clue over a cup of chai. Delhi’s Jamia Hamdard University (JHU) recently conducted a cryptic crossword contest in partnership with Extra-C, a Patna body known for its national-level crossword programs. Students from varied schools and colleges signed up for the event, showing a growing interest in this intellectual ‘sport’ among the youth. The format was a novel one for most students, and they watched keenly. JHU student Shadaan shared that it was his first time in the ring when it came to crosswords, while Anaamika S, a student of Gargi College, added that she had encountered such contests at Miranda House, and wished to continue her newfound interest. How do you solve cryptic crosswords? Similar to quiz contests, Jamia’s cryptic event began with a written prelims followed by an on-stage final, where a ‘crossword master’ fired off clues. IIT Delhi’s team secured all six top positions, with members Harshul Sagar, Yashas Vatsyayan, and Aarush Ranjan clinching the top three spots respectively. Before the contest, an interactive workshop on cryptics was hosted by crossword expert Vinayak Ekbote, where he covered the the art of deciphering them. Ekbote also mentors at IIT-D, which may explain the college's consistent skill at word games. Mr Ekbote pointed out that cryptic clues initially look like normal phrases, but a coded answer lies ‘locked’ within. Clues are usually split into two parts: a definition which directly hints at the answer, and wordplay which creatively points to it through linguistic tricks. This can include words hidden directly in the clue, double meanings, anagrams and more. The workshop left both beginners and seasoned solvers amused, as they tried to unfurl cryptic clues into everyday words in the English language. Cryptics are significantly tougher than classic grids like the Express Mini Crossword: “People from all age groups and backgrounds are encouraged to participate in crossword events. The puzzles are designed in such a way that everyone can crack them,” said Ms Unsa Siddiqui, Secretary, Delhi Crossword Association. She added that Extra-C is working with multiple institutions to make crosswords and similar brain games popular amongst the youth. Dignitaries who graced the event were K. Srinivas, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Minority Affairs; Vivek Kumar Singh, IAS, Development Commissioner of Bihar; Dr. A.K. Ambasht, IFS (Retd.). President, Crossword Association of Delhi; ad Mr. Amrit Lugun, IFS (Retd.) Former Ambassador of India to Greece and currently Professor of Practice at Jamia Hamdard. The author is our Puzzles Intern and a student of Hansraj College.
