Neologism is not the religion of Neo

[A blog that i wrote for our quiz fest Gnosiomania 2k6]

Gnosiomania is a neologism. That is what I learnt after scouring through innumerable webpages and sites, looking for topics that interest the left lobe of my telencephalon (or what one calls the brain). But first let me elucidate the meaning of the word neologism.

Simply put – Neologism is a word, term, or phrase which has been recently created ("coined") — often to apply to new concepts, or to reshape older terms in newer language form. Neologisms are by definition "new," and as such are often directly attributable to a specific individual, publication, period or event. The term "neologism" was itself coined around 1800; so for some time in the early 19th Century, the word "neologism" was itself a neologism. So gnosiomania which actually is a play on the word gnosiophobia (the fear of knowledge) is most definitely a neologism. (Phew)

Interesting. But as I finished this first paragraph, thoughts warped back to the day I had got the news that something known as GNOSIOMANIA would be organized in our college. Was in the 1^st year and had just started getting comfy with the 3^rd years. The final years were still the predators, to be in awe of from a distance but never to be close to one, much like one would be had one been in a Jurassic Park, beholding a velociraptor, in a cage mind you.

Things had happened so smoothly. Had bagged the role of the brochure writer and had written the script, much to the liking of the final years and the 3^rd years. And when the event began, was totally bowled over by the spirit of quizzing that erupted in the campus for 2 straight days. Hardly slept for the 2 days and by the end of it, knew where I stood on the knowledge ladder (on the ground beside the ladder beckoning people to help me up).

But this year I feel a little (tiny would be appropriate) bit more confident. Have been doing my reading (and practicing sleeping with a book), practicing the questions, quizzing actively in college quizzes and have been a quizmaster for 2 quizzes too !! (Have no idea how that happened !!). Although the ascent up the ladder has been slow and tiresome (albeit fascinating) one, the event itself is what drives me to newer heights of gnosiomania. Hey !! wait there a second….didn’t I just use Gnosiomania in the right manner in a grammatically correct sentence ??? !!!

Cheers people !!