Learning GK — What does it lead to?

If you are a 90s kid, you’ve probably come across Lola Kutty — the Street quiz host on Channel [V]. Yes, we had a street quiz before Tik Tok made it cool. Lola Kutty was a Malayalee stereotype — exaggerated ascent, traditional saree and oiled hair decked with jasmines. We all loved the quirky woman. Yet Lola Kutty faded off television over a decade ago. Like me, you might have forgotten her.

If you’re cheap like me, then there’s no way we are paying for Youtube Premium. We just tolerate those unskippable ads. One such ad reignited my memory of Lola Kutty. It was of Vigil aunty — the reincarnation of Lola Kutty who creates content on finance frauds for HDFC.

TV content was different back then. There are two reasons for this. One, as a new entrant to the adulting world, I see my childhood more fondly than ever. And two, my early childhood was not colonised by Ekta Kapoor and her Saas-Bahu serials. TV programmes were not as mindless. Serials had good scripts, news had polite people and the drama on-screen was largely bearable. Even in such a space, Lola Kutty was a breath of fresh air — albeit coconut and jasmine scented.

In her street interview, Lola Kutty asks “What is the name of Shah Rukh Khan’s eldest child?” Aryan Khan. Aryan Khan. Everyone knew it! I knew it too. And this was before his drug controversy. Shah Rukh Khan was a hero. That automatically made his family nationally important.

To the same folks, Lola Kutty asks “Who is the Vice-President of India?”

Nobody knew.

I felt ashamed.

I didn’t know India had a Vice-President.

That was how a music channel made me feel — ashamed. In the same breath, the channel taught me to sing Apun Bola Tu Meri Laila. This TV medley was good. It embodied India — a country with ancient knowledge and a new item song every month.

FYI, the current Vice-President of India is Venkaiah Naidu. Courtesy of Lola Kutty, I decided to be more proactive with my GK. I took efforts to be an informed citizen. I would see Bournvita Quiz and KBC with rapt attention. And decided to read the newspaper every day — but that never happened.

Things were different as a student. You take part in quiz competitions. You get prizes and feel smart. There were rewards to having general knowledge.

Today I have a 9-to-5 job. And suddenly, there is no reward. General knowledge feels like an extracurricular. It looks good on resumes but serves near-zero benefits.

I am not talking about politics or current affairs around me. That is important for different reasons. But there may never be a situation where you’ll have to know the capital of Dadra & Nagar Haveli (it’s Daman, by the way) or the Minister of Ethics (don’t worry, no such position will exist in India).

You need not have any general knowledge. And life will go on as usual.

Is learning GK worthwhile as a non-parent adult? The cost of acquiring awareness is so high. And the return on that investment is so low. Is that why Lola Kutty faded out? Because of how useless GK can be?

That is something to think about.