“India teaches me again and again, that the categories into which I try to divide things don’t hold up.” -Dena Moes
Keeping in mind the rich and vibrant cultural diversity of this nation, Quiz Society, SRCC hosted the India Quiz, as part of our annual spring quizzing festival, Quizignia'23.
This quiz can also be viewed and downloaded at: https://www.quizsocsrcc.com/
2. Q1
This is a linocut portrait by X was one of the pioneers of modern
Indian art and a key figure of Contextual Modernism. A pupil of
Abanindranath Tagore, X was known for his "Indian style" of
painting. He became the principal of Kala Bhavan, Santiniketan
in 1921. He was influenced by the Tagore family and the murals
of Ajanta; his classic works include paintings of scenes from
Indian mythologies, women, and village life. Later, in the middle
of the 20th century, he made illustrations that are probably of
most ‘national importance’. Where were these illustrations
made? Also, name X.
5. Q2
(A) is the Marina Hotel in CP, Delhi where a certain individual
stayed while he was about to commit a ‘historic’ crime.
(B) is the Peterhoff hotel in Shimla, which then housed the
Punjab and Haryana High Court where the individual was tried for
his crime.
Give the individual and the crime that he committed
8. Q3
In 2012, self-proclaimed religious leader, Asaram Bapu, had said that 14
February should be observed as "X Day". He had declared instead of
protesting against Valentine's Day and causing law and order problems,
youth should be given an alternative to Valentine’s Day, which was an
alien concept that was eating into Indian values.
In 2015, the state of Chhattisgarh officially declared 14 February every
year to be X. It started observing it in 2008 on the advice of Asaram. In
2013 and 2014, separate circulars were issued with instructions. On this
day, Xs were supposed to be invited to and worshipped in schools.
Identify X
10. Q4**
"Jahanara" is the 1964 Indian Hindi debut film of director
Vinod Kumar. It is a historical romance based on the life of the
titular Mughal princess. While many of the songs of this film
remain famous, the song "Kabhee Aankhon Mein Teri" sung by
a ‘quartet’ was neither filmed nor released on disc. Arguably,
it might be the only song sung by all four ‘members’ of this
‘quartet’. Who were the members of this ‘quartet’?
12. Q5
‘X Samaj’ is a Hindu sect founded by Parasuram, a member of
the Chamar caste in the 1890s that worships the god Ram.
Living mainly in Chhattisgarh, its adherents tattoo the word
"Ram" on their bodies and wear shawls with the word "Ram"
printed on them. Estimates of the group's population range
from about 20,000 to more than 100,000. Name this sect.
14. Q6
Aaj ki raat bahut _______ ____ chalti hai
Aaj ki raat na neend aayegi
Ham sub uthein, mai bhi uthun, tum bhi utho
Koi khidki isi deewar mein khul jayegi
These are lines from the poem Makaan by Kaifi Azmi
The title of which acclaimed, yet somewhat controversial work
from the 70s comes from the blanks above?
16. Q7
‘Kevi Rite Jaish’ is a 2012 Gujarati drama film that is a satire on the
fascination and obsession of the Patel community’s migration to the
US to establish motels. The film is mostly shot in Ahmedabad. One
particular scene of the film required 500 of something, for which the
production team had to start scouting for 8 days prior to the
shooting schedule. During the nights, they visited residences, street
markets, luxury hotels and open fields and managed to get 731 of
these objects finally. To avoid any police suspicion, the objects were
also transported during the night to the shooting location. What
objects were they trying to gather for the shoot?
18. Q8**
"My appeal to you, therefore, is that a man like this who is being charged with the offences
imputed to him stands not only before the bar in this Court but stands before the bar of the
High Court of History and my appeal to you is this: That long after this controversy is hushed
in silence, long after this turmoil, this agitation ceases, long after he is dead and gone, he will
be looked upon as the poet of patriotism, as the prophet of nationalism and the lover of
humanity. Long after he is dead and gone, his words will be echoed and re-echoed in India
and across distant seas and lands.”
Who is ‘he’ referred to in this speech given in the Alipore
sessions court in 1908? Also, which famous Bengali nationalist
leader (who had studied at the Middle Temple), had briefly re-
started his legal practice to save the “he” mentioned in his
speech?
20. Q9
X is a multiple rocket launcher produced in India and
developed by the Defence Research and Development
Organisation (DRDO) for the Indian Army. X saw service during
the Kargil War, where it was successful in neutralising
Pakistani positions on the mountaintops. It has since been
inducted into the Indian Army in large numbers.
Xs name has been derived from that of the celestial bow of
Shiva. In popular legend, he is believed to have employed this
bow in his avatar as Tripurantaka to annihilate the three cities
of Mayasura, known as Tripura. Name X.
22. Q10
X is a word meaning a conspicuously wealthy man deriving his
fortune in the east, especially in India during the 18th century. The
word entered colloquial usage in England in 1612 and was often used
for men who made fortunes working for the East India Company and,
on their return home, used the wealth to purchase seats in
Parliament. A common fear was that these individuals – the Xs, their
agents, and those who took their bribes – would use their wealth and
influence to corrupt Parliament. This perception of the pernicious
influence wielded by Xs in both social and political life led to
increased scrutiny of the East India Company. A number of
prominent Company men underwent inquiries and impeachments on
charges of corruption and misrule in India. Give X.
24. Q11
INS X is one of the two Magar-class amphibious warfare vessels
of the Indian Navy (along with INS Magar). It takes its name
from a critically endangered crocodilian endemic to the Indian
subcontinent. Identify X.
26. Q12**
Matia Transit Camp in Goalpara district, the largest foreigners'
detention centre in Assam at Goalpara district has been converted
into a temporary jail, despite some declared foreigners staying in it.
This is amidst a crackdown on a certain crime by the Assam Govt.
which has led to nearly 3000 arrests, which has led to existing jails
overflowing. The Govt. has been criticized for insensitive and
retrospective punitive arrests. What is the Assam government
cracking down on?/ What is the crime the arrested persons have
committed?
30. Q14
Which scientific concept is being illustrated in this Google
doodle? Also, name the (probably) more famous more famous
as a scientist paternal uncle of the scientist who discovered
the concept illustrated in the Google Doodle.
33. Q15
X was a social activist, freedom fighter and artist. She was one
of the two women to lead the Dandi March. During World War
II, she travelled around the world to share stories of India’s
non-violent fight for independence.
Her contribution to the arts is also tremendous. During the
Partition, she rehabilitated thousands of artisans. Through a
series of grassroots movements, she drove a renaissance of
Indian arts and handicrafts. Some of the arts she salvaged
include embroidery, basket weaving, music and dances like
kathak, chhau and bhangram, among others. Name X.
35. Q16**
X-The India-US story’ is a recently launched book by veteran
journalist Seema Sirohi. The book describes how India, in an
age dominated not just by China's rise but by its undoubted
political and economic muscle power, has become the
fashionable new ally in Washington. The author attempts to
examine whether India and the US are finally ready for a
relationship of equals, or if they will continue to be 'X’s'. Give
X, which is a term for a certain kind of relationship between
two people.
40. Q18
In the famous Raj Narain case, which led to Indira Gandhi’s
1971 election from Rae Bareilly being declared void, Raj
Narain was represented by X in the Allahabad HC. X served as
the Law Minister of India holding office at the Ministry of Law
and Justice from 1977 to 1979 in the Morarji Desai Ministry. He
was a senior advocate of the Supreme Court of India. Name X
42. Q19
The National Library of India is a library located in the
Belvedere Estate of Kolkata, India. It is India’s largest library
in terms of volume and public record. Before Independence,
the estate had been dedicated to the Imperial Library since
1891.
The gate of the library has a statue of a tiger on top of it which
inspired something fairly prominent, of national importance
(image on the next slide).
What?
44. This statue is the one that is modelled for the RBI logo
45. Q20**
This is the Victory Pillar located in the village of X, in the Pune
district of Maharashtra. It commemorates the soldiers who lost
their lives in the Battle of X, which took place in 1818, in which the
EIC defeated the Marathas led by Peshwa Baji Rao II. 22 out of the
49 soldiers whose names are inscribed on the obelisk belonged to
the Y community. Today, this has become a symbol for Dalit
politics, since the Ys, who were formerly considered untouchable,
regard it as a symbol of their victory over the high-caste Peshwa.
The pillar also features in the insignia of the Y regiment.
Name the village where the pillar is located and the community Y.
47. Q21
X is one of Delhi's best known theatres at Mandi House on Safdar
Hasmi Marg, New Delhi, close to the Kendra, it is run by the Indian
National Theatre Trust established in 1958. X runs a certified Two
year acting course.
Y is an Indian cultural institution which runs a school for music,
dance and performing arts in New Delhi. It was founded in 1952,
and imparts training in Indian classical dance styles and music,
including Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Chhau, Hindustani
Classical music, both Vocal and Instrumental.
While they were founded by his descendents, which eminent
industrialist are X and Y named after?
49. Q22
The area ‘XY’ is named after the boatmen of Medieval Delhi. ‘X’ is a
Hindi word meaning ‘oars of a boat’ and ‘Y’ means ‘the act of
steering oars’. In the Mughal era, boats were used for
transportation between Red Fort and Fatehpuri mosque. ‘XY’ is
known for the residence (haveli) of the famed Urdu and Persian
poet Z, who chronicled the last days of the Mughal rule over Delhi,
and the emergence of the Company as the ruler of Delhi and India.
Name the area ‘XY’ and the poet Z.
51. Q23
X is a satirical comedy show that first aired on DD National in
1995. The list of episodes is shown. Usually, around the middle
of each episode, there would be a segment, where the main
actor Y hosted a Quiz related to the theme of the episode
between two teams-“samajhdaron ki team” and “Bewakoofon ki
team”. Name Y who also wrote and directed the comedy show.
54. Q24**
In Victorian England, and in colonial India, a restaurant code
developed that assigned new meanings to traditional titles for
Indian dishes. For instance, X which was originally a Mughlai
dish consisting of meat or vegetables braised with yogurt and
spices to produce a thick gravy came to be used to descibe any
mild-spiced creamy dish.
Name X