History – GK Questions

Answer: Dinabandhu Mitra

Dinabandhu Mitra wrote 'Nil Darpan' (1860), a Bengali play exposing the exploitation of indigo farmers by European planters. It sparked public outrage and contributed to the Indigo Commission. [[1]]

Answer: Bankim Chandra Chatterjee

Bankim Chandra Chatterjee wrote 'Anandamath' (1882), featuring the song 'Vande Mataram'. The novel inspired nationalist sentiment and became a rallying cry during India's freedom struggle. [[30]]

Answer: True

Rabindranath Tagore won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for 'Gitanjali' (Song Offerings), a collection of devotional poems. He was the first non-European to receive this honor. [[1]]

Answer: Premchand

Munshi Premchand wrote 'Godaan' (1936), a landmark Hindi novel depicting peasant life, exploitation, and social realities. He is considered the greatest novelist of modern Hindi literature. [[30]]

Answer: True

Amir Khusrau (1253-1325) blended Persian and Indian musical traditions, developing qawwali as a form of Sufi devotional music. He also contributed to the evolution of Hindustani classical music. [[1]]

Answer: Ziauddin Barani

Ziauddin Barani wrote 'Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi' (c. 1357), covering the Delhi Sultanate from Balban to Firoz Shah Tughlaq. It reflects the political ideology and administrative practices of the period. [[30]]

Answer: Chagatai Turkish

Babur wrote his memoirs 'Baburnama' in Chagatai Turkish, later translated to Persian. It provides vivid accounts of his life, Central Asian culture, and early Mughal India. [[1]]

Answer: True

Abdul Fazl, Akbar's court historian, wrote 'Akbarnama' (chronicle of Akbar's reign) and 'Ain-i-Akbari' (administrative details). These works provide comprehensive insights into Mughal administration and culture. [[30]]

Answer: Minhaj-i-Siraj

Minhaj-i-Siraj Juzjani wrote 'Tabaqat-i-Nasiri' (1260 CE), a Persian chronicle covering Islamic dynasties including the Delhi Sultanate up to 1260. It is a key source for early Sultanate history. [[1]]

Answer: True

The Panchatantra (c. 3rd century BCE), attributed to Vishnu Sharma, is a collection of interrelated animal fables teaching political wisdom and practical ethics. It influenced world literature through translations. [[30]]

Answer: Mudrarakshasa

Vishakhadatta's 'Mudrarakshasa' (c. 5th century CE) dramatizes Chanakya's political strategies in establishing Chandragupta Maurya's rule. It is a valuable source for understanding Mauryan political thought. [[1]]

Answer: Vatsyayana

Vatsyayana composed the Kamasutra (c. 3rd century CE), a treatise on love, relationships, and social conduct. It reflects the sophisticated urban culture of ancient India beyond mere eroticism. [[30]]

Answer: True

Kalidasa's 'Abhijnanashakuntalam' is based on an episode in the Mahabharata about Shakuntala and King Dushyanta. It is considered a masterpiece of Sanskrit literature and world drama. [[1]]

Answer: Shudraka

Shudraka wrote 'Mrichchhakatika', a Sanskrit play depicting love between a merchant and a courtesan against political intrigue. It provides insights into urban life in ancient India. [[30]]

Answer: True

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas was first celebrated on January 9, 2003, commemorating Gandhi's return from South Africa. It honors contributions of the Indian diaspora and strengthens ties with India. [[1]]

Answer: United Arab Emirates

The UAE has the largest Indian diaspora (over 3.5 million), primarily for employment. The US has the largest diaspora in terms of permanent residents and citizens of Indian origin. [[30]]

Answer: Canada

The Komagata Maru (1914) carried 376 Indian immigrants to Canada, but was denied entry due to restrictive immigration laws. The incident galvanized the Ghadar Movement and anti-colonial sentiment. [[1]]

Answer: True

Gandhi developed his philosophy of Satyagraha in South Africa (1893-1914), fighting against discriminatory laws targeting Indians. This experience shaped his methods later used in India's freedom struggle. [[30]]

Answer: Caribbean and Africa

The Girmitiya system (1834-1917) sent Indian indentured laborers to British colonies in Caribbean (Trinidad, Guyana), Africa (Mauritius, Fiji), and Southeast Asia to work on plantations after slavery abolition. [[1]]

Answer: True

The States Reorganisation Act 1956, based on the Fazl Ali Commission report, reorganized state boundaries primarily on linguistic lines, creating 14 states and 6 union territories. [[30]]