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The Independence Day Quiz: Volume Zero

Hi,

In order to celebrate the Independence Day, a dedicated Quiz on Indian History is being conducted here in two volumes. This is the second volume.

In case you haven’t seen you can also visit The Indian History Quiz Volume Pi.

Pattern:
There are two rounds with 15 questions each. First volume was posted on 13th night and the answers were posted on 15th night. The second volume is being posted now. So you have a deadline of 48 hours.

Marking Scheme:
Questions will fetch one mark each unless mentioned otherwise. But some of them have multiple variables and hence will fetch as many marks.

Mode of Answering:
Put your answers as comments. They are being moderated and they will not be visible unless they are approved after the deadline.

Warning: Please put your answers in the WordPress comment system at the bottom and NOT as Facebook comments. The FB comment box has been provided for easy interaction but the answers must be moderated and not published directly

Prizes:
There are small token prizes in the shape of Flipkart e-vouchers worth Rs 300, 200 and 100 for cumulative winners in order to encourage participation from younger quizzers. In case you think the amount can be passed off to newer participants, you can mention that you are “Non-Comp” along with your answers.

Request:
Please like the FB page on the right side box or +1 this post to show support so that such efforts can be continued in the future.

A Quiz By
Jitaditya

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Independence Day Quiz: Questions

1. Easy: Translation of a famous stone inscription. Who are they talking about?

2. Situated northwest of Delhi, X is a place of mythological and historical importance mostly known as the ancestral kingdom of a certain Emperor Y who is quite well known. X was a prominent city during the ancient times but after it was sacked by Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni, it started losing its prominence. By the time of British rule it had been relegated to a nondescript village. But after partition a bunch of refugees were settled around the place and soon it went through a revival of sorts to become a notable commercial town. Now it is a part of a district named after an epic battlefield. Enough clues… identify X & Y. (2 marks)

3.He was of Syrian origin and apparently was only 17 years old when he achieved his most famous achievement. He’s still a popular figure in Pakistan with a port named after him. Nevertheless his success was temporary and he faced defeat soon. Also, due to political changes in his own country, he fell out of favour. There are several controversial accounts about his death, although it is more or less certain that he was only 20 years old when he died/killed. Who?

4. X was one of the most powerful rulers of the 8th century India. According to accounts of various Indian, Tibetan, Turk and Chinese accounts, he not only conquered the bulk of India but also led successful campaigns to different central Asian regions. He is also believed to have conquered regions in Western China and marshalled his troops across Tibet. A twelfth century Indian historian has described his exploits in his magnum opus. Who?

5. Need a bit of explanation here. The gentleman here has made several discoveries with regards to Indian history and archaeology. One particular achievement of his was achieved through the items shown at the bottom and whatever he “discovered” can trace back its origins to the region shown in the map. Identify and explain (2 point)

6. He was a traveller who visited India in the 15th century. He took the sea route and landed on the western coast. He spent a few years in a Deccan kingdom and then tried to return to his place but died before he reached home. A joint production film was made in the 1950’s with a fictionalized account of his travel and affair in India. Among others, the film starred a reigning Indian actress of those times. Identify the explorer.

7. Identify these two and name the more famous one of their kind. (2 points)

8. This is not an exhaustive collection of flags. But they represent something very specific. As shown by the arrow in the middle, they have been arranged following a certain order. The two flags in a row are equal in that regard and it gradually changes as we go downwards. Sorry if it sounds vague, any more clue will ruin the question. Just explain. (2 marks)

9. His exploits were legendary. He expanded the empire of his master at a breakneck speed and British contemporaries considered him to be capable of pushing his boundary up to Europe, only if he had the technology of the Europeans. He apparently died in a winning cause while fighting the Afghans in a critically strategic location. A popular Bollywood song of the 60’s refers to him. Identify.

10. A slight deviation from serious stuff with some indulgent dose of glamour. An Indian royalty, she was considered a fashion icon in the West and was regularly managed get noticed by fashion magazines, photographers and designers. Identify.

11. Sitter again: A trained medicine man from a Brahmin family. What did he start?

12. He sought revenge. It took more than two decades and in between he spent time in Africa, USA and Europe. He also spent a few years in an Indian jail during the period when most of his revolutionary comrades fell. Nevertheless, he finally achieved his goal and he always maintained that his victim deserved it. Identify this martyr.

13. The ruler of this princely state wanted to assimilate with Pakistan. However the Hindu majority populace made it difficult. The Indian government put economic and political pressure and finally occupied the state and the ruler fled to Pakistan along with most of the money in the treasury. The prime minister of the state finally negotiated and completed the formalities of the accession with India. Now, this prime minister was also a prominent personality whose subsequent generations went on to create a political dynasty. Identify the state and the Person mentioned. (Clue: I am not looking for Hyderabad although the initial parts sound like it) (2 marks)

14. A lawyer by profession, he once had the British administration declare a prize on him due to his revolutionary activities. But he is more famous for the role he played more than three decades later during India’s darkest hour. As a matter of fact he achieved a unique achievement during this period and was also involved in a high profile lawsuit. Who?

15. Simple one to end with… who?

Repeat Warning: Please put your answers in the WordPress comment system at the bottom and NOT as Facebook comments. The FB comment box has been provided for easy interaction but the answers must be moderated and not published directly

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Independence Day Quiz: Answers

1. Samudragupta’s exploits as mentioned in Allahabad inscription.

2. X= Thanesar (Thaneshwar) in Kurukshetra district of Haryana, Y= Harshavardhan

3. Mohammad Bi Qasim, who beat King Dahir in 715 AD in Sindh to mark the first successful muslim invasion. He was later beaten by a Rajput Chieftain Bappa Rawal to check his progress and mark his downfall.

4. Lalitaditya Muktapida, as mentioned by Kalhan in Rajtarangini

5. James Princep deciphered the Kharoshthi script using the seal that had Greek inscription on one side and Kharoshti on the other. In a way it can be called India’s Rosetta stone. Kharoshti script mainly developed in the Gandhar (Kandahar) region as shown in the map.

6. Afanisi Nikitin. Film Pardesi (1957) with Nargis as the female lead and produced by Mosfilm and Naya Sansar.

7. French & Dutch East India Company. More famous is of course the British one.

8. Gun salutes is the login behind this order. The princley states were given gun salues based on their stature and importance. Big ones like Gwalior and Hyderabad got 21. The likes of Bhopal and Travancore had 19 and so on…

9. Hari Singh Nalwa. The song Mere Desh Ki Dharti refers to him… “Rang hara Hari Singh Nalwe se.. Rang laal hain Lal Bahadur se” …

10. Sita Devi of Kapurthala

11. K B Hedgewar… RSS

12. Shaheed Udham Singh who pulled one back by eliminating Michael O’Dwyer, who was the Lieutenant Governor of Punjab during Jalianwalabagh massacre. Do note that he is often confused with General Dyer who actially ordered the firings.

13. Junagadh in Guajarat. The man is question is Shah Nawaz Bhutto. You can figure out the rest with his surname.

14. Raj Narain who defeated Indira Gandhi in Rai Bareily.

15. Shah Bano.

Scores being counted…. Thanks for playing.

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Score Update

Total maximum score 26+20=46

Daktar Vinay (Non-Comp) 10+9=19
Nikhil Kulkarni 04
Harsha VS 9+16=25
Kapinjal Choudhury 7+6=13
Mit Choudhury 1+3=04
Shekhar Shengar 05
Vedanuj Goswami 14+19=33
Anadi Mishra 01
Ritwik K 8+18=26
Arindam Phukan 12+16=28

So, based on the scores in both rounds,

Winner Vedanuj Goswami

Runners up Arindam Phukan

3rd Rithwik

A close miss by Harsha VS!!!

I’ll contact all three with the details after a couple of days.

Thanks

Facebook Comments

23 thoughts on “The Independence Day Quiz: Volume Zero

  1. Roerich Bansal

    1. Ashoka
    2.
    3.
    4. Harshavardhan
    5.John Marshall Kaniskka Stupa
    6.
    7. English East India Company (these are the dutch and portuguese I guess)
    8.Flags of princely states in order of their accession to India
    9.Hari Singh NAlwa
    10.
    11.Dr. Hedgewar, RSS
    12.Udham Singh
    13.Junagarh, Shahnawaz Bhutto
    14.
    15.Shah Bano

     
    Reply
  2. Rithwik

    1.Allahabad Stone Pillar Inscription of Samudragupta
    2.Thanesar , Harshavardhana in Kurukshetra District
    3.Muhammad bin Qasim
    4.Lalitaditya Muktapida
    5.James Prinsep who decoded the Edicts of Ashoka . Prinsep used bilingual Indo-Greek coins to decipher Kharoshthi. Obverse and reverse legends in Greek “BASILEOS SOT?ROS MENANDROY” and Kharosthi “MAHARAJA TRATASA MENADRASA”: “Of The Saviour King Menander”.
    6.Afanasy Nikitin , Pardesi
    7.British East India Company (French East India Company , Dutch East India Company)
    8.
    9.
    10.Sita Devi of Kapurthala
    11.Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) ,K. B. Hedgewar
    12.Udham Singh
    13.Junagadh,Shah Nawaz Bhutto (his generation include Zulfikar & Benazir Bhutto)
    14.
    15.Shah Bano of Shah Bano case

     
    Reply
  3. daktar

    1. Samudragupta
    12. Udham Singh
    13. Junagadh; Shah Nawaz Bhutto and Bhutto dynasty

    Will do some “research” on the remaining qs.

    Btw, Non-comp.

     
    Reply
  4. Rithwik

    14.Raj Narain , Only politician who defeated Indira Gandhi holds a record for going jail the maximum number of times

     
    Reply
  5. Vedanuj Goswami

    1.Samudragupta. Allahabad Pillar Inscription
    2.X=Thanesar, Y=Harshavardhana
    3.Muhammad bin Qasim
    4.Lalitaditya Muktapida. Mentioned in Kalhana’s Rajatarangini.
    5.James Prinsep.Prinsep used bilingual Indo-Greek coins to decipher Kharoshthi(Edicts of Ashoka in Kandahar are in Kharoshthi script).Some secrets of Brahmi script also deciphered because of this.
    6.Afanasy Nikitin. Film is Pardesi(1957)
    7.Seal of French East India Company and Dutch East India Company. More famous is British East India Company.
    8.Flags of Princely states in decreasing order of their gun salutes.
    9.
    10.Rani Sita Devi of Kapurthala
    11.Dr.Keshav Baliram Hedgewar. Founder of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh(RSS)
    12.Shaheed Udham Singh, assassinated Sir Michael O’Dwyer
    13.Junagadh. Shah Nawaz Bhutto(Bhutto family)
    14.Raj Narain::The Allahabad conviction. Went to jail most number of times.
    15.Shah Bano

     
    Reply
  6. Mruganka Kashyap

    1. Samudragupta
    2. X- Indraprastha
    Y- Yudhistira
    3. Mohammed bin Qasim
    4. Kanishka
    5. Sir Alexander Cunningham & discovery related to Gandhara School of Art related to Buddhism and Milind Pana ( coins of Menander)
    6. Abdur Razzaq
    7. Logos of
    A. French East india company
    B. Danish East india company
    English East india company
    8. Flags of Princely states that acceded to the Indian Union
    Arrow denotes increasing order of year of ascension from 1948
    9. Bhai Hari Singh Nalwa, Commander in Chief of Maharaja Ranjit Singh’s army
    10. Rani Sita Devi
    11. Dr. Hedgevar- Founder of RSS
    12. Sardar Uddham Singh- killed Gen. Dyer
    13. Junagadh
    PM- Shah Nawaz Bhutto
    14. Raj Narain
    15. Shah Bano

     
    Reply
  7. roerich bansal

    1. Samudragupta
    2. Thanesar (Kurukshetra district)
    3. Muhammad bin Qasim
    4. Harshvardhan
    5. John MArshall, Kanishka’s stupa Marshall also discovered harappa
    6.
    7. French and Dutch east India companies most famous is (English east india company)
    8. princely states that got acceded to India in order of time (Hyderabad, Bhop[al Travancore etc)
    9.Hari Singh Nalwa
    10. Maharani Sita Devi of kapurthala
    11. RSS was founded by Dr. Hedgewar
    12.Shaheed Udham Singh
    13. Junagarh, Shah Nawaz Bhutto
    14.
    15. Shah Bano

     
    Reply
  8. arindam

    1)Samudragupta
    2)Thanesar
    3)Md. Bin Quasim
    4)Dharmapala
    5)James Prinsep deciphered the Khartoshi script whlie studying the bilingual (Greek- Pali)coins. The place is Kandahar the region of the Gandhara empire.
    6)Afanasy Nikitin
    7)French and Dutch East India company. The more popular British East India company.
    8)The princely states ranked as per Gun Salutes bu British.
    9)Birbal
    10)Gayatri Devi
    11)Dr. Keshav Hedgewar,founder of RSS.
    12)Uddham Singh
    13)State- Junagarh,PM- Shah Nawaz Bhutto
    14)Vinayak Savarkar
    15)Shah Bano

     
    Reply
  9. kapinjal chowdhury

    1. samudra gupta.
    2. somnath, aurangzeb.
    3. Hafiz ibn ‘Ali ibn Sulayman al-Asad.
    4. aryans .
    5.nicolo conti.
    6. menander and his coins.
    7. east india company.
    9. 15.shah bano.
    12. udham singh.
    11 K B hedgewar, RSS
    10. rani sita devi.
    13. jawaharlal nehru,

     
    Reply
  10. Harsha

    1.Samudragupta
    2.Thanesar, Harsha
    3.Muhammad Bin Qasim
    4.Dharmapala
    5.Edward Clive Bayley an archaeologist who studied bactrian coins, menander coins are the coins shown here, and the place in the map is Kandahar(Southern Bactria)
    6.Afanasy Nikitin
    7. French East India company,Dutch East India company and British East India company
    8. Flags of indian princley states, the order is decreasing order of number of guns salute.
    Hyderabad-Gwalior – 21 guns
    bhopal-travancore – 19 guns
    Jodhpur-Jaipur – 17 guns
    Jaisalmer-Dungarpur – 15 guns
    tripura-jaora- 13 guns
    9.Hari Singh Nalwa
    10.Gayatri Devi
    11.Dr.K.B. Hedgewar
    12.Shaheed Udham Singh
    13.Junagadh and Shah Nawaz Bhutto
    14.Raj Narain
    15.Shah Bano

     
    Reply
  11. daktar

    8. Is the connection “State Bank of India”. The flags of the princely states who had their own state banks, later being assimilated in SBI?

     
    Reply
  12. Rithwik

    Shooting in the dark for Q8
    Since it depicts the flag of princely states like Hyderabad , Travancore and all .
    I guess this might be the order in which they joined the nation , Hyderabad being the last .

     
    Reply

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