Indian History and Mythology Quiz

Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984, by two of her Sikh bodyguards - Satwant Singh and Beant Singh. They shot her in retaliation for Operation Blue Star, the military operation ordered against Sikh militants at the Golden Temple in Amritsar earlier that year.

Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated on May 21, 1991, by Thenmozhi Rajaratnam (also known as Dhanu), a female suicide bomber of the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam). She detonated an RDX explosive during an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, killing herself and the former Prime Minister.

John F. Kennedy was assassinated on November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, by Lee Harvey Oswald, who fired from the Texas School Book Depository building. Oswald himself was killed two days later by Jack Ruby before he could stand trial.

Abraham Lincoln was assassinated on April 14, 1865, by John Wilkes Booth (misspelled as 'Wikes' in the option), a famous stage actor and Confederate sympathizer. Booth shot Lincoln at Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. during a play.

The 1857 Indian Independence War (also known as the Indian Rebellion or Sepoy Mutiny) ended in Gwalior in June 1858, where the last significant battle was fought and Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi died. Meerut is where the rebellion began (May 1857). Indore was not a major battle site. Goa was under Portuguese rule, not involved in the 1857 rebellion. Gwalior Fort was the final major location where British forces decisively defeated the rebels.

The Constituent Assembly of India adopted the design of the National Flag on 22 July 1947, just weeks before independence. This was done by resolving that the National Flag of India shall be horizontal tricolor of deep saffron, white, and dark green in equal proportion. Option A (1948) is incorrect as the flag was adopted before independence. Options C and D (1950) are also wrong as the adoption happened in 1947, not 1950.

Justice M. Hidayatullah was the first Chief Justice of India to serve as Acting President. He served as Acting President of India twice - first in 1969 (after Zakir Husain's death) and again in 1979 (during Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed's presidency). He was Chief Justice of India from 1968-1970. Options B, C, and D were never Acting Presidents.

The Muslim League formally demanded a separate Pakistan for the first time in the Lahore Resolution of March 1940. This resolution, passed at the Muslim League's annual session in Lahore, called for the creation of 'independent states' for Muslims in northwestern and eastern India. This later became known as the Pakistan Resolution. Options A (1945), B (1925), and C (1930) are incorrect as the demand came in 1940.

Matsya, the fish avatar of Vishnu, appeared in the Satya Yuga (also called Krita Yuga). According to Hindu mythology, the first three avatars - Matsya (fish), Kurma (tortoise), and Varaha (boar) - all appeared during the Satya Yuga. Matsya saved the Vedas and humanity from a great flood by guiding Manu's boat to safety.

Kurma, the tortoise avatar of Vishnu, appeared in the Satya Yuga. In this incarnation, Vishnu took the form of a tortoise to support Mount Mandara during the churning of the cosmic ocean (Samudra Manthan), allowing the devas and asuras to obtain the nectar of immortality. Matsya, Kurma, and Varaha are all Satya Yuga avatars.

Varaha, the boar avatar of Vishnu, appeared in the Satya Yuga. In this incarnation, Vishnu rescued the earth (goddess Bhudevi) from the cosmic ocean by lifting her on his tusks after defeating the demon Hiranyaksha. This is the third avatar of Vishnu, completing the trio of Satya Yuga avatars along with Matsya and Kurma.

Narasimha, the half-man half-lion avatar of Vishnu, appeared in the Satya Yuga. This avatar emerged to kill the demon king Hiranyakashipu, who could not be killed by any man or animal, during dusk or day, inside or outside. Narasha killed him at dusk on the threshold of his palace, placing him on his lap and tearing him apart with his claws.

Vamana, the dwarf avatar of Vishnu, appeared in the Treta Yuga. In this incarnation, Vishnu appeared as a Brahmin dwarf and asked King Bali for three paces of land. When granted, Vamana grew to cosmic size and covered the heavens and earth in two steps, sending Bali to the underworld with the third step. This avatar marks the transition from Satya to Treta Yuga.

Parashurama, the warrior sage with an axe, appeared in the Treta Yuga. He is the sixth avatar of Vishnu and is known for annihilating the Kshatriya warriors to avenge his father's death. Parashurama is unusual among avatars as he is considered immortal (chiranjeevi) and is said to be one of the seven immortals who will live until the end of the current Kali Yuga.

Rama (Ramachandra), the prince and king of Ayodhya, appeared in the Treta Yuga. He is the seventh avatar of Vishnu and the protagonist of the epic Ramayana. Born as the eldest son of King Dasharatha, Rama is revered as Maryada Purushottam (the ideal man) and his story represents dharma, duty, sacrifice, and righteous living.

Krishna appeared during Dwapara Yuga, which is the third yuga in the Hindu cycle of four ages. According to Hindu mythology, Krishna incarnated towards the end of Dwapara Yuga to establish dharma and defeat evil forces. Satya Yuga precedes Dwapara, while Kali Yuga follows it.

Balarama, Krishna's elder brother, appeared during Dwapara Yuga. He is considered the eighth avatar of Vishnu in some traditions and incarnated alongside Krishna to assist in his divine mission. Balarama is known for his strength and was a teacher of martial arts to both Pandavas and Kauravas.

Kalki is the tenth and final avatar of Vishnu who is yet to appear. According to Hindu prophecies, Kalki will appear at the end of Kali Yuga (the current age) to end the cycle of time and restart a new Satya Yuga. Kali Yuga is characterized by moral decline and will last for 432,000 years.