General Knowledge Quiz: Indian History, Literature & Movies

Mahatma Gandhi was elected President of the Indian National Congress in 1921. This was during the Non-Cooperation Movement period when Gandhi had become the undisputed leader of the freedom struggle.

Mahatma Gandhi wrote his autobiography 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth' (Satya Na Prayogo Athav Atmakatha) in Gujarati. It was originally serialized in his journal Navajivan and later translated into English by Mahadev Desai.

To answer this question, the user needs to know about the life and works of Mahatma Gandhi, a prominent figure in Indian history.

Option A: Harishchandra is a character from Hindu mythology who is known for his adherence to truth and righteousness. Mahatma Gandhi was deeply influenced by this character and often referred to him in his speeches and writings. Therefore, option A is a possible correct answer.

Option B: Shravana Kumar is also a character from Hindu mythology who is known for his devotion to his parents. Although Gandhi was likely aware of this character, there is no evidence to suggest that he was deeply impressed by him. Therefore, option B is likely incorrect.

Option C: This option is correct because Mahatma Gandhi was deeply impressed by both Harishchandra and Shravana Kumar. He often spoke about their virtues and used their stories as examples in his teachings.

Option D: Shakuntala is a character from the play Abhijnanasakuntalam, written by the ancient Indian poet Kalidasa. While this play is considered a masterpiece of Indian literature, there is no evidence to suggest that Gandhi was deeply impressed by it. Therefore, option D is likely incorrect.

The answer is: C. Both (a) and (b).

During his early years in South Africa, several Christian missionaries attempted to convert Gandhi to Christianity. A. W. Baker was one such missionary who tried to persuade Gandhi to embrace Christianity.

The Salt March (Dandi March) led by Mahatma Gandhi began on March 12, 1930, and ended on April 6, 1930. This journey spanned 24 days. The other options (20, 28, 30) do not align with the historical timeline of the Satyagraha.

Mahatma Gandhi nominated Abbas Tyabji to lead the Dandi March in case he was arrested. Tyabji was a respected freedom fighter and former judge who Gandhi trusted to continue the Civil Disobedience Movement.

Gandhi translated John Ruskin's 'Unto This Last' into Gujarati and titled it 'Sarvodaya' (welfare of all). This book deeply influenced Gandhi's economic philosophy emphasizing the welfare of the poorest sections of society.

The Gandhi-Irwin Pact was signed on March 5, 1931. This historic agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin led to the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement and Gandhi's participation in the Round Table Conference.

Gandhi's concept of 'Swaraj' meant freedom for the poorest and weakest sections of society, not just political independence. He emphasized that true Swaraj could only be achieved when the last person was free from exploitation and poverty.

This quote is from the movie As Good As It Gets (1997), spoken by Jack Nicholson's character Melvin Udall to Helen Hunt's character Carol Connelly. It's a pivotal moment showing his character transformation.

This is Colonel Nathan R. Jessup's famous courtroom monologue from A Few Good Men (1992), delivered by Jack Nicholson. It's one of the most iconic speeches in cinema history.

The word 'tuatara' comes from Maori language and literally means 'peaks on the back,' referring to the distinctive spiky crest that runs along the reptile's spine. Tuatara are unique reptiles native to New Zealand, often called living fossils due to their ancient lineage, but that's not what their name means.

This famous shocking line 'She's my sister AND my daughter!' is delivered in the film Chinatown (1974) by Evelyn Mulwray, revealing the disturbing truth about her relationship with her daughter Katherine. It's one of cinema's most memorable twist revelations. The other films listed are classic mob movies but don't contain this line.

The ancient Greek word 'krokodeilos' literally means 'lizard' or 'worm lizard,' referring to the lizard-like appearance of crocodiles. While crocodiles are a specific type of reptile, the Greek term itself broadly referred to lizards. The modern word 'crocodile' evolved from this Greek root.

Murli Deora served as the Petroleum Minister of India from 2006-2011 in the Manmohan Singh government. He was a senior Congress leader and politician from Maharashtra. Kamal Nath, A.K. Anthony, and Sibu Soren have held other cabinet positions but not the Petroleum portfolio.

In 2000, Glaxo Wellcome merged with SmithKline Beecham to form GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies. The acquisition was valued at around $76 billion. Pharmacia was later acquired by Pfizer, Aventis merged with Sanofi, and Bank One was acquired by JP Morgan Chase.

'The Discovery of India' was written by Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister, during his imprisonment in 1942-1946 at Ahmednagar Fort. The book provides a comprehensive view of Indian history, culture, and philosophy. Gandhi wrote 'My Experiments with Truth' and other works, but not this particular book.

Sidney Sheldon (spelled with 'ey') is the author of 'The Other Side of Midnight'. Option B has the spelling 'sydney sheldon' which is incorrect spelling but appears to be the intended answer. Toni Morrison, George Bernard Shaw, and Rabindranath Tagore are all famous authors but not the author of this specific novel.