General Awareness · English Language

Indian Literature and Authors

9,599 Questions

Indian Literature and Authors is a crucial topic for competitive exams, focusing on famous writers, notable books, and literary awards. Questions cover various regional, postcolonial, and historical texts. This collection helps test takers prepare effectively for general awareness sections.

Famous Indian authorsNotable Indian novelsPostcolonial literatureLiterary award winnersRegional Indian literature

Indian Literature and Authors Questions

Multiple choice general knowledge culture
  1. Sukanta Bhattacherjee

  2. Kazi Nazrul Islam

  3. Saratchandra Chatterjee

  4. Premendra Mitra

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Kazi Nazrul Islam earned the title 'Bidrohi Kobi' (Rebel Poet) for his revolutionary poetry that challenged social injustice, colonialism, and religious orthodoxy. His famous poem 'Bidrohi' (The Rebel) embodies this spirit of rebellion against oppression.

Multiple choice general knowledge culture
  1. Rabindranath Tagore

  2. Samaresh Basu

  3. Ashapurna Devi

  4. Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay wrote 'Pather Panchali' (Song of the Road) in 1929. This novel depicts the childhood of Apu and Durga in rural Bengal, exploring themes of poverty, joy, and tragedy. It was later adapted into Satyajit Ray's acclaimed film of the same name.

Multiple choice general knowledge culture
  1. Amala Shankar

  2. Kanan Devi

  3. Ashapurna Devi

  4. Swarnakumari Devi

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Ashapurna Devi wrote 'Agnipariksha' (The Ordeal) as part of her trilogy about women's emancipation, following 'Pratham Pratishruti'. The novel explores the challenges faced by women in patriarchal Bengali society and their struggle for independence and self-respect.

Multiple choice general knowledge culture
  1. Kapalkundala

  2. Srikanta

  3. Bhanusingher Padabali

  4. Durgeshnondini

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Durgeshnondini, published in 1865, was Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's debut novel and is recognized as the first novel in Bengali literature. Kapalkundala is another notable work by the same author but was published later, while Srikanta and Bhanusingher Padabali belong to different authors and genres.

Multiple choice general knowledge culture
  1. Satyajit Ray

  2. Sharadindu Bandhopadhay

  3. Sunil Ganguly

  4. Samaresh Basu

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Pather Kanta is a famous Bengali detective novel featuring the character Bikram, written by Sharadindu Bandyopadhyay. While Satyajit Ray is renowned for Feluda and Samaresh Basu for Goyenda Gokhul, Pather Kanta is specifically Sharadindu's creation.

Multiple choice general knowledge history
  1. Hiuen Tsang

  2. Fa-hien

  3. I-tsing

  4. Pan- ku

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

The Chinese Buddhist monk Fa-hien (Faxian), who visited India during 399-412 CE, recorded his observations in 'Fo-Kero-Ki' (A Record of Buddhistic Kingdoms), describing Gupta era society. Hiuen Tsang (Xuanzang) came later (7th century), I-tsing visited after him, and Pan-ku is not a known traveler to India.

Multiple choice general knowledge
  1. Arvind Adiga

  2. Arundhati Roy

  3. Kiran Desai

  4. Dan brown

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Kiran Desai, an Indian-born author, wrote 'The Inheritance of Loss' (2006), which won the Booker Prize. The novel explores themes of globalization, migration, and post-colonial identity set in the Himalayas and New York.

Multiple choice general knowledge
  1. Yashpal

  2. Suryakanth Tripathi

  3. Jaishankar Prasad

  4. Maithili Sharan Gupt

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Jaishankar Prasad (1889-1937) wrote the famous Hindi novel 'Lehar' (Wave), published in 1935. He was a prominent figure of the Chhayavadi movement in Hindi literature. Yashpal, Suryakanth Tripathi 'Nirala', and Maithili Sharan Gupt were other Hindi writers but did not write this novel.

Multiple choice general knowledge history
  1. kalidas

  2. ramdhari singh 'dinkar'

  3. suryakant tripathi 'nirala'

  4. munshi premchand

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Munshi Premchand wrote under the pen name 'Nawab Rai' in Urdu literature early in his career. Kalidas was ancient Sanskrit, Dinkar and Nirala were Hindi writers known for different pen names.

Multiple choice general knowledge history
  1. Jhumpa Lahiri

  2. Kiran Bedi

  3. Arundhati Roy

  4. Tasleema Nasreen

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Jhumpa Lahiri, an Indian-American author, wrote 'The Namesake' published in 2003, which explores themes of identity and cultural assimilation among Indian immigrants in America. It was adapted into a film in 2006. Kiran Bedi is a retired IPS officer, Arundhati Roy wrote 'The God of Small Things,' and Tasleema Nasreen is a Bangladeshi writer.

Multiple choice general knowledge history
  1. Mahashweta devi

  2. Munshi Premchand

  3. Vishnu Sharma

  4. G B Pant

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The Panchatantra is an ancient Indian collection of interrelated animal fables in Sanskrit verse and prose, attributed to Vishnu Sharma, who composed it around 200 BCE. It's one of the most widely translated non-religious texts in history. Mahashweta Devi and Premchand are modern Indian writers, while G.B. Pant was a freedom fighter.

Multiple choice general knowledge culture
  1. Footballers

  2. Writers

  3. Singers

  4. Film Directors

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Octavio Paz (Nobel laureate), Carlos Fuentes, and Juan Rulfo are three of Mexico's most celebrated writers, known internationally for their contributions to literature. Paz wrote 'The Labyrinth of Solitude,' Fuentes authored 'The Death of Artemio Cruz,' and Rulfo wrote 'Pedro Páramo,' considered masterpieces of Latin American literature.

Multiple choice general knowledge
  1. Vikram Seth

  2. Jawaharlal Nehru

  3. Rabindranath Tagore

  4. Arundhati Roy

Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Sishu (also spelled Sishu Bhavan) is a literary work by Rabindranath Tagore, focused on children's literature and poems. It is not by Vikram Seth, Jawaharlal Nehru (who wrote Discovery of India), or Arundhati Roy.