1. Who was the first Indian to receive an Oscar?
[A] Bhanu Athaiya
[B] Shabana Azmi
[C] Satyajit Ray
[D] Naseeruddin Shah
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Bhanu Athaiya]
Notes:
Bhanu Athaiya, an eminent costume designer in Indian cinema, became the first Indian to clinch an Oscar. Her ideation and implementation of costumes grace over 100 films and spans over several decades from the 1950s. She collaborated with proficient filmmakers such as Guru Dutt, Yash Chopra, Raj Kapoor, Ashutosh Gowariker, including international directors like Conrad Rooks and Richard Attenborough. She also won two prestigious National Film Awards, in 1991 and 2002, demonstrating her exceptional skills and contribution to the film industry.
2. Who among the following got the Mahabharata translated into Persian and named it as ‘Razmnama’ ?
[A] Akbar
[B] Jahangir
[C] Aurangzeb
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Akbar]
Notes:
The Mahabharata was translated into Persian at Akbar’s orders, by Faizi and `Abd al-Qadir Bada’uni (c. 1540 – 1615) and named Razmnameh.
3. The festival Baisakhi or Vaisakhi is commemorates which among the following important event of Sikh History?
[A] Establishment of Akal Takht
[B] Establishment of Khalasa Panth
[C] Establishment of Guru Granth Sahib as permanent guru of Sikhs
[D] Foundation of Harmandir Sahib (Golden Temple) in Amritsar
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Establishment of Khalasa Panth]
Notes:
The festival of Baisakhi is to commemorate Establishment of Khalasa Panth . The term ‘Khalsa’ means sovereign or free. It was on this day in 1699, when the tenth Guru of Sikhs, Guru Gobind Singh Ji established the Khalsa Panth.
4. Sayana, an important commentator on Vedas was associated with which among the following empires?
[A] Chola Empire
[B] Vijayanagar Empire
[C] Hoyasala Empire
[D] Bahmani Empire
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Vijayanagar Empire]
Notes:
Sayana was an important commentator on the Vedas. His commentary on the Rigveda was edited by Max Müller, 1849-1875.He flourished under the king Bukka I and his successor Harihara II in the Vijayanagar Empire.
5. Jagdish Khebudkar was a renowned poet and lyricist of which among the following languages?
[A] Marathi
[B] Konkani
[C] Kanada
[D] Gujarathi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Marathi]
Notes:
Jagdish Khebudkar was a Marathi poet and lyricist. He is known known for his songs in films like Pinjra, Sadhi Manse, Samna, Chandra Hota Sakshila and Ashtavinayak.
6. Who among the following had written the Novel “Pather Panchali”, which was base of the film of same name by Satyajit Ray?
[A] Bankimchandra Chatterjee
[B] Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay
[C] Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
[D] Shambhunath Pandit
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Bibhutibhushan Bandopadhyay]
Notes:
Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay (1894-1950) is best known for his autobiographical novel, Pather Panchali (The Song of the Road), which was later adapted (along with Aparajito, the sequel) into the Apu Trilogy films, directed by Satyajit Ray. Pather Panchali is considered Bibhutibhushan masterpiece and is included in the CBSE syllabus for students choosing to study Bengali.
7. Kandyan dance which is a form of dance depicting the scenes from Ramayana is a national dance of which of the following countries?
[A] Thailand
[B] Indonesia
[C] Sri Lanka
[D] India
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Sri Lanka]
Notes:
Kandyan dance is a famous dance in Sri Lanka. It encompasses various dance forms popular and native to the area called Kandy of the Central hills region known as Udarata in Sri Lanka, which have today spread to other parts of the country.
8. Ashtadhyayi, Mahabhasya & Nirkuta are related to which of the following?
[A] Music
[B] Grammar
[C] Philosophy
[D] Music
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Grammar]
Notes:
Ashtadhyayi is a sanskrit treatise on grammar. It was written in the 6th to 5th century bce by the Indian grammarian Panini.
The Mahābhāsya is attributed to Patañjali, is a commentary on selected rules of Sanskrit grammar from Paṇini’s treatise. It is dated to the 2nd century BCE.
Nirukta means “explained, interpreted” and refers to one of the six ancient Vedangas. Nirukta covers etymology, and is the study concerned with correct interpretation of Sanskrit words in the Vedas.
9. The oldest recorded Indian Music dates back to 1902 when India’s first disc featured a khayal in Raag Jogiya by one of these singers. Identify the singer:
[A] Abdul Wahid Khan
[B] Govindrao Tembe
[C] Gauhar Jan
[D] Abdul Karim Khan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Gauhar Jan]
Notes:
Gauhar Jan, born as Angelina Yeoward, was of the foremost musicians in the Hindustani classical music tradition during the late 19th and early 20th centuries in India. She is known especially for her ghazal style and singing in several languages such as Persian, Arabic, Urdu, Punjabi, Sindhi, and more. A critical performer in khyal style music, she was notable enough to perform in the first recording sessions held in India circa 1902.
10. Which among the following Sikh Guru declared that Guru Granth Sahib will be the holy scripture of Sikkhism and will be the permanent Guru of Sikhs?
[A] Guru Govind Singh
[B] Guru Arjun Dev
[C] Guru Teg Bahadur
[D] None of them
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Guru Govind Singh]
Notes:
Guru Govind singh declared that Guru Granth Sahib will be the holy scripture of Sikkhism and will be the permanent Guru of Sikhs.