1. Who among the following has written the famous Bangla book “Agni Vina”?
[A] Rabindra Nath Tagore
[B] Kazi Nazrul Islam
[C] Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
[D] Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Kazi Nazrul Islam]
Notes:
Kazi Nazrul Islam was a famous Bengali poet, musician and revolutionary who pioneered poetic works invoking powerful spiritual rebellion against fascism and oppression. Accomplishing a plethora of highly praised works through his life, Nazrul is officially known as the ‘National poet of Bangladesh’ and celebrated in India.
2. Kargam is a folk dance of which state?
[A] Kerala
[B] Tamil Nadu
[C] Karnataka
[D] Andhra Pradesh
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Correct Answer: B [Tamil Nadu]
Notes:
Karagam is a traditional dance of Tamil Nadu, which is performed by male dancers. In this dance, the dancer wears dhoti and garlands, and dons a kalash, or pitcher, filled with water and uncooked rice on his head (as a symbol of life and fertility). The The pitcher, decorated by a flower-bedecked conical bamboo frame, is balanced by the dancer on his head. Karagam dancers move in a procession throughout the village to reach the temple of the goddess, accompanied by the drum called nadaswaram and other instruments.
3. Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether (sky) these are the panchtatvas (5 elements) and when they combine they give rise to new objects. This is a principle of which of the Vedic philosophies?
[A] Sankhya
[B] Yoga
[C] Vaisheshika
[D] Advita
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Vaisheshika]
Notes:
Vaisheshika is one of the six schools of Indian philosophy from ancient India. It is the theory of logic. In its early stages, the Vaiśeṣika was an independent philosophy with its own metaphysics, epistemology, logic, ethics, and soteriology.
4. Who among the following wrote Astanga Sangraha?
[A] Banabhatta
[B] Vagabhatta
[C] Aryabhatta
[D] Kalhana
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Correct Answer: B [Vagabhatta]
Notes:
Vagbhata is one of the most influential classical writers of ayurveda. Several works are associated with his name as author, principally the Ashtanga Sangraha and the Ashtāngahridayasaṃhita .
5. Which among the following is incorrectly matched?
[A] Thyagaraja Festival – Andhra Pradesh & Tamilnadu
[B] Mahamastakabhisheka- Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh
[C] Pooram – Kerala
[D] Teej- Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Mahamastakabhisheka- Karnataka & Andhra Pradesh]
Notes:
Mahamastakabhisheka holds in Karnataka only and holds for once in 12 years
6. Who among the following was India’s First photojournalist?
[A] Mira Chaudhuri
[B] Indira Dey
[C] Debalina Mazumadar
[D] Homai Vyarawalla
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Correct Answer: D [Homai Vyarawalla]
Notes:
Homai Vyarawalla was India’s first woman photojournalist. She began work in the late 1930s and retired in the early 1970s. In 2011, she was awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award of the Republic of India.
7. Who among the following poet/poetess is well known for his work ‘Brahmarakshas’?
[A] Harishankar Parsai
[B] Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh
[C] Subhadra Kumari Chauhan
[D] Nida Fazli
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh ]
Notes:
Gajanan Madhav Muktibodh was one of the most prominent Hindi poets, essayist, literary and political critic, and fiction writers of the 20th century.He also remained assistant-editor of journals like, Naya Khun and Vasudha.He is best known for his long poems:Brahma-rakshasa, Chand ka Muh Teda hai,Andhere Mein and Bhuri Bhuri Khak Dhul.
8. Shahtoosh is the name given to a specific kind of shawl, made from hair of __:
[A] Tibetan Antelope
[B] Snow Leopard
[C] Himalayan Wild Yak
[D] Black Bear
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Tibetan Antelope]
Notes:
Shahtoosh is the name given to a specific kind of shawl, which is woven with the down hair of the Tibetan antelope (chiru), by master weavers of Kashmir. The Shahtoosh shawl is now a banned item with possession and sale being illegal in most countries for the Chiru is an endangered species under CITES.
9. Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl Kut are festivals celebrated in which state?
[A] Mizoram
[B] Kerala
[C] Goa
[D] Himachal Pradesh
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Mizoram]
Notes:
The festivals are called Kut in Mizo language. The three Kuts viz. Chapchar Kut, Mim Kut and Pawl Kut are the three festivals which are connected with agricultural activities. These festivals are celebrated with feasts and dances.
10. Who among the following was the first Indian woman producer and director in Indian cinema?
[A] Fatima Begum
[B] WM Khan
[C] Alam Ara
[D] Ardeshir Irani
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Fatima Begum]
Notes:
Fatma Begum was an Indian actress, director, and screenwriter. She is often considered the first female film director of Indian cinema. Within four years, she went on to write, produce and direct many films. She launched her own production house, Fatma Films, and directed Bulbul-e-Paristan in 1926.