MCQ – GK Questions

Nirad C. Chaudhuri's memoir is famous for its controversial dedication to the British Empire and its erudite, critical analysis of Bengali society and Indian nationalism.

Nehru wrote 'Toward Freedom' between 1934 and 1935 during his incarceration by the British. It reflects on Indian history and his personal political evolution.

Malala Yousafzai co-wrote her memoir with British journalist Christina Lamb. It became a global bestseller and symbol of resistance for girls' education.

The Pandya kings of Madurai were the traditional patrons of the three Tamil Sangams (academies), with the third Sangam producing the extant literature we have today.

The Tirukkural deals with Aram (ethics), Porul (polity/wealth), and Inbam (love). It notably omits 'Veedu' (spiritual liberation), focusing instead on worldly and ethical living.

Unlike the short verses of the Ettuthokai, the Pattuppattu contains ten longer poems that provide vivid descriptions of the landscape, cities, and patron kings of the Sangam era.

Authored by Tolkappiyar, the 'Tolkappiyam' is not just a grammar text but a comprehensive guide to Tamil poetics, sociology, and the cultural life of the Sangam age.

Imayam (V. Annamalai) wrote 'Koveru Kazhuthaigal', a stark realist novel portraying the brutal socio-economic conditions of the Vannar (washer) community in rural Tamil Nadu.

Gaikwad, belonging to the Uchalya (thief) nomadic tribe, wrote 'Uchalya' to expose the systemic marginalization and criminalization of Denotified Tribes (DNTs) in India.

Sharankumar Limbale wrote 'Akkarmashi' in Marathi. It explores the complex identity crisis of being born to a Dalit mother and an upper-caste (Patil) father.

Bama's 'Karukku' chronicles her experiences as a Dalit Christian woman in rural Tamil Nadu, highlighting the intersectionality of caste, religion, and gender.

Omprakash Valmiki's 'Jootha' is a seminal text in Hindi Dalit literature, offering a raw and unflinching account of caste-based discrimination and his journey toward education and self-respect.

Aravind Adiga's 'The White Tiger' offers a darkly humorous perspective on India's class struggle and rural poverty, winning the Booker Prize in 2008.

Awarded since 1903, the Prix Goncourt is given to the author of 'the best and most imaginative prose work of the year' written in French.

The Costa Book Awards are unique in that they recognize books across five categories (First Novel, Novel, Biography, Poetry, Children's Book) and then choose an overall Book of the Year.

Rudyard Kipling won the Nobel Prize at age 41, making him the youngest recipient of the Literature prize to date. He is famous for 'The Jungle Book'.

Since 2016, the prize is awarded to a specific translated work, with the £50,000 prize split equally between the author and the translator.

Hubris is often the 'hamartia' (tragic flaw) that leads to the protagonist's 'nemesis' (downfall) in classical tragedies.

The Theatre of the Absurd reflects the existential belief that human existence is fundamentally meaningless and communication is often futile.

'In media res' is a technique where the story opens in the middle of the action, rather than at the chronological beginning, often using flashbacks to fill in the backstory.