Image: The famous Nataraja statue. Photographs: Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
In the late 1980s, lawyer Ram Jethmalani would pose ten questions every morning in the Indian Express, then edited by Arun Shourie, to Rajiv Gandhi. The questions related to the then prime minister's actions/inactions on the Bofors issue which then convulsed India much like the many 'scams' of today.
In the light of Pradhan Mantri wannabe Narendra Modi's recent stumbles on historical facts, Kamaraj Gopalan felt it was time to give Mr Modi an occasional Indian history quiz so that he is up to speed just in case his party and its alliance wins power in May.
Five questions guaranteed to improve Narendrabhai's awareness of Indian history.
1. Which dynasty gave us this famous statue of Nataraja, now at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York?
a. The Vijayanagar dynasty b. The Pandyan dynasty c. The Chola dynasty
about the Cholas, who did more than any other Indian empire to spread India and Hinduism's influence to different corners of Asia here:
Image: The famous sculpture of freedom fighters in New Delhi. Photographs: Courtesy: http://farm3.staticflickr.com/
2. This freedom-fighter was the youngest to be president of the Indian National Congress in 1923 and was among the important leaders of the Dharasana Satyagraha in Gujarat in 1930. His name, Sir?
a. Vallabhbhai Patel b. Abul Kalam Azad c. J B Kripalani
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is b. Abul Kalam Azad. Narendrabhai, we recommend you read the Maulana's book, India Wins Freedom, a riveting account of the freedom struggle. You can pick it up here.
The government unveiled http://www.maulanaazadheritage.org on November 11, Azad's 125th birth anniversary, which has plenty of information on this unsung hero's life. Check it out, Sir!
Correct! Abul Kalam Azad. Narendrabhai, we recommend you read the Maulana's book, India Wins Freedom, a riveting account of the freedom struggle. You can pick it up here.
The government unveiled http://www.maulanaazadheritage.org on November 11, Azad's 125th birth anniversary, which has plenty of information on this unsung hero's life. Check it out, Sir!
Image: A hero's widow is awarded the Param Vir Chakra by the President of India. Photographs: Rediff.com
3. He is the only hero from the Indian Air Force to be awarded a Param Vir Chakra. His name, Sir?
a. Nirmaljit Singh Sekhon b. Arjan Singh c. Fali Major
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is a. Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his gallantry in the 1971 war. Narendrabhai, you can read M P Anil Kumar's stirring account about this valiant Indian here.
By the way, M P Anil Kumar is a hero himself. You should meet this Extraordinary Indian someday, Sir. he is truly inspirational!
In this image, Mrs Sekhon receives the Param Vir Chakra from President V V Giri; Photograph courtesy: 18 Squadron IAF.
Correct! Flying Officer Nirmal Jit Singh Sekhon was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for his gallantry in the 1971 war. Narendrabhai, you can read M P Anil Kumar's stirring account about this valiant Indian here.
By the way, M P Anil Kumar is a hero himself. You should meet this Extraordinary Indian someday, Sir. he is truly inspirational!
In this image, Mrs Sekhon receives the Param Vir Chakra from President V V Giri; Photograph courtesy: 18 Squadron IAF.
Image: The Constituent Assembly, in session. Photographs: Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
4. The first lady chief minister of an Indian state was...
a. Sarojini Naidu b. Sucheta Kripalani c. Shashikala Kakodkar
Wrong! Try again..
Wrong! The correct answer is b. Who would think that a Bengali born in Punjab and married to a Sindhi would be chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh? Sucheta Kripalani was a most amazing woman. I didn't know that this Gandhian sang Vande Mataram on August 15, 1947 in the Constituent Assembly, seen in session in this photograph.
Narendrabhai, sadly, there is not too much material on Suchetaji. You can read this as well as her husband Acharya Kripalani's memoir.
Correct! Who would think that a Bengali born in Punjab and married to a Sindhi would be chief minister of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh? Sucheta Kripalani was a most amazing woman. I didn't know that this Gandhian sang Vande Mataram on August 15, 1947 in the Constituent Assembly, seen in session in this photograph.
Narendrabhai, sadly, there is not too much material on Suchetaji. You can read this as well as her husband Acharya Kripalani's memoir.
Image: The site of a famous Indian institution. Photographs: Archana Masih Rediff.com
5. The Chinese traveler Xuanzang wrote about how this legendary Indian institution's towers, pavilions and temples soared 'above the mists in the sky'... how residents could from their rooms 'witness the birth of the winds and clouds'... how 'the dazzling red flowers of the lovely kanaka hang here and there, and outside groves of mango trees offer the inhabitants their dense and protective shade.' What place was he writing about?
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