India History Trivia

1. Which British employee of the East India Company is widely regarded as the founder of Kolkata?

From Quiz History of Kolkata

Answer: Job Charnock

The area that is now Kolkata has been inhabited for at least two millennia, but the city is widely regarded as being founded in 1690 by Job Charnock, who was an administrator for the East India Company. The East India Company was looking to expand operations into Bengal and Charnock was tasked with finding a headquarters. He suggested that several small villages be merged together as one to form a city which later became Calcutta (now renamed Kolkata).

From Quiz Tales of the Black Hole

Answer: Kolkata

The eighteenth century was a time when many European countries were racing to collect colonies and trading posts in Asia. Nations were competing for the prestige of holding foreign bases, as well as the acquisition of trade goods, a labor force, and soldiers and sailors for the military. Control of trading posts in India was seen as especially valuable, as there was commerce in tea, cotton, spices, raw materials, and a opportunity to farm commercial crops. Europeans believed that what was located in the colonized area was theirs for the taking. This attitude may have created some precarious situations for soldiers and others who were sent to keep control and order.

From Quiz Mauryan Kingdom

Answer: Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya was born in 340 BC. He defeated the last Nanda ruler, Dhana Nanda, and took the throne of Pataliputra with help of his guru, Chankya.

From Quiz A Bite of Indian History

Answer: November, 1949

The constitution of India was adopted on 8th November, 1949; it contained 395 articles and 8 schedules. In 2014, it had 444 articles and 12 schedules. The constituent assembly took nearly three years to complete the constitution. The constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950. January 26 is also celebrated as Republic Day of India.

From Quiz Another Bite of Indian History

Answer: Battle of Hydapes

Alexander, the king of Macedonia, destroyed the Iranian empire. From Iran, he marched towards India, attracted by its great wealth and its weakness resulting from divisions. He conquered Kabul in 328 BC and then moved to India across the unguarded Khyber Pass and reached Orhind near Attock in 326 BC. Ambhi, the ruler of Taxila, readily submitted to Alexander. Alexander got the first and strongest resistance from Porus. Alexander defeated Porus in the Battle of Hyaspes on the bank of River Vitasta (Jhelum), but he was impressed by Porus' bravery, so he restored Porus to his kingdom and made him an ally. After that Alexander proceed up to Beas River with a view to conquer further east, but his exhausted army refused to cross the river and he was therefore forced to retreat. He placed north-western India under the Greek governor Selucus Nikator. He remained in India for 19 months and died in Babylon at the age of 33 years.

From Quiz But Where Did it Happen?

Answer: Barrackpore

On March 29, 1857, Mangal Pandey, an Indian sepoy of the 34th Native Infantry, killed two British officers - Hugeson and Baugh on parade at Barrackpore near Calcutta. The Indian soldiers refused to obey orders to arrest Mangal Pandey. However, he was later on arrested, convicted and hanged. This resulted in the revolt of 1857 which later came to be known as 'India's First War of Independence'.

From Quiz Indian History Quiz

Answer: Chandragupt Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire around 322 BC. He first conquered the Nanda dynasty which ruled Patliputra, located near Bihar. By 316 BC the empire had fully occupied north-western India.

From Quiz Mixed Bag of Indian History

Answer: Bahadur Shah Zafar

Bahadur Shah (reigned 1837-1857) actively participated in the Revolt of 1857 against the British. Prince Salim is Jahangir, Prince Khurram is Shah Jahan, and Alamgir is the title taken by emperor Aurangzeb when he ascended the throne. Though convicted of treason against the British he was not executed but sent into exile in Burma (now Myanmar), where he died in 1862.

From Quiz The Glorious History of India

Answer: Bindusara

The Mauryas were the first ruling emperors of a large part of India. The Mauryan Empire was founded by Chandragupta Maurya with the help of his main aide and advisor Chanakya (or Kautilya). His equally able son Bindusara continued annexing many territories. Ashoka was known for his contribution to Buddhism. He was a cruel ruler at first. After conquering Kalinga or modern day Orissa, shocked by the massacre, he decided to shun violence of all kinds. The imperial capital was Pataliputra.

From Quiz Glorious Indian History

Answer: Dravidians

The Indo-Aryans came in search of fertile lands and settled in North India, pushing the Dravidians to the Southern part. The Indo-Aryans were expert horsemen and brought the caste system and vedas to India. The Dravidians were the natives who spoke the Dravidian languages- Malyalam, Tamil, Telegu, etc.

From Quiz Just After Sunset

Answer: They suffered no setback

Sadly, this first determined effort since 1757 was wasted. The British defeated the combined forces, gaining unquestionable authority over Bengal, and considerable influence over the ruler of Awadh and the Mughal Emperors. The taxing rights of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa were also handed over to the British permanently.

From Quiz Indian History - Mixed Bag

Answer: Grandson

In 1556 the thirteen-year-old Akbar was enthroned in Kalanaur, Punjab by Bairam Khan who proclaimed him 'King of Kings'. He is famous for his interest in and patronage of the arts, in particular painting, architecture and literature.

From Quiz Mauryan Empire

Answer: Chandragupta Maurya

Chandragupta Maurya founded the empire around 322 BC. He first conquered the Nanda dynasty who ruled Patliputra, which was located near Bihar. By 316 BC the Empire had fully occupied north-western India.

From Quiz Indian History - Mixed Bag

Answer: 322 BC

Chandragupta Maurya began the foundation of Mauryan Empire by overthrowing the Nanda Dynasty, with the help of Chanakya. He was a very young boy when Chanakya first thought of destroying the Nanda Dynasty, due to the humiliation done to him by a Nanda king. He chose Chandragupta to help him achieve this goal. The Mauryan Empire expanded rapidly across northern India and by 320 BC extended from Kandhahar (in modern Afghanistan) to Assam.

From Quiz Mughal Empire

Answer: Babur

Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi and his Afghan supporters at Panipat (about 90 km north of Delhi).

From Quiz India Since 1947

Answer: 1950

India and Pakistan retained dominion status till they adopted separate constitutions of their own. On January 26, 1950, India became a democratic socialist republic.

From Quiz India after Independence

Answer: GV Mavlankar

Ganesh Vasudeo Mavlankar was the first speaker of the Indian Parliament. He officiated as speaker from 1952-1956. Sukumar Sen was the first Chief Election Commisioner, HJ Kania the first Chief Justice and RD Katari the first Chief of the Naval staff.

From Quiz India - From The Beginning

Answer: Lothal

Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa were the two greatest cities of the Indus Valley civilisation (2600-1900 BC). Lothal is located close to Ahmedabad. Amri is one the first Indus Valley villages.

From Quiz Constitutional Development in India

Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

An interim government for India was formed in September 1946 with Jawaharlal Nehru as the Prime Minister. The government also took the responsibility of framing the constitution of India with the help of a constituent assembly consisting of 308 members which met from December, 1946. Dr. Rajendra Prasad was the President of this Assembly after Dr. Sachidanand Sinha, who was the first President of the Constituent Assembly. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the constitution.

From Quiz Independent India: Triumphs and Tragedies - Part 4

Answer: Poor economic development

In the 1980s, following the Green Revolution, there was great prosperity but also much discontent in Punjab, especially among the Sikhs. Fears of loss of identity, of simply merging with the majority Hindus, the Congress party interfering with State politics a little too much, and bickering among the Sikhs themselves led to a lot of discontent among the youth and the start of many extremist religious organizations (some funded by Pakistan and non-resident Sikhs). One of these, the Babbar Khalsa was led by a man called Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a man who saw himself as the "Ayatollah Khomeini" of the Sikhs.

From Quiz The Bhopal Tragedy

Answer: Pesticide

There is an interesting history behind the setting up of the plant, and it is intricately linked to the 'Green Revolution' that was underway in India in the 70s. The increasing emphasis using high-yield varieties of seeds and chemical fertilzers and pesticides, to ensure self-sufficiency in grain meant that India became a huge consumer of these products, leading to a severe shortage within the country itself. Foreign multinationals, such as Union Carbide, saw the massive potential to sell such pesticides and fertilizers to the country's 300 million or so farmers. One of these products was the 'miracle' pesticide 'Sevin' which, while not being as polluting as DDT, was equally effective against numerous kinds of pests, and hence was in great demand in many Third World countries at that time, India being no exception. In the government of the day as well, Union Carbide's proposal to build the plant at Bhopal was welcomed and permission granted readily. Bhopal was chosen primarily because of its central location, good access to resources and easy comminications with the rest of India.

From Quiz Independent India: Triumphs and Tragedies - Part 1

Answer: 395

Then the longest Constitution in the world, the Constitution of India contained 395 Articles and 8 schedules, marking the birth of the world's largest parliamentary democracy. According to the noted jurist, Granville Austin, no other nation's constitution "has provided so much impetus toward changing and rebuilding society for the common good." Between 1950-2004 it has been amended 91 times, and has helped maintain the world's largest democracy, but for a brief interregnum in the middle. Source: en.wikipedia.org

From Quiz Indian National Movement:1885-1905

Answer: Hume

Allan Octavian Hume was a retired British Civil Servant, who believed that it would be in the better interests of the British rule in India if the Indians (at least the English-speaking, Western-educated ones) had some constitutional means of exressing their discontent with British rule, rather than open agitation and taking to arms. He was the founder of the INC and its first General Secretary.

From Quiz The Junction of South Asia

Answer: Lord Dalhousie

Lord Dalhousie became the Governnor-General in 1848. He employed the Doctrine of Lapse. The doctrine provided for the British to annex any princely states where there was no male heir to the throne.

From Quiz Indian History

Answer: 15 August 1947

India and Pakistan were divided into separate countries, and India achieved independence on 15 August 1947.

From Quiz Indian Socio-Religious Movements (British Raj)

Answer: Brahmo Samaj of India

Brahmo Samaj of India was created by Mr. Sen because he felt the Brahmo Samaj didn't address many an important issue. He held radical views that included inter-caste marriage, removal of purdah for women etc.

From Quiz What They Didn't Teach You About Gandhi !

Answer: Sardar Vallabhai Patel

Also known as "The Iron Man of India", he was a great leader and was independent India's first Home Minister. The fact that he was asked not to stand is mentioned in the book "Murder of Democracy" and a hint is given in the movie "Patel".

From Quiz Simpleton Learns Indian History

Answer: Mahatma Gandhi

He was once called "a half-naked fakir" by Winston Churchill, who was long opposed to Indian independence. Gandhi's movement for freedom involved adopting the path of non-violence ('Ahimsa').

From Quiz British Raj in India

Answer: Tantya Tope

After the death of Rani Lekshmi Bai, Tantya Tope went into hiding where a comrade betrayed him to the British. Note that the British refer to this war of independence as 'The Indian Mutiny'.

From Quiz Ancient Indian Empires

Answer: Maurya

In ancient times, northern India was a major battle ground where rich and rival rajahs fought for control of the powerful, bountiful, and rich Ganges Valley. Finally in 321 BC, Chandragupta Maurya, started the first Indian Empire.

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Last Updated Apr 13 2024 5:48 AM

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