This article was first published 12 years ago

5 questions for NaMo

Last updated on: November 15, 2013 08:33 IST

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:

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Narendrabhai Metropolitan Museum of Art Ram Jethmalani Arun Shourie Kamaraj Gopalan

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

Please click Next for more questions...

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Abul Kalam Azad Indian National Congress India Wins Freedom Vallabhbhai Patel Narendrabhai

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

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Param Vir Chakra Singh Sekhon M P Anil Kumar Indian Air Force Mrs Sekhon

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

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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?