Question 1

Who is the author of the book 'Wings of Fire: An Autobiography'?

Accepted Answer

'Wings of Fire' is the autobiography of Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former President of India and renowned aerospace scientist. It was co-written with Arun Tiwari and published in 1999. The book chronicles Kalam's early life, his work at ISRO and DRDO, and the development of India's missile programme.

Question 2

Who is the author of the novel 'The God of Small Things'?

Accepted Answer

Arundhati Roy authored 'The God of Small Things', published in 1997. This debut novel won the Booker Prize in 1997 and remains one of the most acclaimed Indian English novels. The story is set in Kerala and deals with the lives of the Ipe family across different time periods.

Question 3

Which book was written by Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar?

Accepted Answer

Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar wrote 'The Annihilation of Caste', a seminal work published in 1936 as a speech and later compiled. This book is a critical examination of the caste system in India and remains a foundational text in anti-caste discourse. Ambedkar also wrote 'The Buddha and His Dhamma' (1956).

Question 4

Who authored the autobiography 'My Experiments with Truth'?

Accepted Answer

'My Experiments with Truth' is the autobiography of Mahatma Gandhi, first published in 1927. The book chronicles Gandhi's life from childhood through his role in the Indian independence movement. It was originally written in Gujarati as 'Satya na Prayogo' and later translated into English.

Question 5

Which novel by Mulk Raj Anand deals with the life of an untouchable?

Accepted Answer

'Untouchable' is a novel by Mulk Raj Anand, published in 1935. The novel follows a single day in the life of Bakha, a young untouchable sweeper in colonial India. It is considered one of the first major Indian English novels to address the caste system and social discrimination from the perspective of a marginalized protagonist.

Question 6

Who is the author of 'A Suitable Boy'?

Accepted Answer

'A Suitable Boy' is a novel by Vikram Seth, published in 1993. It is one of the longest novels in English literature and is set in post-independence India. The novel follows the lives of four families and centers on the search for a suitable husband for the protagonist Lata Mehra.

Question 7

Which of the following books was written by Mulk Raj Anand?

Accepted Answer

'Untouchable' is a novel written by Mulk Raj Anand, published in 1935. It is considered a pioneering work of Indian English literature that addresses social issues and the caste system.

Question 8

Which novel by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay is considered the first modern Indian novel?

Accepted Answer

'Durgeshnandini' (1865) by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay is widely regarded as the first modern Indian novel written in an Indian language. It was originally written in Bengali and marked the beginning of the modern novel tradition in Indian literature.

Question 9

Who is the author of 'A Fine Balance', which won the Booker Prize in 1995?

Accepted Answer

'A Fine Balance' was written by Rohinton Mistry and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 1995 (it did not win; the 1995 Booker Prize was won by Pat Barker for 'Regeneration'). However, the novel is one of the most acclaimed works of Indian literature and won the Los Angeles Times Book Prize.

Question 10

Mulk Raj Anand's novel 'Untouchable' was first published in which year, and in which country?

Accepted Answer

'Untouchable' by Mulk Raj Anand was first published in 1935 in England (London). This pioneering novel is set in a single day in the life of Bakha, an untouchable sweeper in pre-independence India. It was one of the first major English-language novels to address the caste system and social discrimination in India, published during the British Raj.

Question 11

R.K. Narayan's novel 'The Guide' won which prestigious literary award in 1960?

Accepted Answer

'The Guide' by R.K. Narayan won the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1960. This award is given by the Sahitya Akademi (India's National Academy of Letters) for the best literary work in any of the 24 official languages of India. 'The Guide' is set in the fictional town of Malgudi and tells the story of Raju, a tour guide who becomes a spiritual guide. The novel is considered one of Narayan's masterpieces.

Question 12

Khushwant Singh's novel 'Train to Pakistan' was first published in which year?

Accepted Answer

'Train to Pakistan' by Khushwant Singh was first published in 1956. This novel is set during the Partition of India in 1947 and deals with the communal violence and displacement that occurred in Punjab. The novel is narrated from the perspective of a small village and explores themes of love, loyalty, and the impact of Partition on ordinary people. It remains one of the most significant novels on the Partition theme in Indian literature.

Question 13

Salman Rushdie's controversial novel 'The Satanic Verses' was published in which year?

Accepted Answer

'The Satanic Verses' by Salman Rushdie was published in 1988. The novel became the subject of international controversy and led to a fatwa issued against the author. It is a significant work in postcolonial literature despite the political turmoil surrounding it.

Question 14

Khushwant Singh's 'Train to Pakistan' was published in which year?

Accepted Answer

'Train to Pakistan' by Khushwant Singh was published in 1956. This novel is set during the Partition of India and Pakistan and is considered one of the most important works of Indian literature dealing with the Partition theme. It depicts the communal violence and human tragedy of that period.

Question 15

Jhumpa Lahiri's debut short story collection 'Interpreter of Maladies' won which major literary award in 2000?

Accepted Answer

'Interpreter of Maladies' by Jhumpa Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2000. This collection of short stories explores the lives of Indian and Indian-American characters and their experiences of displacement, identity, and belonging. It is a landmark work in contemporary Indian-American literature.

Question 16

Which of the following books was written by Arundhati Roy, and in what year did it win the Booker Prize?

Accepted Answer

Arundhati Roy wrote 'The God of Small Things' which won the Booker Prize in 1997. This is her debut novel and remains her only novel to date (as of 2024), though she has written essays and non-fiction works. The book is set in Kerala and deals with themes of family, caste, and social hierarchy in post-independence India.

Question 17

Salman Rushdie's controversial novel 'The Satanic Verses' was first published in which year?

Accepted Answer

Salman Rushdie's 'The Satanic Verses' was first published in 1988. The novel became one of the most controversial books of the 20th century, leading to a fatwa issued against Rushdie in 1989 by Ayatollah Khomeini. The book deals with themes of migration, identity, and religious faith, and contains passages that many Muslims found blasphemous.

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