Modern Hindi/Regional — Set 6

Correct Answer: B. Kalidasa

• **Kalidasa** = He is the author of the famous Sanskrit play 'Abhijnanashakuntalam', a classic based on Shakuntala and Dushyanta. • **Gupta period** — Kalidasa's works date back to this ancient Indian golden age, signifying his historical importance. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Bhasa]: An earlier Sanskrit playwright, known for plays like 'Swapnavasavadattam'; [Shudraka]: An ancient Indian dramatist, author of 'Mrichchhakatika'; [Bhavabhuti]: A prominent Sanskrit dramatist of the 8th century, known for 'Malatimadhava'.

Correct Answer: B. Chanakya

• **Chanakya** = He is attributed with the authorship of 'Arthashastra', a significant ancient Indian treatise on statecraft, economics, and military strategy. • **Chandragupta Maurya** — Chanakya served as the mentor and chief advisor to this founder of the Mauryan Empire. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Megasthenes]: A Greek ambassador who wrote 'Indica', an account of Mauryan India; [Ashoka]: A prominent Mauryan emperor, grandson of Chandragupta Maurya; [Chandragupta]: The founder of the Mauryan Empire, mentored by Chanakya.

Correct Answer: A. Mahatma Gandhi

• **Mahatma Gandhi** = He is the author of the autobiography 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth', originally written in Gujarati. • **1921** — The autobiography covers Mahatma Gandhi's life up to this year, detailing his philosophical and political journey. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Jawaharlal Nehru]: Authored 'The Discovery of India' and 'Glimpses of World History'; [Sardar Patel]: A key leader in India's independence movement and first Deputy Prime Minister; [B.R. Ambedkar]: Architect of the Indian Constitution and a champion of social justice.

Correct Answer: B. Khushwant Singh

• **Khushwant Singh** = He wrote the famous novel 'Train to Pakistan', which vividly portrays the human cost of the partition. • **1956** — 'Train to Pakistan' was published in this year, becoming a seminal work on the partition of India. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mulk Raj Anand]: A pioneering Indian English novelist, known for 'Untouchable'; [Vikram Seth]: A contemporary Indian English author, known for 'A Suitable Boy'; [Amitav Ghosh]: A renowned Indian English writer, known for his historical fiction and environmental themes.

Correct Answer: B. Jawaharlal Nehru

• **Jawaharlal Nehru** = He is the author of the influential book 'The Discovery of India', which explores India's rich history and culture. • **1942–1945** — Nehru wrote this book during his imprisonment at Ahmednagar Fort in these years. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Mahatma Gandhi]: Author of 'The Story of My Experiments with Truth'; [Subhas Chandra Bose]: A prominent nationalist leader, known for forming the Azad Hind Fauj; [Maulana Azad]: India's first Education Minister and a key freedom fighter.

Correct Answer: B. Tulsidas

• **Tulsidas** = He composed the epic poem 'Ramcharitmanas', a revered retelling of the Ramayana in the Awadhi language. • **16th century** — Tulsidas composed 'Ramcharitmanas' during this century, making the story of Rama accessible to the common populace. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Valmiki]: Ancient sage attributed with the original Sanskrit epic 'Ramayana'; [Kabir]: A 15th-century mystic poet and saint, known for his dohas; [Surdas]: A 16th-century blind devotional poet, known for his works on Krishna.

Correct Answer: A. Rabindranath Tagore

• **Rabindranath Tagore** = He is the author of the novel 'Gora', a complex work exploring themes of identity, religion, and nationalism. • **1910** — 'Gora' was written by Tagore in this year, before he received the Nobel Prize. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Bankim Chandra]: A celebrated Bengali novelist, known for 'Anandamath' and composing 'Vande Mataram'; [Sarat Chandra]: A popular Bengali novelist, known for 'Devdas' and 'Pather Dabi'; [Sunil Gangopadhyay]: A prominent modern Bengali writer, known for 'Pratidwandi'.

Correct Answer: B. Megasthenes

• **Megasthenes** = He was the ancient Greek traveler and ambassador who wrote 'Indica', an early foreign account of India. • **Chandragupta Maurya** — Megasthenes served as a Greek ambassador in the court of this Mauryan emperor. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Fa-Hien]: A Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the 5th century CE; [Hieun Tsang]: A Chinese Buddhist monk who traveled to India in the 7th century CE; [Al-Biruni]: A Persian scholar who visited India in the 11th century CE and wrote 'Kitab-ul-Hind'.

Correct Answer: B. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam

• **A.P.J. Abdul Kalam** = He is the author of the autobiography 'Wings of Fire', which chronicles his inspiring journey. • **Arun Tiwari** — 'Wings of Fire' was co-authored by Dr. Kalam with this scientist and author. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Vikram Sarabhai]: Father of the Indian space program; [Satish Dhawan]: An eminent Indian space scientist, former ISRO chairman; [Homi Bhabha]: Father of the Indian nuclear program.

Correct Answer: B. Banabhatta

• **Banabhatta** = He authored 'Kadambari', a Sanskrit romance novel considered one of the earliest novels in world literature. • **7th century** — Banabhatta was the court poet of King Harshavardhana during this century. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: [Kalidasa]: A renowned classical Sanskrit author, known for plays like 'Abhijnanashakuntalam'; [Bharavi]: A great Sanskrit poet, known for 'Kiratarjuniya'; [Dandin]: A Sanskrit author of prose romances and poetical treatises, known for 'Dashakumaracharita'.