Magazines, Books and Their Authors

11. Which one of the following is the famous novel written in 1869 by Nazi

Which one of the following is the famous novel written in 1869 by Nazir Ahmad?

Twilight in Delhi
Mirat-ul-urus
Bahishti Zewar
City of Djinns
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
Download PDFAttempt Online
*Mirat-ul-urus* (The Bride’s Mirror) is considered the first proper novel in Urdu literature and was written by Nazir Ahmad Dehlvi. It was published in 1869. The novel is didactic, aimed at educating Muslim girls and discussing social issues.
– Nazir Ahmad is a prominent Urdu writer.
– *Mirat-ul-urus* was his first novel and was published in 1869.
– *Twilight in Delhi* was written by Ahmed Ali and published in 1940.
– *Bahishti Zewar* was written by Maulana Ashraf Ali Thanwi, not a novel by Nazir Ahmad, and is a comprehensive manual of Islamic knowledge and practice for women.
– *City of Djinns* is a non-fiction travel book by William Dalrymple, published in 1993.

12. Which of the following statements about ‘Barnaparichay’, a mid 19th ce

Which of the following statements about ‘Barnaparichay’, a mid 19th century Bengali text is / are correct ?

  • 1. It was written by Raja Rammohan Roy
  • 2. It was the most widely used Bengali primer of the time

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2016
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct option is B.
‘Barnaparichay’ (বর্ণপরিচয়, meaning ‘Introduction to the Alphabet’) is a seminal Bengali primer.
– Statement 1: It was written by Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, a prominent Bengali polymath and social reformer. Raja Rammohan Roy died in 1833, whereas ‘Barnaparichay’ was published in 1855 (Part 1) and 1856 (Part 2). Therefore, this statement is incorrect.
– Statement 2: ‘Barnaparichay’ revolutionized Bengali education by simplifying the alphabet and using a scientific approach to teach reading and writing. It became immensely popular and served as the standard primer for learning Bengali for several decades, widely used across Bengal. This statement is correct.
Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar’s work in Bengali language reform and education had a profound and lasting impact. ‘Barnaparichay’ standardized the Bengali alphabet and its sequence, making it significantly easier for children to learn.

13. Dinabandhu Mitra published a play in Bengali titled : Neel Darpan (Blu

Dinabandhu Mitra published a play in Bengali titled : Neel Darpan (Blue Mirror), which depicted the atrocities on the indigo planters. The play was translated into English by :

Reverend James Long
Dwarkanath Tagore
Michael Madhusudan Dutta
Rabindranath Tagore
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CAPF – 2014
Download PDFAttempt Online
Dinabandhu Mitra’s play ‘Neel Darpan’ was a significant work exposing the brutal exploitation of Indian peasants by indigo planters. While Reverend James Long is historically important for publishing and distributing the English translation, leading to his prosecution, the translation itself is widely attributed to the eminent Bengali poet and playwright Michael Madhusudan Dutta.
The play “Neel Darpan” exposed the plight of indigo cultivators under the British planters.
Michael Madhusudan Dutta translated the play into English.
Reverend James Long faced trial and imprisonment for publishing the translated play.
The publication and subsequent controversy surrounding the translated ‘Neel Darpan’ brought the issue of indigo cultivation atrocities to a wider audience, including in Britain, and played a role in the eventual decline of indigo cultivation under the exploitative system. The play’s original Bengali title was “Neel Darpan Natak”.

14. Which one of the following statements about Tattvabodhini Patrika is c

Which one of the following statements about Tattvabodhini Patrika is correct ?

It promoted a systematic study of India's past in the Bengali language.
It promoted a systematic study of India's past through Sanskrit sources.
It promoted a systematic study of India's past through Persian sources.
It promoted a systematic study of India's past through Western sources.
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2021
Download PDFAttempt Online
Tattvabodhini Patrika was the mouthpiece of the Tattvabodhini Sabha, founded by Debendranath Tagore in 1839. The Sabha and the Patrika played a crucial role in the Bengal Renaissance. The Patrika, published in Bengali, aimed to promote rational thinking, Vedantic philosophy, and a critical study of Indian history, literature, and science. It encouraged a systematic study of India’s past, often countering the narratives put forth by missionaries and colonial rulers, and contributed significantly to the development of Bengali prose.
– Tattvabodhini Patrika was a prominent Bengali journal of the 19th century.
– It was associated with the Tattvabodhini Sabha.
– It promoted rational thought, social reform, and a study of India’s heritage.
– It was instrumental in Bengali intellectual discourse.
Akshay Kumar Datta was a notable editor of the Tattvabodhini Patrika. The journal covered a wide range of subjects including philosophy, science, history, geography, literature, and social issues, all presented through the lens of rational inquiry and Bengali language.

15. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the Lists :

List-I
(Author)		 List-II
(Book)
A. Bal Gangadhar Tilak 1. The Arctic Home in the Vedas
B. Dadabhai Naoroji 2. Hind Swaraj
C. Mahatma Gandhi 3. The Discovery of India
D. Jawaharlal Nehru 4. Poverty and Un-British Rule in India

Code :

A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
A-3, B-2, C-4, D-1
A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3
A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2018
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct matching is A-1, B-4, C-2, D-3.
– Bal Gangadhar Tilak authored “The Arctic Home in the Vedas”.
– Dadabhai Naoroji authored “Poverty and Un-British Rule in India”, which expounded his Drain Theory.
– Mahatma Gandhi authored “Hind Swaraj” (or Indian Home Rule).
– Jawaharlal Nehru authored “The Discovery of India”, written during his imprisonment.
Bal Gangadhar Tilak also wrote “Geeta Rahasya”. Dadabhai Naoroji was known as the ‘Grand Old Man of India’. Mahatma Gandhi’s autobiography is “My Experiments with Truth”. Jawaharlal Nehru also wrote “Glimpses of World History” and “An Autobiography”.

16. Who among the following is the author of the book ‘The Indian Struggle

Who among the following is the author of the book ‘The Indian Struggle, 1920 – 1934’ ?

Maulana Abul Kalam Azad
Jayprakash Narayan
Subhash Chandra Bose
Manabendra Nath Roy
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2017
Download PDFAttempt Online
‘The Indian Struggle, 1920 – 1934’ is a well-known book authored by Subhash Chandra Bose. It provides his perspective on the Indian independence movement during this crucial period, covering events like the Non-Cooperation Movement, the Swaraj Party, the Simon Commission, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and various political developments.
Subhash Chandra Bose’s ‘The Indian Struggle’ is a primary source for understanding the Indian nationalist movement from his point of view during the 1920s and early 1930s.
Maulana Abul Kalam Azad authored ‘India Wins Freedom’, covering the period leading up to and including partition. Jayprakash Narayan was a key figure in the later stages of the independence movement and post-independence politics. Manabendra Nath Roy was a pioneer of the communist movement in India.

17. Who among the following was the author of Neel Darpan, published in 18

Who among the following was the author of Neel Darpan, published in 1860 ?

Reverend James Long
Michael Madhusudan Dutta
Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Dinabandhu Mitra
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-2 – 2016
Download PDFAttempt Online
The play ‘Neel Darpan’ (The Indigo Mirror), published in 1860, was written by Dinabandhu Mitra. The play depicted the brutal exploitation of Bengali indigo farmers by European indigo planters under British rule, highlighting the oppression and injustice faced by the ryots (peasants).
Dinabandhu Mitra wrote the play ‘Neel Darpan’ in 1860, which exposed the atrocities of indigo planters and contributed to the Indigo Revolt.
Reverend James Long was a British missionary who famously translated ‘Neel Darpan’ into English, for which he faced prosecution by the colonial government. Michael Madhusudan Dutta was a prominent Bengali poet and playwright but not the author of ‘Neel Darpan’. Raja Ram Mohan Roy was an earlier social reformer and is not associated with this play.

18. Who was the author of the book ‘History of British India’ ?

Who was the author of the book ‘History of British India’ ?

Charles Grant
John Stuart Mill
James Mill
William Jones
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2019
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is (C) James Mill.
James Mill, the Scottish historian, economist, and political theorist, authored the monumental work ‘History of British India’, published in 1817 in three volumes.
Mill’s ‘History of British India’ was highly influential in shaping British perceptions of India and was used as a textbook for East India Company officials. It presented a utilitarian critique of Indian society and culture, advocating for radical reforms under British rule. Despite not having visited India himself, the work was based on extensive research of Company records and other available materials. His son, John Stuart Mill, later served in the East India Company and edited his father’s work.

19. Who among the following is one of the authors of the book “Philosophy

Who among the following is one of the authors of the book “Philosophy of the Bomb?”

Bhagat Singh
Jawaharlal Nehru
Surya Sen
Yashpal
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2017
Download PDFAttempt Online
Yashpal is one of the authors associated with the revolutionary document “Philosophy of the Bomb”.
“Philosophy of the Bomb” was a manifesto of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Association (HSRA). It was primarily drafted by Bhagwati Charan Vohra in response to Mahatma Gandhi’s condemnation of the revolutionaries’ use of bombs. While Vohra was the main author, Yashpal, a prominent member of the HSRA, was also involved in its creation and dissemination and is often listed as a co-author or key figure behind it.
Bhagat Singh was in jail at the time the document was written (1929-1930). Jawaharlal Nehru and Surya Sen were not associated with the HSRA or this specific document. The document outlined the revolutionaries’ ideology and justification for violence as a means to achieve independence.

20. Which of the following statements about Gandhiji’s Hind Swaraj written

Which of the following statements about Gandhiji’s Hind Swaraj written in 1909 is/are true ?

  • Hind Swaraj offers a civilizational concept of the Indian nation.
  • Hind Swaraj states that Parliamentary democracy was necessary for the amelioration of the sufferings of Indians.
  • Hind Swaraj argues that Industrial capitalism was responsible for the immorality of society.

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

3 only
1, 2 and 3
1 and 3 only
1 only
This question was previously asked in
UPSC NDA-1 – 2016
Download PDFAttempt Online
The correct answer is C) 1 and 3 only.
Statement 1 is true. In ‘Hind Swaraj’, Gandhi contrasts Indian civilization with Western civilization and presents his vision of Swaraj (self-rule) rooted in Indian traditions, values, and culture, emphasizing self-control and moral regeneration. This can be interpreted as a civilizational concept of the Indian nation.
Statement 2 is false. Gandhi was highly critical of Western parliamentary democracy, which he saw as corrupt, inefficient, and not truly representative of the people’s will. He advocated for a form of self-governance based on village republics and individual self-control, not the parliamentary system.
Statement 3 is true. Gandhi saw modern industrial civilization, driven by industrial capitalism, as a primary source of exploitation, inequality, and moral decay. He argued that it prioritized material gain over human welfare and led to the degradation of society.
‘Hind Swaraj or Indian Home Rule’ was written by Gandhi in 1909 during his voyage from London to South Africa in response to the Indian extremists’ argument for violent means to achieve Swaraj and the moderates’ faith in the British parliamentary system. It outlines his foundational philosophy on Swaraj, modern civilization, non-violence, and passive resistance. It is a critique of Western modernity and industrialism and presents an alternative path for India based on its own civilizational strengths.
Page 1Page 2Page 3Page 4Page 5
Exit mobile version