UPSC Essentials presents its daily subject-wise quiz initiative. These quizzes help you revise important static topics from the syllabus. Attempt today's quiz on History and Culture to check your progress. Find links to previous quizzes at the end of the article.
QUESTION 1
Consider the following statements:
- The novel centers on a secret organization based in Burma. This group consisted of Indian political exiles engaged in revolutionary activities against British rule.
- Its central character, Sabyasachi, leads the secret organization. He supports anti-colonial insurgency from outside British India in the early twentieth century.
- The protagonist draws inspiration from revolutionaries like Jatindranath Mukherjee, Rashbehari Bose, M.N. Roy, and others.
The above statements refer to which one of the following novels?
(a) Anandamath
(b) Ghare-Baire
(c) Pather Dabi
(d) Rajkahini
Explanation
Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote Pather Dabi (The Call of the Road). He joined Mahatma Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement between the First and Second World Wars. Chattopadhyay also maintained a close relationship with Subhas Chandra Bose. He supported armed struggle for self-rule.
His writings gradually became critical of the British regime. Through short stories like Mahesh (1922) and Dena-Paona (1923), he exposed colonial economic exploitation. Pather Dabi remains his most striking work.
The novel describes a Burma-based secret organization named Pather Dabi. It comprised political exiles from India. After police repression in early 20th-century Bengal, leaders of the terrorist movement went underground. Many fled to other British territories, particularly Burma.
Stephen Morton notes in Terror and the Postcolonial (2015) that hundreds of Bengali terrorists released from detention in 1919 fled to Burma. They established new secret societies there. From Burma, they supported violent anti-colonial insurgency from outside Bengal.
Sabyasachi leads Pather Dabi. Chattopadhyay modeled this character on revolutionaries like Jatindranath Mukherjee, Rashbehari Bose, M N Roy, Bhupendranath Dutta, and Taraknath Das. Ashish Nandy explains in The Illegitimacy Of Nationalism (1994) that Sabyasachi combined physical strength from Jatindranath, organizational ability from Bose and Roy, and western education from Dutta and Das.
Morton states that Sabyasachi, like Bose, sought to mobilize educated, middle-class Bengali youth for nationalist struggle. Historian Tanika Sarkar agrees. She argues that Pather Dabi reflects the "cult of militant youth power" associated with Subhas Chandra Bose in 1920s Bengal.
After publication, Sabyasachi became a role model for Bengali freedom fighters. Nandy writes that many memoirs mention how fighters took risks to read the novel and admire Sabyasachi. Morton adds that this fictional revolutionary showed seditious writing served as a crucial political strategy against colonialism.
Therefore, (c) is the correct answer.
QUESTION 2
Consider the following quote:
"They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit."
The above quote is attributed to which one of the following personalities?
(a) Bhagat Singh
(b) Subhas Chandra Bose
(c) Chandrashekhar Azad
(d) Ram Prasad Bismil
Explanation
Bhagat Singh emerged as a prominent revolutionary figure by the late 1920s. He rallied support with his cry of Inquilab Zindabad (Long Live the Revolution). His powerful assertion, "They may kill me, but they cannot kill my ideas. They can crush my body, but they will not be able to crush my spirit," highlighted his unwavering commitment to revolutionary ideals.
This quote emphasizes the enduring power of thought and belief. Singh's radical approach and willingness to embrace violence inspired a new generation of freedom fighters. They committed to immediate action against British rule.
Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.
QUESTION 3
Consider the following statements:
- She was a Naga spiritual and political leader. She led an anti-British revolt in Manipur as part of the Heraka movement.
- She joined the movement at a young age. It evolved from a religious reform movement into political resistance against British rule.
- British authorities arrested her in 1932 and sentenced her to life imprisonment. Jawaharlal Nehru later supported her and gave her the title "Rani".
The above statements refer to which one of the following personalities?
(a) Bishnupriya Devi
(b) Chandraprabha Saikiani
(c) Kanaklata Barua
(d) Gaidinliu Pamei
Explanation
Rani Gaidinliu was a Naga spiritual leader of the Heraka faith. She led a revolt against British colonial rule in India. Gaidinliu was born on 26 January 1915 in a small Manipur village.
At age 13, she joined a political movement to uproot the British from Manipur and nearby Naga-inhabited areas. British authorities arrested her in 1932. She remained in jail for 14 years until India won independence in 1947. Gaidinliu passed away in 1993.
Therefore, (d) is the correct answer.
QUESTION 4
'Bagurumba' was recently in news. It refers to which one of the following?
(a) A harvest festival dance of the Bodo tribe of Assam, performed mainly by women, associated with nature worship
(b) A masked ritual dance of the Deori community of Assam, performed during agricultural ceremonies
(c) A martial folk dance of the Karbi tribe, linked with ancestor worship and war victories
(d) A classical dance form of Assam, codified during the Ahom period and performed in temples
Explanation
The Prime Minister participated in "Bagurumba Dwhou 2026". This historic cultural event celebrated the rich heritage of the Bodo community at Sarusajai stadium in Guwahati.
Bagurumba is a folk dance of the Bodo community. It draws deep inspiration from nature. The dance symbolizes blooming flowers and reflects harmony between human life and the natural world.
Young Bodo women traditionally perform this dance. Men accompany them as musicians. The dance features gentle, flowing movements that imitate butterflies, birds, leaves, and flowers. Performances usually occur in groups, forming circles or lines that enhance visual elegance.
Bagurumba holds deep cultural significance for the Bodo people. It represents peace, fertility, joy, and collective harmony. The dance associates closely with festivals like Bwisagu (the Bodo New Year) and Domasi.
Therefore, (a) is the correct answer.
QUESTION 5
Match the following rivers with their ancient names:
List I (River)
A. Narmada
B. Chenab
C. Jhelum
D. Ravi
List II (Ancient name)
1. Asikni
2. Rewa
3. Parushni
4. Vitasta
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
(a) A–1, B–2, C–4, D–3
(b) A–1, B–2, C–3, D–4
(c) A–2, B–1, C–4, D–3
(d) A–2, B–3, C–1, D–4
Explanation
The correct pairs are:
- Narmada : Rewa
- Chenab : Asikni
- Jhelum : Vitasta
- Ravi : Parushni
Therefore, (c) is the correct answer.
Previous Daily Subject-Wise Quizzes
Daily subject-wise quiz — International Relations (Week 145)
Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 140)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 145)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Science and Technology (Week 145)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 145)
Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 145)
Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 144)
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Manas Srivastava leads the UPSC Essentials section of The Indian Express (digital). He writes extensively on UPSC, competitive exams, and education-related projects. Manas represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He served as a former member of the Youth Council, GOI.
A two-time gold medallist in History from Delhi University, he has mentored UPSC aspirants for over five years. His role includes writing, editing, anchoring, interviewing experts, and simplifying news for students. He hosts the YouTube talk show 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'LIVE with Manas'.
His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on this essential habit for students. His articles and videos address general student queries. He believes in preparing students not just for exams but helping them become informed citizens. He also edits UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for aspirants.
Manas received the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize, and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He earned a University Post-Graduate Scholarship for his M.A. in History, specializing in Ancient India due to his interest in Archaeology. He completed a Certificate course on Women’s Studies by the Women’s Studies Development Centre, DU.
As part of N.S.S, he worked with national and international organizations. He showed keen interest in social service projects involving gender sensitization, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, and heritage adoption. He presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka.
Manas enjoys compering seminars and events to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests include International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays, and poetry.
