Books and Authors - General Knowledge Questions

Correct Answer :   J P Nadda

BJP President J P Nadda 28th August 2023 released the Outlook Group's Coffee Table Book 'Sikhs and Modi (A Journey of Nine Years) at a function in New Delhi authored by Prabhleen Singh.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Nadda said that the teachings of Sikh Gurus contributed towards the unity of the society, patriotism, and dedication towards religion.

He added that all the Prime Ministers have delivered their speech from the ramparts of the Red Fort on Independence Day, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is the first Prime Minister of the country, who organized the main event at the Red Fort, to celebrate the 400th birth anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur Singh.

He also highlighted that the Narendra Modi government granted Foreign Contribution Regulation Act registration to Sri Harmandir Sahib, and now Sikhs from across the world can make contributions to the temple. He said, Besides, the Modi government also gave massive relief to Gurudwaras by waiving GST on langar items..

Source : AIR

Correct Answer :   Vipul Rikhi

The book titled 'Drunk on Love: The Life, Vision and Songs of Kabir', was authored by writer-singer Vipul Rikhi.

* Published by : HarperCollins India

* It presents the 15th-century poet, as he is described, quoted, and loved in popular imagination.

* A new book captures the life of mystic poet Kabir through popular legends, his vision, and his poetry which has been quoted and translated extensively.

* It brings into one place stories from Kabir’s life, his most famous songs..


Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Neerja Chowdhury

Veteran journalist Neerja Chowdhary recently released a new book titled "How Prime Ministers Decide".

* The book "How Prime Ministers Decide" highlights the dramatic events that led to Sonia's announcement, which was prompted by Rahul's concern for his mother's safety.

* According to the book, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi maintained positive relations with many RSS leaders but was careful to maintain a certain distance between herself and the organisation.

About the book "How Prime Ministers Decide" :

* The book throws light on the working style of the Prime Ministers of India and examines six landmark judgements.

*  These decisions include Indira Gandhi's strategy to regain power after her defeat in 1977, the errors of Rajiv Gandhi's judgement in the Shah Bano case, and V.P. Singh's implementation of the Mandal Commission report that changed contemporary politics. .

* The book also describes the skillful indecision of P.V. Narasimha Rao that led to the demolition of the Babri Masjid, Atal Bihari Vajpayee's transformation from pacifist to pro-nuclear, and Discovery of a historic nuclear deal with the United States by Manmohan Singh.

* Drawn from extensive interviews with prime ministers, political figures, bureaucrats, aides and policy makers, this book provides unique insights gathered from forty years of high-level reporting on India's political landscape.

Correct Answer :   Amit Shah

Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah released the 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die' book in Rameshwaram, 29th July 2023.

The Union Home Minister  visited Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam House, Mission of Life Gallery Museum and Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam National Memorial. He also visited the Vivekananda Memorial. Shri Amit Shah also offered prayers at the world famous Rameshwaram temple.

In his tweet, he said that the Rameswaram temple is  symbol of the ancient and glorious Sanatan Culture. Lord Shri Ram worshiped Lord Shiva at Shri Rameshwaram which is one of the 12 Jyotirlingas. Having darshan here on the auspicious occasion of 'Aadi Thiruvizha', is a very fortunate and a great feeling. I have prayed to Bholenath for the well-being of the countrymen and the prosperity of the nation. Several dignitaries including Union Minister of State Dr. L. Murugan were present on the occasion of the release of the book 'Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam: Memories Never Die'.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that this book would prove to be very helpful in understanding the struggle of an ordinary boy born in a poor household in Rameshwaram to reach the highest peak of Indian politics. He added that this book brings to the readers  Dr. Kalam's love for literature and art, his exhortations about the poems of Thirukural and Bharthiyar and many unknown aspects of his life. Shri Shah said that Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was a great team player. He implemented the principles of management in his life.

Shri Amit Shah said that Dr. Kalam proved that humanity is the biggest religion. As President, Dr. Kalam set such examples that are worth emulating for people in public life for many years. Shri Shah said that once 52 members of Dr. Kalam's family stayed in Rashtrapati Bhavan for 9 days. The people who live in Rashtrapati Bhavan are state guests, but Dr. Abdul Kalam had deposited the bill of Rs 9.52 Lakh for their stay of 9 days in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

This gesture of Dr. Kalam is a shining example of transparency in public life. He said that Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam never associated himself with His Excellency. This is the reason why the people of India still remember him with great respect as the People's President. He said that Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam had a lot of respect for the officers and brave soldiers of the army in his heart.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Minister said that Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam has said in his book Wings of Fire that my story will end with me as I have no family. But this is not true, 140 crore Indians are his family who will always be proud of Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam. Shri Shah said that in the history of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam will always be remembered by every child of India as a visionary, scientist and simple living person and a great patriot..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   Gajendra Singh Shekhawat

The Union Minister of Jal Shakti, Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, released the compendium of 75 ODF Plus Best Practices, at the two-day National Conference of Rural WASH Partners Forum (RWPF) which culminated 22nd July 2023.

The compendium, titled Swachhata Chronicles : Transformative Tales from India, showcases the innovations, measures taken to overcome barriers and raise awareness, special campaigns launched, and other endeavours of States/UTs in various ODF Plus activities in order to meet the goals of SBM-G Phase-II.

The compendium is developed by Swachh Bharat Mission Grameen IEC team and comprises stories for each of the thematic pillars of SBMG phase - II.

The overall selection of stories is based on following key criteria:

Innovations : This section highlights the innovative approaches that have been used to achieve ODF Plus. For example, in State of Odisha how the community participation and leadership at the Block level, ensured ODF Plus Model village status of Jitikar Suanlo village in Bhingarpur GP of Khordha District or how displaying live models of ODF Plus assets (to effectively manage solid and liquid waste) helped the Shravasti District in Uttar Pradesh achieve ODF Plus status.

Overcoming Barriers : This section discusses the challenges that have been faced in achieving ODF Plus and how these challenges have been overcome. For example, the State of Tamil Nadu, tackled the significant challenge in solid waste management in peri-urban panchayats of Madurai through an innovative mass cleaning initiative as part of the Namma Ooru Superu campaign.

Raising Awareness : This section highlights the measures that have been taken to raise awareness about sanitation. For example, children from government schools in Fatehpur District of Uttar Pradesh have been using their creative energy to promote positive WASH behaviour in rural areas through a magazine called the WASH Vaani.

Special Campaigns : This section discusses the special campaigns that have been launched to achieve ODF Plus. For example, the State of Gujarat as part of the Swachh Sagar, Surakshit Sagar (Clean Coast, Safe Sea) campaign, initiated measures to clean their beaches on a regular basis and thereby protect the environment..

Source : PIB

Correct Answer :   John Guy

MET curator John Guy’s upcoming book, “Tree & Serpent: Early Buddhist Art in India”, traces the emergence of rare Buddhist art from southern India.

The book, published by Mapin in collaboration with The Metropolitan Museum of Art (MET) in New York, is described as a pioneering study of the emergence of Buddhist art in southern India, featuring vibrant photography of rare works — with many published for the first time.

Unlike traditional narratives, which focus on northern India (where the Buddha was born, taught, and died), this ground-breaking book presents Buddhist art from monastic sites in the south.

For instance, it is the first publication to foreground devotional works produced in the Deccan from 200 BCE to 400 CE.

“To better understand the processes by which the Buddhist faith and culture were disseminated, the focus is shifted away from the heartland of Buddhism, the greater Magadha region of northern India where the Buddha was born, taught, and died, to the territories of the Daksinapatha, the regions of the south, and the roads that led there.

“The southern region, the Deccan, was home to some of the greatest early monasteries of Buddhist India. Today, we turn to Bharhut, Sanchi, and Amaravati when we seek to understand the majesty of this architecture and its adornment,” said Guy, curator of South and Southeast Asian Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   Radhika Swarup

Author Radhika Swarup's next book, "The New New-Delhi Book Club", will hit the stands in October 2023, announced publishing house Westland Books on Tuesday (27th June 2023).

Penned during the Covid-19 lockdown in 2020, the book is an interconnected collection of short stories, showing both the hopes and fears of life during the pandemic.

"It is a love letter not only to my past, but to the community and a shared moment in history. The team at Westland Tranquebar have taken the book to their hearts and have loved the streets and the quirks of the characters and have partaken in their dreams and fears as much as I have. I couldn’t hope for a better home for the work," the banker-turned-author said in a statement.

From throwing light on stories of people rising to the challenges of online work and social distancing to showing the sacrifices made by the unluckiest or the most unequal, the book, despite its apparent focus on the lives and fortunes of the residents of two streets in a New Delhi neighbourhood, talks to the global truth of that time.

It also observes the tenacity of tender human bonds and looks at children learning online and at families living in different continents struggling with the uncertainty around meeting their loved ones.

"We are delighted to be publishing Radhika Swarup’s gentle and uplifting novel, The New New-Delhi Book Club, in Tranquebar. It is the story of a neighbourhood and its people during a particularly unsettling time—a book written with Radhika’s trademark finesse and a whole lot of warmth," said Sanghamitra Biswas, executive editor at Westland Books.

Swarup's debut novel, "Where the River Parts", was longlisted by the Author & Club for the best first novel award. Her last novel 'Civil Lines' was out in 2021..

Source : The Week

Correct Answer :   David Hardiman

Historian David Hardiman has released his new book 'Non-Cooperation in India: Non-Violent Strategy and Protest' on Monday.

The non-cooperation movement by the Indian National Congress (INC), organized and led by Gandhi, was the first mass movement organized nationwide during India’s struggle for freedom.

Aim : Its aims were to force further concessions from the British government by organizing the boycotting of the legislative councils, courts and schools, and other symbolic acts.

“Although the Noncooperation Movement of 1920-22 was one of the greatest mass movements of modern times, hardly any overall accounts of it exist. “I was inspired to carry out this task through a combination of my interest in Indian nationalism, Gandhi, subaltern history, and the theory and practice of nonviolent resistance. I am delighted that Westland Books is now publishing this Indian edition,” said Hardiman, founding member of the ‘Subaltern Studies Group’, in a statement.

The non-violent movement, inspired by Gandhi’s satyagraha campaign, degenerated into violence and was called off by Gandhi himself in February 1922 after the murder of a number of policemen by a mob at Chauri Chaura in the United Provinces.

According to the publishers, the book, comprising seven chapters, is a detailed account of India’s first mass movement organized as a part of India’s freedom struggle..

Source : Indian Express

Correct Answer :   A.K. Bhattacharya

Veteran Journalist Ashok Kumar Bhattacharya (AK Bhattacharya) has authored a new book titled “India’s Finance Ministers: From Independence to Emergency (1947-1977)” which highlights the role of India’s finance ministers who shaped India’s economy in the first 30 years(from 1947 to 1977) after Independence. The book is published by Penguin Business an imprint of Penguin Random House.


The essence of the book :

* The book is divided into 3 main parts: Nehru and his finance ministers, those under Shastri and Indira Gandhi, and Indira Gandhi as her own finance minister.

* Economic Journalist AK Bhattacharya is the editorial director of Business Standard and the writer of a long-running column – Raisina Hill. he has also served as the editor of the Pioneer and Business Standard.

* As the book makes it clear, though Nehru was a towering personality, the finance ministers he worked with like John Matthai, CD Deshmukh, TT Krishnamachari and Morarji Desai were no pygmies.

Correct Answer :   Shantanu Gupta

Noted author Shantanu Gupta has launched his new graphic novel for young readers titled 'Ajay to Yogi Adityanath' based on the life journey of Yogi Adityanath on the Chief Minister's 51st birthday on Monday (5th June 2023).

More than 5,000 children from over 51 schools across different districts of Uttar Pradesh participated in the launch ceremony.

Collectively launching a children's book simultaneously in multiple locations with such a significant number of participants has earned a place in the Asia Book of Records, as claimed by the organisers.

Sharing details about this novel, Gupta said that 'Ajay to Yogi Adityanath' depicts the journey of Ajay Singh Bisht, a young boy born in the hinterlands of Uttarakhand along with six other siblings. Ajay's father, Anand Singh Bisht, served as a junior forest officer, while his mother, Savitri Devi, was a homemaker. Growing up, Ajay developed a fondness for taking care of the family's cows, listening to stories of freedom fighters, and participating in school debates.

The Adityanath's family resided in a small one-and-a-half-room house in the remote village of Panchur in present-day Uttarakhand. It was from this modest background that Ajay embarked on a remarkable journey. He eventually became the Mahant (chief priest) of the Gorakhnath Math, a prominent temple in Uttar Pradesh. This position served as a stepping stone for him to pursue a career in politics. He became the youngest member of the Indian Parliament and became the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India.

The author further added that 'Ajay to Yogi Adityanath' will pave the way for the students to emerge victorious in their future by inculcating the qualities of patience, determination and hard work in them. It is a compilation of inspiring memoirs told by Adityanath Yogi's father, the late Anand Singh Bisht, his mother Savitri Devi, his friends from Panchur village, classmates and teachers from his colleges in Kotdwar and Rishikesh, and comrades..

Source : ANI