Wishes do come true when you act upon them. One such wish of mine was to write a quiz book that is useful and relevant for the current generation. The wish has been finally fulfilled today. EtymagIQ India – my first book is finally on sale. If you are intrigued by the title and what the book is all about, here’s everything you wanted to know.
EtymagIQ India (pronounced Etymagic India) is a combination of the words Etymology, IQ, and India. It’s an etymology-based quiz on things we see, use, and associate with India. There are questions from many Indian languages. I have included questions originating from languages such as Arabic and Persian as well because of their relevance to our daily lives: we either use them or see them everyday. Etymology goes beyond the meaning and tells the actual origins/stories behind anything. Etymology is not confined to just English words, because everything is a word. And every word has a story behind it.
How is this book different from any other quiz book?
This book doesn’t test the knowledge of the reader. It encourages the reader to work out the answer with the clues provided in each question. The book helps you build your answer to most of the questions. And you don’t need to be a quizzer to answer many of the questions. This is a quiz book of questions and answers with lesser-known origins and stories behind them. Even if you revisit the content after a few years, you will find it relevant.
Who is the target audience for this book?
Anyone with a curious mind, or wants to develop a curious mind. Nearly 60% of the questions have been framed keeping the non-quizzer in mind. Whether you are a student, academic, homemaker, working professional, senior citizen or a trivia buff, this book is for you.
What all is included in the book?
The book contains 340 questions spread across 34 chapters such as State Capitals, Startups, Brand Names, Art & Culture, Train Names, Food, Hill Stations, National Parks, Geographical Indications, Trees, Waterfalls, Forts & Palaces, Indian Words in English, UNESCO Heritage Sites etc. Each question comes with a fascinating origin story that kindles the reader’s curiosity about India.
Can you share some sample questions from the book?
Sure, here’s a select pick of 5 questions from the book:
- What Sanskrit term is used to denote the ‘one thousand names’ of Lord Vishnu? According to Hindu Puranas, Bhishma revealed the list of these names as a stotra (hymn) to Yudhishthira on the battlefield of Kurukshetra to offer spiritual guidance. It’s believed chanting these names with devotion brings peace of mind and divine blessings.
- Which sport derives its name from a Tamil word meaning ‘holding hands,’ which is important from a strategic and tactical point? Holding hands forms a chain among the players, creating a physical connection that makes it difficult for the opponent to break through.
- Which clothing, light yellowish-brown in color, derives its name from the Urdu
word for ‘dust-colored ‘? The name was initially used to describe the earth-toned
clothing worn by British troops in India. - Which delicacy, widely available during a certain month, derives its name from
Persian for ‘patience’? The slow cooking process of this lasts for hours and takes
immense effort. - According to Hindu mythology, what name did Lord Muruga took because he was
raised by six Kritika nakshatras, personified as women? - Which tree, known for the tangy pulp extracted from its fruit to add flavors in cooking, derives its name from the Arabic word Tamar-e-hind, meaning ‘Indian date’?
The answers are: 1. Sahasranama 2. Kabaddi 3. Khakhi 4. Haleem 5. Karthikeya
6. Tamarind
I’m a quizzer. Are there any questions of my kind?`
Oh, yes! There are quite a few equally interesting questions for a typical quizzer as well. Here goes one:
- Performed by males in honor of the supreme dancer Lord Shiva, this invigorating dance form flourished during the reign of Kakatiyas. It’s also known as the ‘Dance of Warriors’ as it was enacted by warriors in front of the idol of Nataraja before proceeding to battlefields. Name this dance form which derives its name from the fact it invokes prerana (inspiration).
The answer: Perini Shivatandavam
How do I make the best use of the book?
There are 34 chapters in the book. All chapters have been arranged randomly so that it appeals to all. There’s no need to start from the beginning. Get started with any chapter of your choice.
I encourage you to explore more about each answer since a question doesn’t end with the answer. For instance, if you come across a lesser-known answer, do a search and find more about it, how it looks,…and so on.
Why consider this book?
The book has been written in an engaging way combining logic, knowledge and storytelling. It can kindle the reader’s curiosity and encourage them to deepen the understanding of language, cultural exchanges and historical events.
Where all can I buy the book?
On amazon. Visit https://tinyurl.com/etyquiz to place your orders. Alternatively, you can contact the author at 9618217422 for orders of above 5 copies.
What is the price of the book?
The book has been priced at Rs 200 to make it accessible to everyone.
Is there any discount on bulk orders?
We highly recommend this book to schools, and communities. If you run any educational institution or wish to order copies in bulk, there’s a special price. Please message me on +91-96182-17422 for any bulk inquiries.
This is a quiz book of stories, aimed at building curiosity. Questions from the book can be asked at formal and informal gatherings as well.
Who is the author?
Murali Duggineni, a marcom professional. Murali has led product marketing initiatives, crafted and published content that goes onto corporate websites, developed case studies, set up knowledge centers, and headed the content for regional versions of the internationally-acclaimed gameshow Who Wants to be a Millionaire/KBC.
Beyond his professional pursuits, Murali is driven by a deep curiosity for etymology, history, mythology, and art and culture. Murali lives in Hyderabad, and delights in discovering the hidden stories that often go unnoticed.
If there anything else I should know?
Murali has written many etymology threads on India. Some of his threads have become viral on twitter. For a glimpse into his work, check out his twitter handle https://twitter.com/NarrativeNest
If you have purchased this book, please read, and review it by tagging me at the following handles:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NarrativeNest
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/muraliduggineni9
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/muraliduggineni/
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/mduggineni/
Thank You for your support.
2 thoughts on “Everything you wanted to know about my book: EtymagIQ India (An etymology-based quiz book on India)”
Dear Sir,
Your book is not available on amazon/Flipkart.
Please help me to buy it.
Hello Anupam, thanks for reaching out. It was sold out long back. I will let you know if I can find a copy