Presenting The Great India Etymology Quiz

You don’t have to be a seasoned quizzer to take a quiz.

I’ve always believed that a good quiz should encourage the participants to think through and work out the answers rather than simply knowing them.

On India’s Republic Day, here are 18 questions from my upcoming book EtymagIQ India – an engaging etymology-based quiz centered on India.

Go ahead and post your answers in comments. Your answers don’t have to be ‘correct.’ Even if it’s a guess, let me know what you are thinking.

1. The surname of which famous historical figure associated with Indian freedom struggle literally means ‘perfume seller’?
2. The ‘K’ family is a series of submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBM) designed to enhance India’s striking capabilities and augment nuclear deterrence. These missiles are named after an esteemed Indian scientist and statesman. Who?
3. Which Indian state derives its name from Vihara, the Buddhist term for monasteries? The state is indeed a land of monasteries.
4. According to a popular legend, Lord Rama is said to have bestowed this land upon his younger brother Laxman, who founded Laxmanpur (also known as Laxmanavati or Lakhanpur). What is the anglicized name by which we better know this place?
5. Known as the ‘poor’s chariot’ in a literal sense, what is the name given to the series of no-frills trains that offer air-conditioned travel at a more affordable rate compared to standard train services?
6. First manufactured in 1994 and discontinued in 2019, which Indian SUV was named after Sumant Moolgaokar, one of the long-serving executives and a former MD of Tata Motors?
7. This premium tea brand was the brainchild of Narandas Desai, who started out in 1892 with 500 acres of tea estate in South Africa. However, the racial discrimination he witnessed in South Africa forced him to return to India with a certificate from Mahatma Gandhi for being the most honest and experienced tea estate owner in South Africa. The brand name and the logo symbolize the spirit of co-existence of one and all, depicting a ‘tiger’ and a ‘goat’ sipping tea from the same cup. Name this Tea Group.
8. 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. Uniforms made from this cloth were preferred as they helped the soldiers camouflage themselves in the arid and dusty environments of India. 
9. Created by A. M. Buhari, a former Sherif of Madras, which deep-fried chicken dish takes its name from the year it was first made?
10. According to The Mahabharata, which of the Pandavas earned his name because of his unmatched handsomeness, and there was no one as attractive in their entire clan?
11. A main attraction in the Tiruvarur Thyagaraja Temple, the shell of this instrument is made out of metal. On its top are five cylinders covered with skin. The cylinders, also known as mukhas, are believed to be the five faces of Shiva representing the five basic elements: sky, air, fire, water and earth. The name of the instrument literally means an ‘instrument with five faces.’ Which instrument?
12. According to Hindu mythology, what name did Lord Muruga took because he was raised by six Kritika nakshatras, personified as women?
13. Which tree derives its name from the Gujarati word bania, meaning ‘merchant’? Known for their large canopies, the trees have served as gathering places for traders and merchants historically.
14. Popularly known as Western Ghats, which mountain range takes its name from the Sanskrit word for ‘tolerant’ or ‘benevolent’ because of its resilience to change?
15. Often referred to as the Niagara Falls of India, which waterfall located on the Karnataka-Tamil Nadu border derives its name from Kannada for ‘smoky rocks’? The powerful cascade of water hitting the rocks below creates the illusion of rising smoke, hence the name.
16. The name of which popular and busy market in Old Delhi—the bazaars of which were designed by Shah Jahan’s daughter, Jahanara Begum—literally means ‘Moonlit Square’? The market complex was in the shape of a square with a pool at its center, and the waters would shimmer under the moonlight. Hence the name. 
17. Declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2021, this Hindu temple situated in Telangana is known as the Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple devoted to Lord Shiva. However, it became popular by the name of its chief sculptor, making it the only temple in India to be named after its chief craftsman. Which temple?
18. This Hindi phrase translates to ‘Let there be victory.’ It gained international recognition as the title song of the film Slumdog Millionaire, winning an Academy Award for the Best Original Song. What two-worded phrase?

Hope you liked the questions. Go ahead and post your answers in comments.