UPSC Prelims 1996 · General Studies
Question 15: History and Culture
Which one of the following is an important historical novel written during the latter half of the nineteenth century?
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay's Durgeshnandini (1865), his first Bengali novel, is a historical novel of the latter half of the nineteenth century, set in sixteenth-century Bengal and Orissa. Rast Goftar was a Gujarati newspaper, Maharatta was Tilak's English weekly, and Nibandhamala was Vishnushastri Chiplunkar's series of Marathi essays. Remember: Bankim - Durgeshnandini, Anandamath.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Rast Goftar was a Gujarati newspaper, not a novel.
- (b) Right: Durgeshnandini is Bankim Chandra's historical novel of 1865.
- (c) Maharatta was an English weekly newspaper of Tilak, not a novel.
- (d) Nibandhamala was a series of Marathi essays by Vishnushastri Chiplunkar.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1996, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.