A list of puzzling questions: Republic Day edition
Editor’s note: Every week, we feature three questions from our quiz master Shantanu Sharma—who is a researcher-writer, and has a side hustle as a professional quiz guru. He’d love to hear from you—so send your feedback/suggestions or just say ‘hi’ over at sharmashantanu312@gmail.com or @shantorasbox on Twitter.
How this works: Every correct answer is worth 10 points. If a question has multiple parts, each is worth 5 points. You have until Friday 12 pm to send in your answers to talktous@splainer.in or via DMs on Insta or Twitter. The correct answers will be published every Monday. The grand prize for the winner at the end of the month: a quarterly subscription for anyone of your choice—including the option of adding three months to your sub. That’s Rs 499 in value—so it’s pretty darn good:)
Rule to note: We will pick winners each month using a lucky draw.
The answers: to the previous week’s quiz are at the bottom—as are the winners for the second week of January.
One: Every year, some states and UTs get to showcase their tableaux during the Republic Day celebrations. While the one above was part of the parade a few years ago, the one below failed to make the cut. Identify the two contingents. (5+5)
Two: These are three of the many artists leaving their mark on the Indian Constitution. Who mentored the artists? How many artworks were created originally? (5+5)
Three: Name the notable honour given to these two men when they were heads of state.
About last week’s quiz…
Here are the answers to the previous edition of the splainer quiz:
One: What does this label on a product signify? Who from the world of Hindi entertainment has been the ‘smooth’ brand ambassador for the parent organization? (5+5)
Answer: Silk Mark and Vidya Balan
Silk refers to natural protein fibers, not fabric, used to create smooth, shiny materials. The Silk Mark Organisation of India (SMOI), established on June 17, 2004, under the Central Silk Board, Ministry of Textiles, introduced the world’s first authenticity label for pure silk.
The Silk Mark Label, available as hangtags or sew-in labels, features a hologram and unique number for traceability. Only authorized users can affix it to pure silk products. Actress Vidya Balan, known for her role as “Silk” in ‘The Dirty Picture’, is the brand ambassador for SMOI.
Two: Think laterally and work out a North American city that connects the three images below.
Answer: Boston. The three elements are Boston Consulting Group, Boston Strangler, and Boston Tea Party.
Boston Consulting Group (BCG) is a global consulting firm known for its innovative approaches to solving business challenges. Founded by Bruce Henderson, it has built a legacy of challenging the status quo. The Boston Strangler, a notorious serial killer, murdered at least 11 women in the Boston area between 1962 and 1964. DNA evidence tied to Albert DeSalvo, who had confessed to the crimes, has helped bring closure to this decades-old mystery. The Boston Tea Party, held on December 16, 1773, was a pivotal protest against British taxation and monopoly. American patriots, disguised as Mohawk Indians, dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor, sparking the path to revolution. (Note: The first and third images of this question were generated using ChatGPT.)
Three: Who is being recognized here for her exceptional contribution to cinema along with her partner (12 films together)? What honorific title is prefixed to her name? (5+5)
Answer: Emma Thomas and Dame
Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan added esteemed new titles to their name at the Investiture ceremonies in December 2024. They were recognized with knighthood and damehood honors for their contributions to the film industry. Shortly after ‘Oppenheimer’ dominated the Academy Awards, the UK government had announced these honors in March 2024.
Dame Emma Thomas has an exceptional record as a producer, both commercially and critically. She has produced all of her husband Christopher Nolan's films and is the first British woman to win the Oscar for Best Picture.
And the winners are…
Here are the top five scorers for the second week of January. Congratulations!
