A list of puzzling questions
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 first week of January.
One: If you are wearing products affixed with this label, what authenticity do they signify? Who from the world of Hindi entertainment has been a ‘smooth’ choice as the brand ambassador of the parent organization? (5+5)
Two: Think laterally and work out a North American city that connects the self-explanatory images below.
Three: Who is being recognized here for her exceptional contribution to cinema in collaboration with her partner (12 films together)? What honorific title gets prefixed to her name? (5+5)
About last week’s quiz…
Here are the answers to the previous edition of the splainer quiz:
One: Spot the unusual detail in this photo taken this past New Year’s Eve in Cincinnati, Ohio, and explain its significance. (5+5)
Answer: Flags flying at half-staff and commemorating the memory of Jimmy Carter.
The image shows the US flag and the State of Ohio flag flying at half-staff in remembrance of former President Jimmy Carter, who died on December 29, 2024, at age of 100. The 39th president was the longest-living commander-in-chief. According to the National Archives, the flags will be lowered for 30 days after the death, following a protocol established by President Dwight D Eisenhower in 1954. For lexical clarity, flags are flown at half-mast on ships and naval bases, while on land, they are flown at half-staff.
Two: Connect the images below to reveal the name of a global icon.
a) You know the name, right?
b) Who is this power-packed dancer-choreographer?
c) Her resting place
Answer: Ustad Zakir Hussain
The three images are of Allah Rakha (AR) Rahman, Shakti Mohan, and Mumtaz Mahal.
Born in Bombay, Zakir Hussain’s first sounds were the tabla rhythms of his father, Ustad Alla Rakha, setting him on a path to become a tabla legend. His groundbreaking collaboration with guitarist John McLaughlin led to Shakti, blending Indian classical music with jazz and pioneering World Music and introducing American audiences to the richness of non-Western sounds and instruments. Hussain also became a household name through the iconic Brooke Bond Taj Mahal Tea ad, filmed at the Taj Mahal, where he famously quipped, “Arre huzoor, wah Taj boliye!” This later spawned a series of ads. The legendary maestro's passing last month in San Francisco has left an irreplaceable void in the music world.
Three: This innovative campaign from over a decade ago spread an affordable and creative message about personal hygiene. Which brand led the initiative, and at which humongous gathering did it take place? (5+5)
Answer: Lifebuoy (Unilever) and Kumbh Mela (2013)
Led by Ogilvy Action, Lifebuoy (Unilever) delivered a powerful hygiene message at the Maha Kumbh Mela (2013) by stamping “Did you wash your hands with Lifebuoy?” on over 2.5 million chapattis. This low-cost, innovative campaign, executed with the help of heat stamps and local dhabas, effectively reached millions of pilgrims.
The Maha Kumbh Mela, the world’s largest religious gathering, rotates between four sacred locations in India every 12 years. Prayagraj, where the Ganga, Yamuna, and Saraswati rivers converge, will host the upcoming edition from January 13 to February 26. This historic city, steeped in spiritual and cultural significance, draws pilgrims to the revered Triveni Sangam. Check out this year’s major attractions here.
And the winners are…
Here are the top five scorers for the first week of January. Congratulations!
