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 fourth week of March.
One: This woman picked an untrained and inexperienced talent who has recently riveted the attention of a global audience. Who is she?
Two: Connect the following to figure out the name of a historical figure who recently sparked political fury.
a) Man with wings of fire.
b) Double dhamaka
c) One of the cradles of the sport’s governing body
Three: These arrows reflect a change of guard at the top of a global sporting organisation. What is it—and who is this newly anointed chief? (5+5)
About last week’s quiz…
Here are the answers to the previous edition of the splainer quiz:
One: This actor-author duo is reminiscing about their cinematic collaboration from 30 years ago. Adapted from a novel of the same name, the film centered on a civil servant’s experiences in a small town. Name the film and the author. (5+5)
Answer: English, August and Upamanyu Chatterjee
Upamanyu Chatterjee spent over 30 years in the Indian Administrative Service while writing six novels. He retired early in 2016 to focus on family life. His 1988 debut novel, ‘English, August’ introduced a raw, hybrid language that resonated with young, Anglicized Indians. The book follows Agastya Sen, nicknamed “English” and “August”—a trainee IAS officer navigating life in the remote town of Madna. Its mix of humour, disillusionment, and rural anarchy made it a cult classic. The novel was adapted into a 1994 film starring Rahul Bose, co-written by Chatterjee and Dev Benegal. The image in question was shared by Rahul Bose from their meeting earlier this year at the Kolkata Literary Meet.
Two: Originating in the Victorian era, these outdoor platforms soon spread to British colonies. Identify these structures, named after the purpose they served—as performance spaces for musical ensembles.
Answer: Bandstand
Emerging in the early 19th century with the rise of brass bands, bandstands spread across the UK, Europe, and colonial regions. Typically circular or semi-circular, they resemble gazebos and became central to social and cultural life by promoting “ordered, rational recreation.” Bandstands provided a space for uplifting musical performances, encouraging public engagement in structured activities. Mumbai’s Cooperage Bandstand, built in 1867, is a prime example, hosting performances for both aristocrats and common citizens. Featuring an ornate wooden canopy with carved details, it was restored in 2017 to preserve Mumbai’s musical heritage. Bengaluru’s first appeared in the 1870s, later replaced by an ornamental iron structure in Cubbon Park, imported from Glasgow in 1914.
Three: This is a clip from an Indian late-night talk show—a nugget of nostalgia for the ‘90s kids but a ‘latent’ find for Gen Z. What timely announcement has been muted in the vid’s intro?
Answer: Main Samay Hoon
“Main Samay Hoon…”—these iconic words, narrated by Harish Bhimani, bring back memories of BR Chopra's Mahabharat, which first aired in 1988. As the voice of time itself, this introduction set the stage for an epic retelling of the ancient Indian saga. A broadcaster at heart, Bhimani is a distinguished voice artist, writer, and producer, having produced over 1,500 radio shows. Interestingly, this phrase is also the Instagram ID of comedian Samay Raina, who has been inactive for some time for reasons known to you. The clip in question is from Movers & Shakers, an Indian late-night talk show hosted by Shekhar Suman that launched in 1997. You can watch the full episode here.
And the winners are…
Here are the top five scorers for the fourth week of March. Congratulations!
