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 March.
One: Three generations posed together at Mrs. Mehta’s (extreme left) memoir launch. The book is a candid narrative of an Englishwoman’s life in a Gujarati household in Mumbai. Identify the granddaughter (face obscured), a biomedical scientist and registered nutritionist, often seen cheering from the stands.
Two: What annual honour connects these three women? Two of them are well known today—identify the third. (5+5)
Three: This Indian ruler was the only woman in her lineage to issue coins in her name. Name this light of the world.
About last week’s quiz…
Here are the answers to the previous edition of the splainer quiz:
One: This is from an Indian artist and conservationist’s collection of folk art. Identify this species—which primarily breeds in a northeastern state. Also, identify the divinely named art form originating from a sacred site on a river. (5+5)
Answer: Greater adjutant stork and Kalighat Painting
The artwork in question is by artist, change-maker, and conservationist Sudarshan Shaw drawn as a Kalighat painting. Characterized by bright colors and bold outlines, this style evolved as a unique genre of Indian painting in 19th-century Kolkata. The Greater Adjutant, known as “hargila” in Assamese, means “bone swallower.” Conservationist Dr Purnima Devi Barman led efforts to protect and celebrate the species, helping its population in Assam surpass 1,800. In 2023, thanks to her work, the stork’s IUCN status improved from endangered to “near threatened.” Read more about Dr Barman, recognized as one of TIME’s ‘Women of the Year,’ here, and explore Sudarshan’s work here.
Two: Name the team that connects these two Asian and one former Caribbean players (non-exhaustive list).
Answer: Afghanistan Men’s cricket team
If you are following the 2025 Champions Trophy, you would have spotted a jubilant Younis Khan (middle) after Afghanistan knocked England out of the tournament on the back of Ibrahim Zadran’s 177 and Omarzai’s five-wicket haul. Younis returned as a mentor for this event, having previously worked with the team during a 15-day training camp in 2022. For the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the USA, Dwayne Bravo (right) joined as their bowling consultant. Former Indian batter Ajay Jadeja (left) was Afghanistan's mentor for the 2023 ODI World Cup in India.
Three: Name the person who wore these swanky shoes around his shackled ankles in a courtroom recently. Hint: He has become the most unlikely heartthrob.
Answer: Luigi Mangione
Luigi Mangione—accused of killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO—appeared in a New York court for a procedural hearing on February 21.
And the winners are…
Here are the top five scorers for the first week of March. Congratulations!
