R K Narayan Quiz

#1. Which famous English author came to India to meet R K Narayan, but could not do so as not enough people had heard of him?

Viriginia Woolf

Graham Greene

W Somerset Maugham

P G Wodehouse

Somerset Maugham, on a trip to Mysore in 1938, had asked to meet Narayan, but not enough people had heard of him to actually effect the meeting. [Wikipedia]

#2. The novel "The Man-Eater of Malgudi" is about

a taxidermist

a dancer

a temple elephant

a tiger

The Man-eater of Malgudi, revolves around a taxidermist called Vasu who is incredibly egotistical, caring only for himself and ignoring the needs of others. He also believes that he can do whatever he wants.

#3. Narayan's first book to get published was

Swami and Friends

The English Teacher

The Bachelor of Arts

The Guide

#4. In R K Narayan's name, what do the initials R K stand for?

Rampada Krishnamachari

Rasipuram Krishnaswami

Ramachandra Krishnamachari

Ramapuram Krishnaswami

#5. In which of Narayan's books does a tiger recount his story of capture by a circus owner?

The Man-Eater of Malgudi

A Tiger for Malgudi

A Horse and Two Goats

Gods, Demons and Others

#6. In which year did he receive the Padma Bhushan?

1990

1950

1975

1964

#7. What was the name of the publishing company started by R K Narayan?

Westland Publications

Rupa Publications

Pustak Mahal

Indian Thought Publications

During the Second World War, being cut off from England, Narayan started his own publishing company, naming it Indian Thought Publications; the publishing company was a success and is still active, now managed by his granddaughter. [Wikipedia]

#8. In which year was Narayan nominated to the Rajya Sabha for his contributions to literature?

1971

1965

1980

1992

During his entire six-year term in the Rajya Sabha, Narayan was focused on one issue—the plight of school children, especially the heavy load of school books and the negative effect of the system on a child’s creativity, which was something that he first highlighted in his debut novel, Swami and Friends. His inaugural speech was focused on this particular problem, and resulted in the formation of a committee chaired by Prof. Yash Pal, to recommend changes to the school educational system. [Wikipedia]

#9. Upon what autobiographical event is Narayan's "The English Teacher" based?

The death of his wife Rajam

His childhood days with his grandmother

The unsuccessful launching of his journal "Indian Thought"

His days as a college student

#10. This critically acclaimed novel of R K Narayan was adapted into a Hindi film that won seven Filmfare awards. Name the top-selling book.

Mr Sampath

The Guide

The man-Eater of Malgudi

Waiting for the Mahatma

#11. Upon which famous English author's recommendation was R K Narayan's first book published?

Thomas Hardy

Mulk Raj Anand

Rudyard Kipling

Graham Greene

Narayan had sent the manuscript of Swami and Friends to a friend at Oxford, and about this time, the friend showed the manuscript to Graham Greene. Greene recommended the book to his publisher, and it was finally published in 1935. [Wikipedia]