2015 KQA Bangalore Quiz with answers

HUBBUB-A – the Bangalore Quiz 2015
Researched and presented by
Navin Rajaram and
Venky Srinivasan

1.
From Ramachandra Guha’s Patriots and Partisans
“It may be because I live in Bangalore, and not Delhi, that I have been able to
maintain my independence from political parties. Specific essays in this book
detail my disagreements with the Congress, the Sangh Parivar, and the
Parliamentary Left. The Maoists and their fellow travelers dislike me too – one
of this ilk attacked me for my “anti-left views”, claiming that I had ‘strong ties to
the Congress establishment’ and ‘stronger ties to the American establishment’.
In truth, the only ‘establishment’ that I count myself close to is that which runs
_______ ______ ______ in Bangalore.
Fill in the blanks. (1st blank is operative and sufficient for points)

2.
The bio for this Twitter account reads “Timely and detailed traffic updates from
India's largest parking lot.”
Functioning as a wry, spot-on commentary of life at the mercy of city traffic, its
tweets have included gems such as “Three IIT-IIM grads sharing an Uber Pool
stuck at BTM water tank have started a food-tech company" or “Guy in 500C
Volvo with Akamai ID card has swiftly moved from Level 2 to Level 83 in Candy
Crush over the last one hour“
What Twitter handle, that has resulted in creation of copy-cat handles such as
@tin_factory and @GraphiteSignal?

Silk Board Junction
(accept Silk Board)

3.
The somewhat oxymoronic term for such food joints combines a non-alcoholic
beverage with the term for a joint that would serve anything but such
beverages.
In 1930, James Meadow Charles, an Englishman, is said to have started the first
such joint in India near Trinity Circle and named it because a geographical entity
was (in those days) visible from there. Today, the joint is run by the Vrajlal family
and has maintained a legacy of catering to customers who arrive late into the
night.
What is the 2-word term for such joints, popular in countries such as Australia &
Poland as well?
What name did Charles give to his joint?
What geographical entity was visible from where Charles set up shop?

4.
The brain-child of F. J. Richards, the then Collector of Bangalore Cantonment and
Father Rev. Tabard, it started on May 5, 1909 as a result of a meeting held at the
latter’s residence.
Of the original 17 founding members, S. Krishnaswamy Iyenger, who later became
Professor of History at Madras University and Prof. B Venkatanarayanappa were
the only Indians.
What esteemed organization, that has a rich connection with quizzing in this city?

5.
With the exception of a few communities, this practice was prevalent in many
South Indian villages with the prevailing logic being that it allowed one to
perennially nourish the soil of his/her ancestral land.
As communities migrated, the practice was carried over to semi-urban areas
with the Bangalore Municipal board reserving land as early as 1919 for many
communities, especially Tamils, to continue this practice.
Today, the legacy of this practice exists in dedicated spaces at Lakshmipuram
(Ulsoor) and Shantinagar (Wilson Garden).
What practice or spaces are we talking about?

6.
One story goes that the 18th century Sufi saint, Hazrat Tawakkal Mastan, was
rushing in the general direction of the Cottonpet area to catch a glimpse of
something, when he got hurt. Hindu priests are said to have treated his wounds
with vermillion and an overwhelmed Mastan prayed to a lady from the
Mahabharata to initiate a tradition after his death.
Another story has it that an appointed individual went to Mastan and asked for
his blessings to ensure that his balance be maintained throughout a critical
journey, as a result of which the tradition has continued every year.
What was Mastan trying to catch a glimpse of?
What tradition is now annually followed in tribute to Mastan?

Karaga Procession
The procession makes a stop at Hazrat Mastan’s dargah in
Balepet to seek his blessings

7.
A chronology of this structure’s early history calls it “one of the ugliest buildings erected. With
its yellow-washed walls and low roof it resembles nothing so much as a Bryant and May’s
Match Box!”
When its interiors were redone after a disastrous fire in 1923, it got a pulpit and a font from
Genoa, stained glass windows, a cross and candlesticks from Oxford, among other things.
In 1932, E. A ______, a careful orthodox opening batsman who appeared for the Europeans
vs. the Indians, drove all the way from his base in Ooty to Bangalore so that his wife would
deliver a healthy baby at a reliable hospital. Soon after, the child was baptized at the
Bangalore location mentioned above and went on to outshine his father.
What structure/location?
Who was the child, baptized at the location?
What object at this location, installed in 1929, made from pure Burma teak and assembled in
Bangalore, was a gift from the Ooty based family to this place?

St. Mark’s Church
Michael Colin Cowdrey
The church’s Pipe Organ

8.
In early 2003, a team from a certain institution and the National Aeronautics
Limited (NAL) collaborated on a project that involved sourcing teak and silver
oak as well as hand crafting various other parts.
Using drawings that were sourced from the Smithsonian, the team went on to
create something that had everything except an engine to move the propellers;
a motor was fitted instead but if it were to be replaced with an engine, the
model was as good as a working prototype.
What was the team trying to recreate?
Where (the institution) can one see the result of this painstaking project?

The Wright Brothers’ Flyer aircraft
Visweswaraya Industrial & Technological Museum

9.
History records him as a popular wrestler in the Akkipet area, who had a Garadi Mane
(Akhada) and quickly earned the admiration of the King of Mysore, who crowned him
Ustad.
Taking a keen interest in the sprains, pulled muscles and fractures resulting from the
wrestling business, he learnt how to treat these using oils and massages, establishing a
traditional healing institute on OTC Road in the 1860s.
Today, the institute bearing his name is into its 5th generation of practitioners and sees a
regular stream of patients, who avail of a blend of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani systems
of bone setting, muscle relaxation and arthritic/orthopedic treatments.
Name the founder of this institute, whose first name prefix is a combination of the local
words for “nut” and “shop”.

Kayangadi Pappanna
Kayangadi comes from kay (nut) + angadi (shop)

10.
In keeping with worldwide tributes in 1856, Hugh Cleborn, Botanical Advisor to Mark
Cubbon, the then Chief Commissioner of Mysore State suggested that the Mysore
state construct a building to pay tribute to X.
The resulting structure, constructed in Lalbagh, began housing the offices of the
garden’s curators, until 1894 when the curator moved to Lalbagh cottage and the
building fell into disuse.
Between 1915-1957, the suggestion of then superintendent of Lalbagh – Y – ensured
the structure stayed alive as a one of a kind restaurant within Lalbagh, before being
demolished to make way for the Mughal gardens.
Name this now non-existent building or X, to whom it paid tribute to.
Who was Y, who briefly prolonged the building’s lifetime?

Darwinia (OR) Charles Darwin
G. H. Krumbiegal

11.
In 1962, the _____ fathers of the Malabar province purchased some land
in the Chikka Bellandur village with a view to start a college of theology
and engage in missionary work.
Over the years, Malayali families of both Roman Catholic and Syrian
Christian affiliations moved into this area and the chapel of the fathers
slowly came up.
In a rather pleasant turn of events, the actions of the Malayali fathers has
resulted in Indian Railways introducing a short, convenient train stop for
South of Bangalore IT types travelling to Kerala.
What stop?

Karmelaram
from the Carmelite fathers

12.
Hopeville, a house on a sprawling 12 acre estate, is an elegant two-storey
structure built in the Greek revival style with Tuscan columns and has, over the
years, seen many big names stay within its premises.
Originally purchased by Madras Bank in 1864 for setting up a branch, the
property has passed on to the State Bank of India and serves as the home of the
Chief General Manager of the SBI.
From 1831 to 1843, Hopeville was, to use a synonym, the home of what kind of
people?
Hopeville’s architecture has inspired many other Bangalore building designs, one
of which is the central office building of an institution that has made a ledger
entry of Rs. 13 a matter of national pride. Which institution?

Hopeville was where the Bangalore Resident stayed between 1831-1843
Bangalore Club
(where Churchill still owes some money)

13.
When Shahaji, the father of Chattrapati Shivaji, conquered Bangalore in 1638
under the Adil Shahi banner, he introduced Marathi as the official language of the
province, using it for all documents, dispatches and administrative matters.
In 1689, the Mughals came into the province and scrapped Marathi and
introduced Persian/Arabian languages for the same purpose.
These events resulted in Bangalore becoming the birthplace of _____, a language
born out a harmonious mixture of two foreign and two Indian languages; the
result was later popularized in the writings of Mirza Ghalib, Mir Taqi Mir and
Allama Muhammad Iqbal.
What was this language called, literally meaning “scattered” or “mixed”?

Rekhta
(Dakhni is not acceptable)

14.
Picture from January 2015 shows Smt. Laxmi _____ (daughter-in-law) and
Smt. Shubhada Mulgund (daughter) donating a precious paan box, a
trademark red shawl and a brown jacket, all of which were inseparable
from the person they were related to.
Who was the individual, often seen in possession of these artifacts?
Which Bangalore based organization received these as gifts?

Pt. Bhimsen Joshi
Centre for Indian Music Experience (IME)

15.
How do all the images on the left connect to the location on the right?

Pompei(an) Red
The particular shade of red used for painting the exteriors of Attara
Kacheri, Venkatappa Art Gallery, Mayo Hall and Seshadri Memorial library

16.
In 1928, Tagore was not keeping
well, struggling to write and trying
to recover in Colombo.
On the invitation of the
Vice-Chancellor of Mysore
University, the author travelled to
Bangalore, stayed for 3 weeks and
slowly regained enough energy to
initiate writing both these works.
S. R. Bommai was probably not so
lucky and lost his CM post within
ten days of attempting the same
experience as Tagore.
What connects?

Balabrooie
Tagore gained power to write while staying here, while Bommai lost power after staying here.
Incidentally Balabrooie’s design is also inspired by Hopeville

17.
In 1900, this soon to be Nobel laureate travelled around the country at the request of J N Tata
to find a suitable place for the IISC and after surveying Calcutta, Madras, Delhi and Lucknow,
recommended Bangalore as the site for the university.
Soon after this, in 1904, he worked with Robert Whytlaw-Gray and used spectroscopy to
determine the presence of element no. 86, the last of the rare gases describing it thus “the
expression emanation of radium is very awkward, therefore the name _____ (Nt) which comes
from the Latin word for shining is suggested”
The house at No. 11, Palace Road, Vasanthnagar, where he briefly stayed, and the surrounding
office space compound preserves his suggested name (blank) for the element.
Who was the Nobel Laureate?
What element did he discover last, among others?
What was his suggested name for the element, that is now the name of a building compound in
Bangalore?

Sir William Ramsay
Radon
Niton
from where Niton Compound gets its name

18.
At the age of 5, Manikandan Kumar, a
resident of Srirampuram was diagnosed
with polio in his right leg, but the disease
introduced him to his first love.
At the age of 15, he went to an adventure
camp and saw a certain sport for the first
time, after which he sought coaching and
went on to win a gold medal at the IFSC
____________ World Championships in
2012.
In which sport is this Bangalore resident,
India’s first (and perhaps only) world
champion?

19.
The name of this much frequented East Bangalore joint was originally a joke
among the founder and his friends, referring to a scene from the 3rd
installment of a spy spoof movie series, where there’s the line “_____ like a
tiger” with the first word distinctly pronounced in a Scottish/Irish sort of
accent.
The other fortunate coincidence was that the name lent itself well to the
local slang word for the state in which most patrons would feel after
spending time at the place.
Which joint?
Also, which movie series inspired the name of this joint?

Toit
Austin Powers
The dialogue was spoken by Mike Myers’ character in Goldmember

20A.
In 2013, product A received the GI status, 3 years after the submission by
the Karnataka horticulture department.
Grown predominantly in a area of 5000 hectares in the Bangalore Urban,
Chikballapur and Kolar districts for the past 150 years, these need red sandy
loam soil, a day temperature of 35-37 degrees and a night temperature of
15-17 degrees to develop their typical colour and slip skin nature.
Unfortunately, the fortified variety of liquids that are made from this
product have not qualified for a similar GI tag, causing much consternation
to makers from the region.
Identify product A (2 words – colour and product).

20B.
In 2015, product B became the 217th product to receive the GI tag in India,
with the tag being accorded to items grown in the 16 talukas of Bangalore
rural, Kolar and Dodballapur.
The products are unique in the sense the bulbs have a flat base, a spherical
shape with deep scarlet colour, anthocyanin, phenols and high pungency,
that makes them suitable for pickles.
The ruddish complexion of the product comes from the deep fertile mekklu
soil of the region, a balanced pH ranging between 6.5-7 and tropical
temperatures.
What product B (2 words - colour and product)?

Bangalore Blue Grape
Bangalore Rose Onion

21.
This structure was accidentally found earlier in 2015 by a college official-turned-
historian Prashanth Marur when he was driving by Kempapura village.
"For a change, I had decided to take an alternative road to my village, passing via
Kempapura (around 12 kilometres from Magadi). I could see something there
which resembled that of _________ which we find in Bengaluru.
I became curious and headed to the place. The place was filled with shrubs and I
and my friend decided to clear the place to find the structure. Luckily, I found the
inscription that mentioned __________. For some time, I have been researching
the inscriptions and this helped me understand the importance of this particular
inscription. Since then I have been collecting all the details and sending those to
historians for a confirmation.”
What have historians confirmed this structure as?

22.
This is house No. 18 on Nandidurga Road. The building bears the
name plate of Iftekhar Ahmed, who hailed from Hyderabad, and
retired as the engineer-in-chief of the Public Works Department,
Karnataka, in Sep 1972. The house, which was one of the first to come
up in the locality is currently being rebuilt by someone, who has fond
memories of having spent the first 5-6 years of his life at the house.
Why has it been in the news (OR) Who is rebuilding the house?

23.
This Bengaluru institution was started on Aug 11, 1945 to further the
ideals of the Theosophical Movement. The gentleman in the picture,
started it along with his wife, and it is located in a road named after
him. Hosting almost 150 programs a year across dance, music and
other arts, it has also seen several distinguished speakers deliver
lectures here. It also has a sprawling library with 40,000 books and
400 periodicals.
Identify the institution and the founder.

Indian Institute of World Culture (IIWC)
BP Wadia

24.
This annual event was first held in 1978 at a prominent Brigade Road
location. The attraction that year was a 14” Eiffel Tower replica. The crowds
surged and encouraged by the response, the establishment continued, and
next year they created a 28” model of the same. These days, the event
happens at the grounds of an Indian school.
For the last four years, IBCA has been partnering with the establishment in
question to organize this. The 2015 edition is currently underway and the
main attractions this year include, a tiger, a replica of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam,
and the Lost City of Atlantis, among others.
What are we talking about?
Which is the establishment?

25.
Whose memoir is this, which contains a chapter titled, “Education in
Bangalore”, describing his days as a sub-altern, when he had a huge
butterfly collection and studied books by various Greek philosophers?

26.
In which Bangalore location, will you find the following models:
• Resonant Swings
• Whispering Dishes
• Sun Dial
• Revolving Chair
• Optic Tree
• a giant Kaleidoscope

The Science Park of the Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium

27.
Built a century ago, this is a classic European structure and was the office of
Sir Mirza Ismail. The house was named after and belonged to a British
auctioneer who lived here briefly. It is a seven acre lush-green heritage
property on Palace Road and is in the news (again) because of the
Government mulling a plan to convert it into a legislators’ club; an earlier
plan to make it the CM’s residence was shelved after public protests.
The building currently holds the headquarters of the state arm of an
organization started by the British in 1902, and has divisions like Narcotics,
Finger Printing and so on.
What are the premises called?
Which organization, not to be confused with a TV show,
is headquartered here?

Carlton House
Criminal Investigation Department (CID)

28.
Born Wilson James Colzie, this African-American, who was later known
as Gentleman GBJ, came to India as part of a carnival in 1923, and
spent significant time in Bangalore. He soon became the welterweight,
middleweight and light heavyweight champion of India, and started
endorsing several products as well. He got his name GB because he
apparently he knocked out the captain while on board a ship as he
couldn’t bear his harassment. By some accounts, he worked as a
bouncer at Bosco’s on Brigade Road and later became a preacher,
before finally moving back to the US in the ‘60s and dying in an old age
home there. What does GBJ expand to?

29.
The 1974 Ranji semi-finals was played in the then half-finished KSCA
Stadium in Bangalore, and saw the home team win. Karnataka beat
Bombay because of two human errors.
Karnataka batted first, and lost a wicket to the second ball of the match.
X came into bat next. The first delivery he received was a sharp
in-swinger, which hit him low on the back leg, in front of middle stump.
The umpire let him bat on, and X went on to score a glittering 162.
When Bombay batted, Y who had scored a triple century against
Karnataka the last time, was in fine nick, when he turned and slipped
while going for a run, only to be run out by Sudhakar Rao. The rest is
history. Identify X and Y.

30.
Tirumale Ranganatha Shamanna was hailed as “Karnataka Gandhi”.
A leading corporator in Bangalore, he actively campaigned and
implemented several reforms, including supply of adequate water and
electricity for citizens, abolition of various taxes and so on. One of these
initiatives gave him the nickname _______ Shamanna, since he
abolished the tax on an item of daily use by the common man.
What item/nickname?

31.
In 1997, there were plans to sell away the plot on which the temple now
stands. Before doing that, the people in the area, after some hesitation from
the seller, dug the plot to see if there was anything below. They excavated a
7000-year old temple, which along with the surrounding stone-cut courtyard
was in good condition. At the far end was a Nandi, with clear water pouring
continuously from its mouth. There were steps that led to a small tank with a
15-feet-deep whirlpool at the centre of the tank. There is some speculation
that Shivaji funded this, since his brother is known to have constructed the
more famous temple opposite this, which gives the bustling Bangalore area its
name.
Name this temple and the area where you will see it.

Nandeeswara Temple, Malleswaram

32.
If these are numbers
2-6 in order from L-R,
what is #1? What are
these?

Baiyyapanahalli, Metro Stations on the Purple Line

33.
This institution was started in 1886 and was originally a High School,
with Rev J Garrett as the first Principal.
The institution hosted a meeting of the South Indian Science
Association on March 16, 1928, and called a Professor from Calcutta
University as the Chief Guest. The gentleman began his speech saying,
"I propose this evening to speak to you on a new kind of ______ from
atoms and molecules.“
Which institution that later formed the nucleus of a 1964 institution?
Who was the Chief Guest / What did he proceed to explain?

Central College
Sir CV Raman, explained the Raman Effect

34.
Sue fon tsoi are unlicensed restaurants that entered Hong Kong’s
upscale dining scene back in the 1990s, offering a cheaper, more
creative dining experience delivered by private chefs.
Chef Manu Chandra’s new Pan Asian venture combines a gastro-bar
and a sue fon tsoi in its décor and menu, and is located in Indiranagar.
The restaurant is named after this fluffy delicacy, which are soft
pillow-y white steamed buns with flavoursome fillings such as pork
belly or teriyaki chicken.
Name the restaurant, whose logo is shown.

35.
Identify this ornithologist – conservationist. The longest serving Vice
President of BNHS, he lived in Bangalore for the last decade of his life,
and co-founded the Bangalore Environment Trust along with Satish
Dhawan.

36.
Naresh Narasimhan is an architect who is credit with restoring the
Metropole in Mysuru and the Maharaja’s Hotel in Brindavan Gardens.
In 2001, he took up the restoration of a 3.5 acre campus that was
originally a property of the Mysuru royal family, before it was owned by
a successful miner named Raja ____________ Mudaliar. The historic
heritage mansion, was transformed from a residence to its current form
that enables displays, at a cost of Rs. 8 crore, and has been further
supplemented by a new block, making it the best example of a
surviving bungalow.
Name the mansion and tell us what is housed here since 2009.

Manickyavelu Mansion
National Gallery of Modern Art

37.
New Delhi’s Shiela, which was inaugurated on January 12, 1961, was
India’s first cinema hall capable of this. Solomon and Sheba was the first
film it screened in this format.
A cinema in Bangalore was the first one capable of screening such films
in Karnataka and in 1965, screened the first such movie, which was the
most expensive film made at that point, starring Elizabeth Taylor and
Richard Burton.
Which cinema hall in Bangalore?
What format, much in the news?
Which film?

38.
Narasimha Rao came to Bangalore at his wife Saraswathi’s behest - for
better prospects of work and a bright future for their children. He
worked as a cook and even a priest. After a few failed ventures
including a canteen at City Institute he decided to start a ‘standing only’
eatery, the first of its kind. The landlord of the present premises, a P&T
employee had plans of opening one himself but acceded to Rao’s
request of renting out the place. Rao started with an investment of
Rs. 50.
This is the story of which Bangalore success that has just five main items
to offer?

39.
Founded in 2005 by Samit Ghosh, a career banker, it started operations
focusing on the urban poor. It has a large network of 469 branches
across the country in 21 states and 3 union territories and has impacted
2 million people.
Winner of numerous awards, including the 2015 “Entrepreneur of the
Year with Social Impact”, identify this Bangalore headquartered
organization.

40.
He encouraged the planting of these trees across Mysore State and the
best example is in Malavalli in Mandya district.
He also planted three of these in Lalbagh, of which two survive
(Nos. 1156 and 1157), giving a 20-25 kg yield of a sour, yellow variety. This
is usually auctioned.
According to local legend, these were sent to his palace directly and
guards prevented anyone from eating it.
What are we talking about?
Who planted the trees?

2015 KQA Bangalore Quiz with answers

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