The Nobel Prize in literature was awarded to one of the giants of world literature, philosophy and art, Rabindranath Tagore (1861-1941) in 1913 for his celebrated collection of poems, Gitanjali, a first prize for an Indian, and the first for a non-European. Tagore was a poet, novelist, playwright, composer and painter, who had a tremendous influence on modern Bengali culture. He founded the University of Visva-Bharati, Shantiniketan and penned the national anthems of two nations. He was an author of nature, spiritualism, humanism and freedom. His contribution to Indian thought, education and national identity is unparalleled today. Here, in this article, we have provided 10 GK quizzes on Rabindranath Tagore. So, test your knowledge with these GK quizzes on Rabindranath Tagore

GK Quiz on Rabindranath Tagore

Here, you can test your knowledge with these GK quizzes on Rabindranath Tagore

1. Rabindranath Tagore was born in which year?

A) 1857

B) 1861

C) 1870

D) 1875

Answer: B) 1861

Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore was born on 7 May 1861 in the family of Tagore, a prominent family of Bengal, in Jorasanko in Calcutta (now Kolkata).

2. Rabindranath Tagore got the Nobel Prize for literature in which book?

A) Gora

B) Ghare Baire

C) Gitanjali

D) Chokher Bali

Answer: C) Gitanjali

Explanation: Gitanjali (Song Offerings) is a book of prose-poems which won Tagore the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, for its sensitive, fresh and beautiful verse.

3. Which two countries did Rabindranath Tagore write the National Anthem of?

A) India and China

B) India and Bangladesh

C) Bangladesh and the Maldives

D) Both B and D

Answer: B) India and Bangladesh

Explanation: Tagore composed India's national anthem, Jana Gana Mana and the national anthem of Bangladesh, Amar Sonar Bangla, after its independence in 1971.

4. The name of the university established by Rabindranath Tagore is:

A) Jadavpur University

B) Presidency University

C) Visva-Bharati University

D) Calcutta University

Answer: C) Visva-Bharati University

Explanation: Tagore established Visva-Bharati in Shantiniketan, West Bengal in 1921. It was recognized as Central University by the Government of India in 1951.

5. In which city is the place where Tagore had established his school as Shantiniketan?

A) Kolkata

B) Birbhum district, West Bengal

C) Hooghly

D) Burdwan city

Answer: B) Birbhum district, West Bengal

Explanation: Shantiniketan is in the district of Birbhum in West Bengal. It was once the home of Tagore's father, Debendranath Tagore and afterwards opened up by Rabindranath as an open-air school.

6. The British Crown gave a title of "Knighthood" to Rabindranath Tagore. Were there any years in which he gave up, and why?

A) 1905, after the Partition of Bengal

B) 1919, in protest of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre

C) 1930, during the Civil Disobedience Movement

D) 1915, after World War I began

Answer: B) In protest against the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in 1919

Explanation: Tagore refused the knighthood in protest of the Amritsar massacre on 13th April 1919, in which the British troops brutally massacred Indians at the Jallianwala Bagh.

7. Rabindranath Tagore wrote which of the following novels?

A) Devdas

B) Godan

C) Gora

D) Nirmala

Answer: C) Gora

Explanation: Gora (1910) is one of Tagore's most renowned novels. It explores the concept of Identity, religion, nationalism and humanism within the context of Bengal in the 19th century.

Others novel:

8. Rabindranath Tagore introduced which famous dance drama form?

A) Bharatanatyam

B) Rabindra Nritya Natya

C) Odissi

D) Kathakali

Answer: B) Rabindra Nritya Natya (Rabindra Sangeet dance dramas)

Explanation: Tagore developed a new genre of dance drama that was a fusion of music, poetry and dance, which he termed as Rabindra Nritya Natya. Some of the renowned productions of this form are Chitrangada and Shyama.

9. In which year did Rabindranath Tagore die?

A) 1938

B) 1945

C) 1941

D) 1936

Answer: C) 1941

Explanation: Rabindranath Tagore passed away at the age of 80 in Calcutta on 7 August 1941. He was greatly lamented in the literary and cultural circles.

10. Who gave Rabindranath Tagore the honorific title of “Mahatma” by Mahatma Gandhi?

A) Mahakavi

B) Gurudev

C) Vishwamanav

D) Kaviguru

Answer: B) Gurudev

Explanation: Tagore was given the title "Gurudev" (divine teacher) by Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhi, in turn, referred to Tagore as "Mahatma" (soul-like man), a term which was to become a permanent part of Gandhi's public persona.