Rainbow Quiz - Week # 69

Anna Hazare has galvanized an entire nation through his hunger strike. Here is a quiz dedicated to him and numerous others who have used fasting as a tool for social change.

1. The act of hunger strike dates back to Hindu mythology. “X” went to ask the exiled Rama to come back and rule the kingdom. “X” tried many arguments, none of which work, at which point he decides to do a hunger strike. Rama, however, quickly persuades him to abandon the attempt. Who is X?
2. “X” started fasting for attaining statehood for Andhra in Madras on 19 October 1952. After 58 days of fasting, he died on the 16th December. X’s death started mass protests and led to Nehru announcing the formation of a new state 3 days later. Who is X?
3. The British arrested him in 1929 for revolutionary activities and X was imprisoned in Lahore jail. In the Lahore jail, “X” started a hunger strike along with other revolutionary fighters, demanding equality for Indian prisoners. His fast lasted 63 days and he died as a martyr in the end. Who is X?
4. An American suffragette, “X” fought to get women the right to vote with passion and tenacity. “ X” went on a hunger strike while imprisoned in 1917 at Virginia’s Occoquan Workhouse to protest the poor conditions. Her hunger strike got her a ticket to the psych ward, where she was force-fed raw eggs, but her protest served a larger purpose by helping fan the flames of public opinion. In 1918, President Wilson spoke of the need for suffrage, and women earned the right to vote in 1920 with the Nineteenth Amendment. Who is X?
5. In 2009, actress and activist “X” began a hunger strike to protest the conflict in Darfur. She also blogged about her experience and posted video updates to YouTube. Before beginning the fast, she wrote that she planned to go for three weeks without food, but a doctor put an end to her strike after 12 days, citing severe health risks. With her blood sugar plummeting, she passed off the hunger strike to Richard Branson, who took over for three days. Who is X?
6. “X” went on a fast unto death to protest against illegal mining on the bank of the Ganga in Haridwar. X, who was on fast beginning February 19, 2011 was declared dead the following June 13, after being on a hunger strike for 115 days. Who is this great patriot?
7. “X” also known as the "Iron Lady of Manipur" is a civil rights activist, political activist, and poet from the Indian state of Manipur. Since 2 November 2000, she has been on hunger strike to demand that the Indian government repeal the Armed Forces Act, which she blames for violence in Manipur and other parts of India's northeast. Having refused food and water for more than ten years, she has been called "the world's longest hunger striker".

Rainbow Quiz - Week # 68

Trying to revive my now defunct Rainbow Quiz. This quiz is inspired from a book that I just finished reading - 100 Great Businesses and the Minds behind them".

Take a stab.

What am I talking about?

1. Mr.X, while studying economics at Yale, wrote a paper about the growing number of uses for computers (This was way back in the 60’s). He reckoned that as people become more reliant on computers, repairing them in a timely manner will be critical for the manufacturers. Legend has it that he received a “C” grade for the paper. Which company am I talking about (that was born out of this idea) and who is Mr.X?

2. While working in Asia, Mr. X came across caffeine filled drinks with foul taste that were sold in small vials at exorbitant prices (primarily as a cure for Flu, impotency). He set about finding a formula that he could take back to Europe. He found the answer in Krating Daeng (a Thai drink). He licensed it from the founders and gave a sporty makeover to the health drink. What am I talking about?

3. “Across Asia on the Cheap” was first printed in 1970’s and enjoyed modest success. Not many realized then that the publisher would become a cult brand that would forever change an industry. Which brand am I talking about?

4. An entrepreneurial streak pulsed through Mr.X since an early age. At 5, he was selling matches to family members and at 17, he was selling pencils in the neighborhood. The pencil selling was successful that X decided to change it to a mail order business by including other merchandise such as soaps, seeds and stockings. He decided to coin a name for the company with an acronym that stood for the first letters of his first name, last name, farm name and village name. Who is X and what company am I talking about?

5. In 1930 Japanese scientist Dr. Shirota discovered a strain of bacteria that was both good for the human intestine and tough enough to survive the digestive process. What sweet, skim milk based drink, named after “yoghurt” in Esperanto, emerged due to this invention?

6. Fashion retailing isn’t known for shy, retiring types. Yet this Spanish billionaire has created one of the largest fashion retailing empire in the world, though he has rarely granted interviews or been photographed. He believes advertising to be “pointless distraction” and the company spends less than 0.5% of its revenues on advertising. Who is this maverick, reclusive billionaire and which company am I talking about?

7. What started in 1979 as “Graphics Group” as part of Lucasfilm? Amongst other things, the group tried selling high-end graphics computers which were a disastrous failure. The company eventually stumbled into film-making after making a few successful commercials. In the fickle world of filmdom, the company till date has never produced a flop. Which company am I talking about?

Rainbow Quiz - Week 67 - Western Classical Composers

Taking a stab again at my now defunct Rainbow Quiz. Many years ago, I had framed a quiz on " Geniuses who died young". Given my current penchant for Western Classical music, it is time to revisit that topic but focusing exclusively on Classical musicians. This quiz is dedicated to all those geniuses who enriched our lives with their astounding genius and creativity yet died before they turned 40.

1. An easy one to start with. "X" is arguably the most naturally gifted musician in history. He could compose and play the piano & violin by the time he was six. He produced an astonishing body of work touching every facet of music - Symphonies, Concertos, Chamber music , Religious music, and Operas. "X" death was quite poignant as he composed a " Requiem" for a mysterious stranger under the delusion that it was for his own soul. He died at an young age of 35. His wife couldn't afford a grand funeral and no one knows his burial place till today. Who is "X"?

2. His first name when translated to Latin means " Happy man" and very few people have managed to entertain and keep people happy the way he has. He came from a highly intellectual Jewish family - his grandfather was a famous philosopher and mother a gifted musician & painter. By the time he was sixteen , he produced his seminal work - An Overture to Shakespeare's " A midsummer night's dream". By the age of 20, he was conducting the works of Bach and had composed several symphonies, concertos and operas. His sister's death had a devastating effect on him and he died within six months of her death at an young age of 38. Who?

3. By the age of ten, he could play the Piano, Organ, Violin and Viola. By the age of 20, he had composed more than 400 works, yet fame and recognition still eluded him. The death of his idol Beethoven was a terrible blow for him and he never fully recovered from it with the only ambition of being buried next to Beethoven. At an young age of 31, this genius died babbling the name of Beethoven. As per his wishes, he was buried next to his idol with the epitaph " Here lie rich treasure and still fairer hopes".

4. He is called the " poet of the piano" and is recognized as one of the greatest pianists ever. Although born in Poland, he spent his most fruitful years in Paris composing solely for the Piano. He had a very tense relationship with the famous novelist " George Sand" and when the relationship ended, he was devastated. He died at an young age of 39 leaving behind the best body of work composed for the Piano. ( I made it a point to visit his burial place in Paris during my trip early this year).

5. "X" was born in Paris and was a child prodigy on the Piano. By 17, he had written his first symphony and followed it soon with operas. He was a man with a short temper and addiction for chocolates & cakes . He composed for an Opera titled " Carmen" that met with an unenthusiastic response. "X" never fully recovered from the shock and died a few months later at the age of 36. Ironically, a few months after his death " Carmen" was hailed as a masterpiece and produced in every major opera house in Europe. Who is X?

6. "X" was a child prodigy from a highly musical family and legend has it that he could sing an aria at eighteen months. He began studying music theory at two, the piano at three, and by the age of five could apparently play well. X's first five pieces were composed when he was just six years old. An Italian, he is acknowledged as having largely shaped the "Opera" in the 19th century. His most famous works are the "La Sonnambula" and "Norma". He died at an young age of 34 in Paris. Who is X?

7. His father immigrated to the US from Russia. Unlike other prodigies, he started showing an interest in music only at the age of 10. He was then taught by Charles Hambitzer, who introduced him to music of the European classical tradition, and encouraged him to attend orchestra concerts."X" composed his first major classical work - "Rhapsody in Blue" which won him instant fame and popularity. He then wrote one of his popular works ( Later adapted by Hollywood) - "An American in Paris". At the young age of 39, he was dead due to brain hemorrhage . Who is X?

Cricket Quotes Trivia

What is cricket without the lively commentary, the on-field spats ( and off the field ), Verbal duels and the colorful personalities?

Here is a Quiz dedicated to some memorable quotes about "English Cricketers". See, if you can crack them :

1. " A natural mistimer of the ball" . About whom was this said?

2. " There are, quite clearly, two of them. The first one turns up for Worcestershire and plays like a God. The second one pulls on an England cap and plays like the anagram of a god". About whom was this said?

3. "The other advantage England have got when "X" is bowling is that he isn't fielding". Who is X?

4. "Nobody's perfect. You know what happened to the last man who was - they crucified him". Who said this as a defense against his slow batting?

5. " The first rock and roll cricketer ", " The most overrated player I have ever seen" . About whom did Sir Len Hutton and Harold Larwood respectively make this comment?

6. "It's hard work making batting look effortless" . Who said it?

7. " Too much cricket will kill cricketers before they are ready to be killed". Who said it?

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 66

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.


A legend in his lifetime, he is an inspiration for most of today's Tennis superstars. It was a surreal feeling when I visited his " Arena" in Melbourne a few years ago.

clue # 1 : "X" was a young boy when he left school to pursue a career in tennis. His first coach was Charlie Hollis.

clue # 2 : "X" became US Junior Champion in 1956 and Australian Junior Champion in 1957. He had his breakthrough on the world stage in 1959, when he reached all three finals at Wimbledon, winning the mixed doubles title.

clue # 3 : His first major singles title was the Australian Championships in 1960, where he defeated Australian Neale Fraser in a five-set final. He then captured his first Wimbledon singles crown in 1961.

clue # 4 : In 1962, "X" became only the second male player after Don Budge to win all four Grand Slam singles titles in the same year. He completed a Grand Slam again in 1969.

clue # 5 : Although of a slightly short stature and medium build , "X" developed a technically complete serve-and-volley game, with aggressive groundstrokes to back it up.He could adapt his style to all surfaces and to all conditions. "X" had a great record in five-set-matches, often turning things around with subtle changes of tactics or by simply hitting his way out of danger.

clue # 6 : He was the World No. 1 player for up to 7 consecutive years in the 60's."X" has been rated as the greatest male player of all time by several experts and polls.

clue # 7: In 2000, the centre court at Melbourne Park, which today hosts the Australian Open, was named the "X" Arena in his honour.

Easy one. Who is X?

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 65

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

His music is sublime and he is synonymous with the instrument that he plays. What dulcet music ! The first time I listened to him, I was so inspired that I wanted to learn playing this instrument.

clue # 1 : " X" was born in Jammu, India in a musical family. His father was a renowned vocalist.

clue # 2 : After some years as a student of the tabla and as a vocalist, he discovered the instrument "Y" or shata-tantri veena ( as it was known earlier) and became interested by its possibilities.

clue # 3 : He modified the "Y", a Kashmiri folk instrument, to make it more suitable for classical technique, increasing the range of the instrument to three full octaves. He also created a new technique of playing with which he could sustain notes and maintain sound continuity.

clue # 4 : He is credited with single-handedly making "Y" a popular classical instrument and has performed many concerts with renowned musicians all over the world.

clue # 5 : While he never compromises on the purity of music, "X"'s open minded approach has resulted in some of the most popular, innovative experimental albums like Call of the Valley, Feelings, Mountains, etc. In fact he is among those rare musicians who have been able to create successfully in the world of film music as well.

clue # 6 : He partnered with well-known flautist Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia to form a group for composing Hindi film music. They have scored music for some unforgettable films such as Silsila, Chandni, Lamhe, Darr.


clue # 7 : In 2001, "X" received 'Padma Vibushan', the second highest award given to a citizen of India.He has also received a honorary doctorate of letters from Jammu University.

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 64

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

X's magnum opus "Y" was one of the most amazing films that I have ever watched. It made me a think a lot about movie making as an art and about the world.

clue # 1 : "X" was born in Somerset, England, and as a boy enjoyed stargazing and reading old American science-fiction magazines.

clue # 2 : During the Second World War, he served in the Royal Air Force as a radar specialist and was involved in the early warning radar defence system which contributed to the RAF's success during the Battle of Britain. After the war, he earned a first-class degree in mathematics and physics at King's College London.

clue # 3 : In 1948, he wrote "The Sentinel" for a BBC competition. Though the story was rejected, it changed the course of "X"'s career. It formed the basis of his famous novel " Y".

clue # 4 : He relocated to Sri Lanka in 1956 and has been living there ever since. "X" holds citizenship of both the UK and Sri Lanka.

clue # 5 : His magnum opus novel " Y" was made into a film by Stanley Kubrick. One of the most memorable characters in the movie is the "HAL" .

clue # 6 : He was knighted in 2000. In 2005, Sri Lanka awarded "X" its highest civilian award, the Sri Lankabhimanya (The Pride of Sri Lanka) , for his contributions to science and technology and his commitment to his adopted country.

clue # 7 : " X" attempted to write a unique six word story as part of a Wired Magazine article . ("God said, 'Cancel Program GENESIS.' The universe ceased to exist.)" - It turned out to be 10 words in the end !

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 63

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

X is yet another Gandhian who has made a powerful difference to the lives of thousands of Indian women.

clue # 1 : "X" was born in Ahmedabad, India. The second of three daughters, she grew up in a well-to-do family deeply interested and active in social causes.Her father was a lawyer and mother an active participant in women's movement.

clue # 2 : Following graduating as a lawyer, she joined the legal department of the Textile Labour Association (TLA) in Ahmedabad.

clue # 3 : She went to Israel where she studied at the Afro-Asian Institute of Labor and Cooperatives in Tel Aviv for three months, receiving the International Diploma of Labor and Cooperatives .

clue # 4 : With the co-operation of Arvind Buch, the then president of TLA, "X" undertook to organize the self-employed women into a union under the auspices of the Women's Wing of the TLA. Then in 1972, the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) was established.

clue # 5 : SEWA seeks to provide financial security for its members, while at the same time campaigning for social change based on Gandhian principles. SEWA is comprised of the unorganized sector of India's economy and its goal is to for full- employment and self- reliance for women.

clue # 6 : She was granted an honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters by Harvard University in 2001. She was awarded the civilian honour of Padma Shri and the Padma Bhushan by the Government of India. She was also awarded the Ramon Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership and the Right Livelihood Award .

clue # 7 : In 2007, Nelson Mandela, Graça Machel, and Desmond Tutu convened a group of world leaders to contribute their wisdom, independent leadership and integrity to tackle some of the world's toughest problems. Nelson Mandela announced the formation of this new group, The Elders. "X" is one of the founding members of this group.

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 62

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.


X's autobiography is one of the best business books that I have read. Its a very simple, down-to-earth book that is devoid of hep jargons.

clue # 1 : "X" was born in the city of Nagoya, to a family of sake brewers. Under the strict eyes of his father, "X" was groomed to become the heir to the family business.

clue # 2 : From an early age, "X" was fond of tinkering with electronic appliances, and mathematics and physics were his favorite subjects during school days.He would become engrossed in taking apart the phonograph and putting it back together.

clue # 3 : "X" was invited to join the faculty of the Tokyo Institute of Technology by one of its professors.He packed his belongings and prepared to leave for Tokyo, when an article about a research laboratory founded by Ibuka appeared in a newspaper. "X" visited Ibuka in Tokyo and they decided to establish a new company together.

clue # 4 : In 1946, Ibuka and X founded Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K. (Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation) with approximately 20 employees and initial capital of 190,000 yen.

clue # 5 : In 1949, the company developed magnetic recording tape and in 1950, sold the first tape recorder in Japan. In 1957, it produced a pocket-sized radio (the first to be full-transistorized) and a year later renamed itself "Y" (from the Latin for sound). In 1960, it produced the first transistor television in the world.The company soon became one of the most known brands in the world of electronics.

clue # 6 : In 1986, "X" wrote an autobiography titled "Made in Japan".It was an instant best-seller and one of the early books offering insight on Eastern management techniques.

clue # 7 : "X" was the first Japanese to be awarded the Albert Medal from the United Kingdom's Royal Society of Arts . He also received the National Order of the Legion of Honor , the highest and most prestigious French order.

Who is X? Name Y .

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 61

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

A promising Indian sportsman, "X" has made a mark in a sport that very few Indians have ( or can afford) taken up.

clue # 1 : "X" was born in a sports family. His father was one of the most famous Indian athletes and his mother was the former captain of the Indian volleyball team.

clue # 2 : "X" used to be his father's caddy when playing golf and that is how got interested in the sport.He also wanted to play a game that he could keep playing till the age of 60 or 70. No sport except golf allows one such luxury.

clue # 3 : "X" attended Abilene Christian University in the USA and graduated in Golf. He won the NCAA Division II individual golf championship in 1993.

clue # 4 : In April 2006, he won the Volvo China Open, becoming the second Indian player to win on the European Tour .

clue # 5 : In 2007, he became the first Indian golfer to participate in the Masters Tournament at Augusta.

clue # 6 : He was named Indian Sportsman of the Year in 2006, a prize that mostly goes to Cricketers.

clue # 7 : "X" received India's fourth highest civil honour, the Padma Shri in 2007.

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 60

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

His passion for nature and wildlife is hard to emulate. I adore his TV programmes and have learnt so much from him. So this quiz, in a small way, is my tribute to him.

clue # 1 : "X" grew up on the campus of University College, Leicester, where his father was the principal. He spent his early childhood collecting fossils, stones and other natural specimens.

clue # 2 : After an early career in Navy , he applied for a job as a radio talks producer with the BBC. However, he was rejected for that but found a job in BBC's fledgling television service.

clue # 3 : "X"'s association with natural history programmes began when he produced and presented the three-part series "The Pattern of Animals".He later formed his own department, the Travel and Exploration Unit ( in BBC) , which allowed him to travel widely around the globe and produce documentaries, notably the Travellers’ Tales and Adventure series.

clue # 4 : Foremost among "X"'s TV documentary work as writer and presenter is the "Life" series. The "Life" series is acknowledged as one of the most comprehensive TV programmes on terrestrial life.

clue # 5 : " X" is now one of the world's best known broadcasters and naturalists and widely considered one of the pioneers of the nature documentary.

clue # 6 : He was Knighted in 1985 and in 2005, "X" was awarded the Order of Merit by the Queen which recognizes exceptional distinction in the arts, sciences and other areas.

clue # 7 : An opinion poll of Britons conducted by Reader's Digest in 2006 showed "X" to be the most trusted celebrity in Britain.

Who is X?

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 59

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

"X" is a contemporary actor who has created a name for himself with his niche acting style and the ability to play a variety of roles with ease. Amazing actor.

clue # 1 : "X's" first job was running his family's potato Chips business in Mumbai. His turned his hobby of photography into a career and became a professional photographer.

clue # 2 : During his photo shoot with Shiamak Davar he tried to put some funny acts to relax the choreographer and Shiamak was so amused seeing X’s talent that he persuaded him to do theatre.

clue # 3 : He entered the theatre scene with a cameo in Alyque Padamsee's play "Roshni". He also portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in the Feroz Abbas Khan play Mahatma vs. Gandhi.

clue # 4 : "X's" success in theatre also got him some big TV commercials like the ‘Krack-Jack’, ‘Fanta’, ‘Bata’ and ‘Tata fone’ to name a few.

clue # 5 : He made his Bollywood film debut in Josh but later became famous in the cult film series "Y" where he played two different characters in the original and the sequel.

clue # 6 : In a short span of time,he has created a name for himself playing a variety of roles with ease. His roles have ranged from father, friend, uncle, doctor, abusive neighbour, courtroom judge, corrupt businessman, eccentric murderer and police officer.

clue # 7 : He follows Zoroastrianism and hails from the Parsi community.

Name X & Y ?

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 58

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

X is famous worldwide for his epic novel " Y" that was ironically banned in his home country for more than 3 decades. Y is a masterpiece and I adore the visual adaptation of the Novel. Great story, strong characters, stunning visuals and magnificent music.

clue # 1 : "X" was born in Moscow to a prominent Jewish painter and his pianist wife.

clue # 2 : " X" started learning music early during life. However, he soon renounced music and went to Germany to study philosophy. At the end of his studies, he decided to dedicate himself to literature.

clue # 3 : X's first books of verse went unnoticed. His works were marked by a sober style with haunting melancholy. "X" first gained a place as a leading poet rather than a novelist.

clue # 4 : " X" published his masterpiece novel "Y" after the Second world war. As the book was frowned upon by the Soviet authorities, "Y" was smuggled abroad and published in an Italian translation.

clue # 5 : The novel became an instant sensation and was subsequently translated and published in many non-Soviet bloc countries. Its American edition spent 26 weeks at the top of The New York Times' bestseller list. All this made "X" extremely unpopular with the Russian Government.

clue # 6 : "X" was named the winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1958. Two days after hearing that he had won, "X" sent the following telegram to the Swedish Academy: "Immensely thankful, touched, proud, astonished, abashed".However, four days later came another telegram:"Considering the meaning this award has been given in the society to which I belong, I must refuse it. Please do not take offense at my voluntary rejection" .

clue # 7 : It was not until more than 25 years after his death that "Y" was published in the USSR.

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 57

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

X's contribution to Indian music is immeasurable and his legacy still lives on.....

clue # 1 : "X" was born in a Hindu family in a village near Gwalior.His name as a child was Ramtanu.

clue # 2 : The boy learned music from Swami Haridas and came to serve as court musician to King Ramachandra of Reva.

clue # 3 : Later King Ramchandra gave Ramprasad as a gift to "Y" ( An Emperor) and he became famous as one of the treasured jewels of the court.

clue # 4 : As a musician, X is said to have no equal having worked miracles through his singing, such as bringing the rains with Raga Megh Malhar and starting fires with Raga Deepak.

clue # 5 : He composed several ragas that have been cornerstones in the repertoire ever since, such as Miyan ka Bhairav (today simply known as Bhairav) Darbari Kanada, Miyan ki Todi, Miyan ki Malhar,Miyan ki Mand.

clue # 6 : X's blood descendants held sway for hundreds of years as a most formidable force – the Senia gharana – on the North Indian music scene.

clue # 7 : "X" is buried in Gwalior, near his mentor Hazrat Ghaus. Near his tomb is a tamarind tree, said to be as old as the tomb itself. The legend goes that students of music who chew the leaves of the tree in faith will be blessed with miraculous musical gifts.

Easy one. Who is X? Name Y .

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 56

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

"X" is one of the most celebrated women entrepreneurs. I have immense admiration for her and the causes she has stood for.

clue # 1 : "X" was born in UK, the daughter of Jewish Italian immigrants.She saw the world early,spending time in a Kibbutz in Israel and later found a job in the UN that led to an around the world working trip where she was exposed to many other cultures.

clue # 2 : She married Gordon in 1970. The couple opened a restaurant, followed by a hotel.

clue # 3 : She founded "Y" ( Name of her firm) in Littlehampton, England in 1976. The first "Y" was basic and at first sold only 15 lines.She says about the start-up, "I started "Y" simply to create a livelihood for myself and my two daughters, while my husband, Gordon, was trekking across the Americas. I had no training or experience and my only business acumen was Gordon's advice to take sales of £300 a week."

clue # 4 : She dedicated the business to the pursuit of social and environmental change.With its strong environmental flare and popular demand of the products, the company went public and spread franchises all over England. Today "Y" has over 1,980 stores and more than 77 million customers in 50 different markets serving customers in over 25 different languages.

clue # 5 : Children On The Edge (COTE) is an organization that "X" founded in 1990 in response to her visits to Romanian orphanages. Upon seeing the conditions the children were in, she created COTE to help manage the crisis and work to de-institutionalize the children over the course of their early life. COTE's mission focuses on disadvantaged children affected by conflicts, natural disasters, disabilities, and HIV/AIDS.

clue # 6 : On 17 March 2006, L'Oreal purchased "Y" for £652.3 million . This has caused controversy, partly because L'Oreal is said to be involved in animal testing ( A cause X has spoken against many times).

clue # 7 : In 2003, "X" was knighted by the Queen. When asked about entrepreneurship , she said " Dysfunction is the essence of entrepreneurship. I've had dozens of requests from places like Harvard and Yale to talk about the subject. It makes me laugh that ivy leaguers are so keen to "learn" how to be entrepreneurs, because I'm not convinced it's a subject you can teach. I mean, how do you teach obsession? Because it is obsession that drives the entrepreneur's commitment to a vision of something new."

Who is X? Name Y .

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 55

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

"X" is so synonymous with that sport and one of the great sporting heroes of India.

clue # 1 : "X" was born to a Rajput family in Uttar Pradesh. After an early education he joined the Indian Army in 1922.

clue # 2 : While in Army, he became very passionate about Hockey. He exhibited excellent dribbling skills and knack for scoring goals.In 1928, "X" was selected to represent the Indian hockey team in the Summer Olympics .

clue # 3 : He was instrumental in India winning gold medals at consecutive Olympics in 1928,1932,1936.

clue # 4 : His performance at the 1936 Berlin Olympics was so impressive that Adolf Hitler supposedly offered to make "X" a Field Marshal in the German army, but the latter refused.

clue # 5 : On the field he was named the "Wizard of Hockey" for he exerted complete control on the ball. It appeared that the ball used to stick to his hockey stick while playing. So great was the magic of "X" that the Tokyo officials broke his hockey stick once to search for a magnet inside.

clue # 6 : "X" however died penniless and uncared for in a hospital, receiving a meagre pension. Towards his last days, he was very saddened by the plight of Indian Hockey.

clue # 7 : The Government of India honoured him by conferring him the Padma Bhushan . 29 August, his birthday is celebrated as the National Sports Day in India. The President gives away sport-related awards such as the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna, Arjuna Award and Dronacharya Award on this day at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Who is X?

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 54

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

This quiz is dedicated to one of the luminaries of Astronomy.He also led a colorful,eccentric life.

clue # 1 : "X" was born in a Danish noble family. He mostly studied under private tutors until beginning his studies at the University of Copenhagen.

clue # 2 : There he studied law but also studied a variety of other subjects and became interested in astronomy. It was here that he started making his own predictions in the field of astronomy helped by some of the professors.

clue # 3 : While a student, "X" lost part of his nose in a duel ( Because of a quarrel) with another fellow nobleman . For the rest of his life, he wore a false nose.

clue # 4 : As an astronomer, "X" invented his own model of the universe, the "X" system. He is credited with the most accurate astronomical observations of his time, and the data were used by his assistant Kepler to derive the laws of planetary motion.

clue # 5 : "X" led an extremely eccentric life. He was said to own one percent of the entire wealth of Denmark at one point in the 16th century. He kept a dwarf as a court jester who sat under the table during dinner. He also had a tame moose.

clue # 6 : "X" died during early 17th century, eleven days after suddenly becoming very ill during a banquet. For hundreds of years, the general belief was that he had strained his bladder. It had been said that to leave the banquet before it concluded would be the height of bad manners, and so he remained, and that his bladder, stretched to its limit, developed an infection which he later died of ( This theory has been disproved lately).

clue # 7 : Craters in Moon and Mars have been named in honor of his contribution to astronomy.

Who is X?

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 53

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality/business. Try to discover the person/company in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

Rainbow quiz completed a year last week. So thought of doing something different. This week's quiz is on a Company rather than a personality. "X" is a household name across the globe. Should be easy to guess.

clue # 1 : This company was established in 1865 as a wood-pulp mill .

clue # 2 : The company got its name from a River & town ( that still exists today) to where it relocated its business.

clue # 3 : "X" plays a very large role in the economy of its country of origin.It accounts for about a third of the market capitalization of the domestic Stock Exchange .

clue # 4 : In 2006, "X" generated revenues that for the first time exceeded the national budget of its country of origin.

clue # 5 : In 2006, "X" and Siemens AG announced the merger of their network equipment businesses to create one of the world's largest network firms.

clue # 6 : "X" is listed as the 5th most valuable global brand in BusinessWeek's Best Global Brands list of 2007 (1st non-US company).

clue # 7 : It is the 20th most admirable company worldwide in Fortune's World's Most Admired Companies list of 2007 and is a Fortune 500 company .

Name X?

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 52

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

Rainbow quiz completes a year. This quiz is dedicated to one of the luminaries of Indian science.

clue# 1 : "X" was born in Patliputra (modern Patna) in Bihar. However, many are of the view (particularly in recent times) that he was born in Kerala and lived in Magadha at the time of the Gupta rulers.

clue # 2 : "X" is the author of several treatises on mathematics and astronomy, some of which are lost. His major work, a compendium of mathematics and astronomy that still survives is extensively referred to in the Indian mathematical literature.

clue # 3 : His most important contribution to mathematics is his solution of the indeterminate equation ax - by = c.

clue # 4 : Several disciples flocked to "X" and later became famous mathematicians themselves, like Bhaskara, Sankaranarayana, Suryadeva and Nilkantha.

clue # 5 : Among his many towering achievements, he correctly determined the axial rotation of the earth. He inferred that planetary orbits were elliptical, and provided a valid explanation of solar and lunar eclipses. His theory of the relativity of motion predated Einstein’s by 1400 years. And his studies in algebra and trigonometry, which laid the foundations for calculus, influenced European mathematicians 1,000 years later, when his texts were translated into European languages from the 8th century Arabic translations of the Sanskrit originals.

clue # 6 : His Calendric calculations have been in continuous use in India for the practical purposes of fixing the Panchanga or Hindu calendar.

clue # 7 : He humbly states about his achievements, " I delved deep in the astronomical theories, true and false, and rescued the precious sunken jewel of knowledge, by means of the best of my intellect and by the grace of God."

Rainbow Quiz - Identify the personality - Week 51

Here is the next weekly "Rainbow" quiz , where I would be giving 7 clues (Hence the name Rainbow) about a personality. Try to discover the person in the least number of clues . You can either leave the answer as a comment / email me . Feedback/ suggestions welcome. Googling is not preferred but then its just for fun and so go ahead if you need to.

A man who fought for equality of Mankind - a fight that seems to continue forever.

clue # 1 :"X" was born in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. His family had a long tenure as pastors of the local Church.

clue # 2 : He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in sociology and then obtained a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) degree . He later received a Ph.D from the Boston University .

clue # 3 : On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to give up her seat to a white man. The famous Montgomery Bus Boycott that ensued was led by "X".

clue # 4 : "X" was an adherent of the philosophies of nonviolent civil disobedience used successfully by "Mahatma" Gandhi, and he applied this philosophy to the protests organized by his movement, which fought for equal rights for blacks.

clue # 5 : "X" organized the historic "March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom " that culminated in his address at the Lincoln Memorial . At the time, it was the largest gathering of protesters in Washington's history. X's "I Have a Dream speech" electrified the crowd.

clue # 6 : In 1964, "X" became the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. However a few years later, while standing on the balcony of a motel in Tennessee, he was assassinated. T

clue # 7 : The Presidential Medal of Freedom was awarded posthumously to "X". "X" was the second most admired person in the 20th century, according to a Gallup poll. He was also voted 6th in the Person of the Century poll by TIME.

Who is X?