Who wrote the book 'Discovery of India'?
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: A
Explanation
Correct Answer: Jawaharlal Nehru
Explanation
The historical classic 'The Discovery of India' was written by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who served as the first Prime Minister of independent India. Nehru penned this extensive work between 1944 and 1945 during his five-month imprisonment at the Ahmednagar Fort prison in Maharashtra for his active participation in the Quit India Movement.
The book provides a profound, comprehensive analysis of Indian history, philosophy, culture, and its socio-religious evolution from the ancient Indus Valley Civilization up to the final years of the British Raj. Nehru used this literary work to trace the unique concept of 'unity in diversity,' highlighting how India's cultural framework consistently assimilated foreign influences throughout centuries without losing its core identity. The book was published in 1946 and later adapted into an acclaimed 53-episode television series titled Bharat Ek Khoj by filmmaker Shyam Benegal.
Key Points
Mahatma Gandhi authored seminal books including The Story of My Experiments with Truth (his autobiography) and Hind Swaraj, which laid down his philosophy of self-governance and non-violence.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar wrote critically acclaimed structural works on socio-economic realities, including The Annihilation of Caste, The Problem of the Rupee: Its Origin and Its Solution, and Who Were the Shudras?.
Subhash Chandra Bose authored The Indian Struggle, which documented the history of the Indian independence movement from 1920 to 1942 from a nationalistic perspective.
Important Questions and Answers
Question: In which specific historical prison did Jawaharlal Nehru write the manuscript for 'The Discovery of India'?
Answer: He wrote it while being detained at the Ahmednagar Fort prison.
Question: What is the name of another famous collection of historical letters written by Jawaharlal Nehru to his daughter Indira Gandhi?
Answer: The book is titled Glimpses of World History (originally based on letters titled Letters from a Father to His Daughter).