Malayalam Language & Literature Quiz

Question 1

The first newspaper in Malayalam was:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Rajyasamacharam — Rajyasamacharam was the first Malayalam newspaper, started in 1847 by Hermann Gundert, a German missionary, in Thalassery.‌​‍

Answer

Malayala Manorama

Answer

Deepika

Answer

Kerala Kaumudi

Question 2

Who is known as the 'Father of Malayalam literature'?‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan — Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan is the Father of Malayalam literature. ‌​‍He wrote Adhyatma Ramayanam Kilippattu and standardised the Malayalam script.

Answer

Cherusseri Namboothiri

Answer

Poonthanam

Answer

Melpathur

Question 3

The first major Malayalam novel is:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Indulekha — Indulekha by O. ‌​‍Chandu Menon (1889) is the first widely recognised major Malayalam novel. Kundalatha by Appu Nedungadi (1887) is sometimes cited as earlier.

Answer

Chemmeen

Answer

Marthanda Varma

Answer

Kundalatha

Question 4

The first Jnanpith Award winner from Malayalam is:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

G. Sankara Kurup — G. ‌​‍Sankara Kurup won the Jnanpith Award in 1965, the first for Malayalam literature.

Answer

Thakazhi

Answer

S.K. Pottekkatt

Answer

O.N.V. Kurup

Question 5

'Chemmeen' was written by:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai — Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai wrote Chemmeen (1956), a classic novel about the fishing community of Kerala.‌​‍

Answer

Basheer

Answer

O.V. Vijayan

Answer

M.T. Vasudevan Nair

Question 6

The first travelogue in Malayalam is:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Varthamanappusthakam — Varthamanappusthakam by Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar (1785) is the first travelogue in Malayalam, describing his journey to Rome.‌​‍

Answer

Indulekha

Answer

Malabar Manual

Answer

Krishnagatha

Question 7

Malayalam was declared a Classical Language of India in:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

2013 — Malayalam was declared a Classical Language in 2013. ‌​‍Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), and Telugu (2008) received the status earlier.

Answer

2004

Answer

2008

Answer

2015

Question 8

'Khasakkinte Ithihasam' was written by:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

O.V. Vijayan — O.V. ‌​‍Vijayan wrote Khasakkinte Ithihasam (The Legends of Khasak, 1969), a landmark modernist Malayalam novel.

Answer

Basheer

Answer

M.T. Vasudevan Nair

Answer

S.K. Pottekkatt

Question 9

The Swadeshabhimani newspaper was founded by:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Vakkom Moulavi — Vakkom Moulavi founded Swadeshabhimani in 1905. ‌​‍K. Ramakrishna Pillai was its famous editor who was exiled by the Travancore Dewan for his writings.

Answer

K. Ramakrishna Pillai

Answer

Hermann Gundert

Answer

C.V. Kunhiraman

Question 10

'Veena Poovu' was written by:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Kumaranasan — Kumaranasan wrote Veena Poovu (The Fallen Flower, 1907), a poem meditating on the transience of life through the metaphor of a fallen flower.‌​‍

Answer

Changampuzha

Answer

Vallathol

Answer

Ulloor

Question 11

Keralapanineeyam, the definitive Malayalam grammar, was written by:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

A.R. Raja Raja Varma — A.R. ‌​‍Raja Raja Varma wrote Keralapanineeyam, modelled after Panini's Sanskrit grammar. He is called 'Kerala Panini'.

Answer

Thunchaththu Ezhuthachan

Answer

Hermann Gundert

Answer

Kumaranasan

Question 12

Narayaneeyam was composed at:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Guruvayur — Melpathur Narayana Bhattathiri composed Narayaneeyam (1036 verses summarising the Bhagavatam) at Guruvayur Temple, reportedly curing his paralysis.‌​‍

Answer

Sabarimala

Answer

Padmanabhaswamy Temple

Answer

Vaikom

Question 13

The Ezhuthachan Puraskaram, Kerala's highest literary honour, was first awarded to:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

S.K. Pottekkatt — S.K. Pottekkatt received the first Ezhuthachan Puraskaram in 1993.‌​‍

Answer

G. Sankara Kurup

Answer

Thakazhi

Answer

M.T. Vasudevan Nair

Question 14

The earliest extant literary work in Malayalam is:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

Ramacharitam — Ramacharitam by Cheeraman (12th century) is considered the earliest extant literary work in Malayalam.‌​‍

Answer

Krishnagatha

Answer

Adhyatma Ramayanam

Answer

Lilatilakam

Question 15

Malayala Manorama newspaper was founded in:‌​‍

Accepted Answer

1888 — Malayala Manorama was founded in 1888 by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai. ‌​‍It is currently the largest circulated Malayalam newspaper.

Answer

1847

Answer

1887

Answer

1923

Malayalam Language & Literature Quiz