FUNDAMENTALS

SENJAM RAJ SEKHAR

Regular contributor Partha Sarkar writes in with a question — May 26 is celebrated as ‘Science Day’ in Switzerland in honour of which famous Indian? The answer given is APJ Abdul Kalam. If you google this, you will come across several news sites that gives this information. But is this true?

To start with, the only reference to May 26 being a Science Day in Switzerland is in Indian websites and not any Swiss website. Second, the only year referred is 2005. There is no mention of Science Day being celebrated in Switzerland in any of the years subsequent to 2005. Thirdly, there is no record of any official proclamation by the Swiss government of a Science Day. Fourthly, there is no record of any Science Day in Switzerland, forget about May 26. Switzerland has produced several world famous scientists like Albert Einstein, Jacques Piccard and Jacob Bernoulli but their home country have not honoured them with a Science Day. All we can say is that a poorly sourced information crept its way into Indian news sites and later became a subject of WhatsApp forwards and quiz trivia.

Today’s quiz is on Indian wildlife sanctuaries. Write in with your suggestions, questions (with answers) to senjam@gmail.com 1. Which wildlife sanctuary that started as a protected area in 1910 literally means ten villages? 2. During 1930s in United Provinces, viceroys and other dignitaries used to indulge in elaborate tiger hunts. In a strange twist, this disturbed other hunters who petitioned the then governor of United Provinces, Sir Malcolm Hailey, to build a protected wildlife park. Sir Hailey readily accepted this proposal. How do you know this park as? 3. Keoladeo Ghana National Park is the official name of what is popularly known as Bharatpur Sanctuary. How did the park acquire the name Keoladeo Ghana? (It has nothing to do with the African country) 4. In which wildlife sanctuary would you find these lakes — Padam Talao, Raj Bagh Talao and Milak Talao? 5. Which wildlife sanctuary was a private property of the Baghel Kings, the royal family of Rewa? 6. Where in India would you find Mount Harriet National Park and Saddle Peak National Park? 7. Which wildlife sanctuary was originally established to protect the Nilgiri Tahr, the only wild goat south of the Himalayas? 8. Keibul Lamjao National park on Loktak lake is India’s only floating national park. It is famous for its Sangai or brow-antlered deer who live on 6 square kms of floating vegetation. What is the vegetation known as? 9. In which wildlife sanctuary would you find these geographical landmarks — Sulkum or Surpan river, Mekal ridge and the forests of Banjar and Halon Valley? 10. The world’s largest aggregation of sea turtles (Olive Ridley turtles) takes place along the Gahirmata coast of Orissa. This beach forms the eastern fringe of which sanctuary? ANYTHING GOES 1. enclosure The name is derived of which from the Greek unit of measurement for the distance covered in 600 feet? (Muhammed Arif, Mumbai) 2. Where did these five women — Ashley Judd, Susan Fowler, Adama Iwu, Taylor Swift and Isabel Pascual — famously appear together? (Dr Megha Krishnan, Vellore) 3. Piggly Wiggly, a supermarket chain in the United States, is the world’s first example of what kind of store? (Dee Surendranath, Hyderabad) 4. Which iconic organisation’s original logo in the 70’s featured a famous 18th-century scientist? (Philip Joshua, Secunderabad) 5. According to the Ramayana, a divine being emerged out of a sacred fire and gave payasam to King Dasaratha. The king in turn gave the payasam to his wives Kausalya, Sumitra and Kaikeyi. What transpired after that? (Commander G.R. Balakrishnan (Retd), Chennai) 6. Which city of Tamil Nadu is known as Yellow city as it is one of the world’s largest producers of turmeric in Asia? (Dr Shanu Chandran, Vellore) 7. Peru has never won the Davis Cup, nor has any citizen of Peru won a Wimbledon or Australian Open title. But a Peruvian has won the Davis Cup for US and also a Wimbledon and Australian Open championship. Name this tennis player who migrated from Peru after school and became an American citizen. (BK Harinath, Mysuru) 8. Mizoram has the highest percentage of forest cover among all States (over 86%) but which state has the maximum area under forest coverage with 77,414 square km? (M.S.M. Abhigna, Hyderabad)