A book published in 2025, authored by Narendra Modi and titled 'The Emergency Diaries – Years That Forged a Leader', is thematically associated with which of the following periods in Indian political history?

The correct answer is A, Jyotirao Phule. Phule wrote Gulamgiri, meaning slavery, in Marathi in 1873, and dedicated it to the people of America who had fought to free slaves, drawing a line between their struggle and the condition of the lower castes in India. In it he argued that the upper castes had no right to their land or power, and he used the idea of a golden age before the coming of the Aryans. Phule and his wife Savitribai opened a school for girls in Pune in 1848, and he founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873. B is wrong because Ambedkar's well known writings are Annihilation of Caste, Who Were the Shudras and The Buddha and His Dhamma. C is wrong because E. V. Ramaswamy, called Periyar, led the Self Respect Movement and wrote in Tamil. D is wrong because Narayana Guru of Kerala gave the call of one caste, one religion and one God for man. Exam tip: Phule, Gulamgiri and Satyashodhak Samaj, both 1873.

The correct answer is B, VVS Laxman. '281 and Beyond' is the autobiography of VVS Laxman, published in 2018. The title comes from his innings of 281 against Australia at Eden Gardens in the Kolkata Test of March 2001, when India followed on and still won, in one of the greatest Test matches ever played. Laxman and Rahul Dravid batted through almost the whole fourth day, and Harbhajan Singh, who took the first hat-trick by an Indian in Tests in that match, finished the job. Option A is wrong because Kapil Dev's autobiography is 'Straight from the Heart'. Option C is wrong because Sourav Ganguly wrote 'A Century Is Not Enough'. Option D is wrong because Ajinkya Rahane has written no such book. Exam tip: 281 and Beyond - VVS Laxman; A Century Is Not Enough - Sourav Ganguly; Playing It My Way - Sachin Tendulkar.

The correct answer is B, Kapil Dev. Straight from the Heart is the autobiography of Kapil Dev, the fast bowler who captained India to its first World Cup win in 1983 at Lord's. The book came out in 2004 and describes his rise from Chandigarh, the 175 not out against Zimbabwe at Tunbridge Wells and his years as captain and coach. Kapil Dev was the first bowler to take 400 wickets in Test cricket and was named Indian Cricketer of the Century by Wisden in 2002. Option A is wrong because Sachin Tendulkar wrote Playing It My Way. Option C is wrong because M.S. Dhoni has not written an autobiography; his life was told in a film and in books by other authors. Option D is wrong because Sourav Ganguly wrote A Century Is Not Enough. Exam tip: Straight from the Heart is Kapil Dev, Playing It My Way is Sachin Tendulkar, A Century Is Not Enough is Sourav Ganguly.

The correct answer is A, Omprakash Valmiki. Joothan is the autobiography of Omprakash Valmiki and is regarded as a landmark of Dalit writing in Hindi. It records the humiliations of caste that the writer faced in school and at work, and the title itself refers to the leftover food that his community was expected to accept.

Option B, Premchand, was a novelist and short story writer whose works include Godan, Gaban and Nirmala, all fiction rather than autobiography. Option C, Harivansh Rai Bachchan, was a poet best known for Madhushala, and he did write a multi volume autobiography beginning with Kya Bhoolun Kya Yaad Karun, but not this book. Option D, Phanishwar Nath Renu, wrote the novel Maila Anchal, a work of regional fiction set in rural Bihar, and he is remembered for that novel rather than for any autobiography.

The correct answer is A, Walter Isaacson. Walter Isaacson wrote the authorised biography of Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, after a long series of interviews with him. Isaacson is known for biographies of exceptional individuals and has also written lives of Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, which is a useful link to remember.

Option B, Robert Kanigel, wrote The Man Who Knew Infinity about Srinivasa Ramanujan and has no connection with the Apple founder. Option C, Katherine Frank, wrote Indira: The Life of Indira Nehru Gandhi, a biography of the Indian prime minister. Option D, Ramachandra Guha, is an Indian historian whose works include India After Gandhi and a two part life of Mahatma Gandhi, so he too writes biography but not this one.