Exactly 49 years ago, Golda Meir became the first woman Prime Minister of Israel. This quiz is about strong women.

Top guns

1 Shah Jahan Begum ably ruled an Indian princely State for almost 50 years, first with her mother as regent and then as sole ruler. Which State did she rule?

2 Indira Gandhi lost from her favoured constituency, Rae Bareli, in the 1977 general elections. From which constituency in the south did she make her comeback by winning a by-election in 1978?

3 In 1952, shortly after her death, who was given the posthumous title of ‘spiritual leader of the nation’ by the Argentine Congress?

4 Which leader of an Indian National Army (INA) military formation contested the 2002 presidential elections against APJ Abdul Kalam?

5 In the 1976-77 academic year, which student of St Catherine’s College became the first Asian woman to be elected the president of the Oxford Union debating society?

6 Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was the first elected woman head of state in Africa. Which country did she lead from 2006 to 2018?

7 Mamata Banerjee’s first major political achievement was winning the Jadavpur constituency in Kolkata as a 29-year-old in 1984. Which CPI(M) stalwart did she defeat?

8 Joan of Arc’s first major success was in lifting the siege of which beleaguered French city?

9 If George Calvert named Maryland in honour of Henrietta Maria — the queen consort of Charles I of England — which American State did Sir Walter Raleigh name in honour of Queen Elizabeth I?

10 In 1595 as the regent of Ahmednagar, who led her people in a series of battles against Akbar’s forces while defending the city?

Answer

1. Bhopal, in two spells between 1848 and 1901

2. Chikmagalur, famous for its coffee plantations

3. Eva Peron, who also led the women’s suffrage movement in Argentina

4. Captain Lakshmi Sehgal, who led the Rani of Jhansi regiment in the INA

5. Benazir Bhutto

6. Liberia. Footballer George Weah replaced her

7. Somnath Chatterjee

8. Orleans; it was the first major French victory in the Hundred Years’ War

9. Virginia, as she was known as the ‘Virgin Queen’

10. Chand Bibi

BLINKJOY
 

Joy Bhattacharjya is a quizmaster and Project Director, FIFA U-17 World Cup

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