Father of The Nation Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

Gandhi was head of the Indian National Congress and advocated a policy of non-violent, non-cooperation to achieve Indian independence. After being imprisoned and suppressed during WW II he successfully negotiated an end to British rule in 1947. Gandhi never wanted to see India partitioned and his calls for Hindu-Muslim co-operation made him a target for Hindu extremists.

In 1948 just months after independence he was assassinated by a fanatic who believed the so called 'Father of the Nation' had played prominent part in the partition of India and needed to pay the ultimate price.

His adherence to non-violence and the simplicity of his life led millions to revere him as a saint or 'Mahatma'.

Answer: Muhammid Ali Jinnah

During negotiations which resulted in the partition of India, Muhammid Ali Jinnah insisted that there must be a homeland for the Muslim minority. The result was the creation of Pakistan or 'Land of the Pure' an amalgamation of Punjab, Afghani (North West Frontier), Kashmir, Sindh, and Baluchistan all provinces with significant Muslim populations. Jinnah held the title of Governor General of Pakistan when it was created and is revered as the father of the nation or 'Baba-e-Qaum'.

He was a champion of Muslim rights during the agitation to gain Dominion status for India in the years before the Second World War but opposed the 'Quit India' campaign staged by nationalists during the war.

As a result his Muslim League gained power in provincial governments and eventually became a significant player in the central government. Talks with the Congress party and Gandhi failed as the movement for a Muslim homeland gained momentum.

He eventually supported British plans for a partition of the country and Congress reluctantly agreed in order to avoid chaos and civil war.

However the Punjab and Bengal were split along religious lines resulting in the forced relocation of some 15 million people during which some 200,000 to 1 million people lost their lives. Muhammid Ali Jinnah did not long survive the culmination of his life's work, finally succumbing to tuberculosis the year after the creation of Pakistan. His vision of a democratic and progressive Pakistan was challenged over the years by a series of Generals who assumed power after military coups and entrenched conservatism.

Answer: Mujibar Rahman

Mujibar Rahman, also known as Sheikh Mujibar Rahman, was the leader of the Awami League in the former province of East Pakistan (East Bengal in British India). The Awami League demanded greater autonomy from Pakistan as they felt the east was the poor relation and neglected by the majority in the west. An election in 1970 resulted in a sweeping victory for Sheikh Mujibar Rahman's Awami League and with Indian support a struggle for independence commenced. The Pakistan army tried to reassert control but was finally defeated in a short war with India and the indigenous Mukti Bahini guerrilla movement in December 1971.
Sheikh Mujibar Rahman's reign was short lived as he was assassinated along with most of his family during a military coup in 1975.
Tunku Abdul Rahman was the first Prime Minister of Malaysia.
Ahmed Ben Bella was the first President of Algeria.

Answer: Jomo Kenyatta

Jomo Kenyatta was a member of the majority Kikuyu tribe and returned to his homeland after WW II to participate in the Kenyan independence movement. Together with Kwame Nkrumah, the future leader of Ghana, he founded the Pan African Federation a movement to create political awareness among African peoples who were then under the yoke of the colonial powers. Imprisoned for seven years by the British after he was controversially convicted of being a leader of the Mau Mau rebellion, he was released in 1960 and participated in the movement which led to Kenyan independence in 1963.

After first serving as Prime Minister he then served as President from 1964 until his death in 1978 and became a familiar figure on the world stage with his traditional garb and ever present fly swat. Under his tenure Kenya became one of the most stable of the new African nations with a dramatic growth in tourism and foreign investment.

He promoted land reforms but corruption soon become endemic as a result of some of his policies a trend which continued under his successor Daniel arap Moi. During the later part of his rule large numbers of the Asian community were expelled resulting in a decline of Kenya's economic fortunes. Sam Nujoma was the long time leader of the SWAPO resistance organisation and first leader of an independent Namibia.

Answer: Mustafa Kemal

Mustafa Kemal had the title 'Ataturk' (Father of the Turks) bestowed on him by a grateful National Assembly in 1934 in recognition of his services to the nation. He served as President from 1923-38. He established modern Turkey as a secular state and instituted reforms such equal rights for women which challenged centuries of tradition. He first came to prominence during the Gallipoli campaign where he successfully led Turkish forces against the Allied attempt to force the Dardanelles.
Abdul Hamid 'the old spider' was the last Ottoman Sultan.
Enver Pasha was a military officer and one of the 'Young Turks' who overthrew 'the old spider'.
Talat Pasha was another 'Young Turk' who was the chief advocate of policies which resulted in the Armenian massacre.

Answer: Chile

He led Chile to independence and served as its first leader with the title 'Supreme Director' from 1817-23. Bernardo O'Higgins was the son of Ambrosio, a Spanish officer of Irish origin who was a governor of Chile before becoming Viceroy of Peru which was then part of the Spanish Empire.

He became imbued with a nationalist pride for Chile after being sent to England to further his education. In the wake of the unrest that spread through the Spanish colonies after Napoleon's invasion of Spain, O'Higgins became embroiled in the affairs of his homeland.

When royalists from Peru re-imposed Spanish rule in Chile, O'Higgins was forced to flee across the Andes to Argentina. In 1817 he returned with Chilean exiles and with the support of Argentine General Jose de San Martin defeated the Spanish and re-conquered the country.

As 'Supreme Director' he established the essentials of a new nation, peace and order, and the despite the fluctuation his reputation has undergone over the years according to the flavour of the times his role in establishing Chile as an independent republic is assured.

Answer: Partisans

Tito's Partisans proved to offer the most effective resistance to the Nazi occupation and received support of both the Western Allies and the Soviet Union. At the end of the war the Red Army was ordered off Yugoslav soil and Tito set about defining an independent line for Yugoslav foreign policy. It is a testament to his leadership that he got away with it while the rest of Eastern Europe under occupation by the Red Army eventually became Soviet satellites. Yugoslavia became one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement. Tito's greatest strength, in the eyes of many, was his ability to suppress national insurrections among the ethnic groups that made up the federation which had been cobbled together from the ruins of the Austro-Hungarian Empire at the end of WWI. He established a collective leadership among the six republics and two autonomous provinces with a rotating presidency. Although himself a Croat, Tito made a point of never favouring any ethnic group as he was acutely aware that such a perception would lead to a break-up of Yugoslavia. His system of collective leadership only survived ten years after his death in 1980 when the federation disintegrated in the civil war of the 1990's.
The Ustase was a Croatian Fascist movement that ruled part of Yugoslavia as a Nazi puppet government during the occupation.
The Chetniks were a mainly Serbian guerrilla movement loyal to the pre-war Monarchist government in exile.
The Maquis was the name given to guerrilla fighters in the rural areas of Occupied France during WW II.

Answer: King Bhumibol

King Bhumibol Aduladej also known as Rama IX ascended the throne of Thailand in 1946. Although a constitutional monarch, all governments including the many installed by military coup have sought his approval when assuming office. His intervention in political crises has been pivotal in stabilising many volatile situations and he is credited with overseeing the move to democracy in the 1990's. As a guardian of Thailand's integrity through many turbulent years King Brumibol can truly be called a 'Father of the Nation.'
King Gyanendra the unpopular monarch of Nepal tried to maintain absolute monarchy in the face of opposition. He assumed the throne when his brother was killed along with most of his family by another deranged family member.
King Tupou IV was the long serving King of Tonga who died in 2006.
Juan Carlos is the king of Spain

Answer: False

George Washington became the first President of the new nation and served just two four year terms from 1789-97 setting a precedent for future incumbents. He was but one of the founding fathers of the nation and never received an official title 'Father of the Nation.'

Answer: Peter the Great

When he finally assumed the throne as undisputed Tsar, Peter initiated a radical modernisation of Russia which up until then was a backward feudal country. Imbued with Western ideas after travelling Europe and working at various trades when he was a young man, Peter was fired with a determination to drag Russia into the modern world when he returned to his homeland. With boundless energy and a ruthless suppression of any opposition he set about his task.

A series of wars against the Turks to the south pushed Russia's borders to the Black Sea and against the Swedes to the north to the Baltic.

He set about creating the new capital of St Petersburg which became Russia's window to the world. In his later years the title Tsar was embellished with 'the Great, Father of His Country, Emperor of All the Russias.'