HorthooZ – Kerala GK, PSC Questions & Onam Quiz

Q1 Multiple Choice Question

How did the British East India Company's Madras government respond immediately to Velu Thampi Dalawa's Kundara Proclamation and armed attack on the Resident's house?

A Withdrew all troops from Kerala permanently B Signed a peace treaty handing over Cochin to Velu Thampi C Granted complete independence to Travancore D Dispatched massive military forces under Colonel Legrand and Colonel Chalmers to crush the Travancore army

Q2 Multiple Choice Question

In January 1809, a major pitched battle took place between the Travancore State forces and the British army resulting in heavy casualties for Velu Thampi's army. Where was it fought?

A Colachel B Quilon (Kollam) C Attingal D Mannadi

Q3 Multiple Choice Question

Before the decisive Treaty of Mavelikara (1753), the Dutch East India Company concluded several treaties in Malabar, notably the Treaty of Quilon in 1691 with:

A The Raja of Cochin B The Zamorin of Calicut C The Queen of Quilon (Desinganad) D The Attingal Queen

Q4 Multiple Choice Question

In which year did the Kurichya and Kurumba tribal rebellion take place in Wayanad against the oppressive revenue and tax policies of the British East India Company?

A 1812 B 1857 C 1799 D 1809

Q5 Multiple Choice Question

During the late 18th century Anglo-Mysore wars, how did the Arakkal ruling family of Cannanore politically align themselves?

A They formed a strict military pact with the Portuguese empire to invade Goa B They allied closely with Hyder Ali and Tipu Sultan of Mysore, viewing the British East India Company and the Chirakkal/Malabar chieftains as mutual adversaries. C They allied exclusively with the British East India Company against Mysore D They declared complete neutrality and fled to Sri Lanka permanently

Q6 Multiple Choice Question

In which year was the very first printing press in India established by the Jesuits in Goa, followed by the printing press at Cochin in 1577?

A Goa in 1556 and Cochin in 1577 B Trivandrum in 1821 C Quilon in 1661 D Calicut in 1498

Q7 Multiple Choice Question

A defining feature of Pazhassi Raja's second anti-British revolt (1800–1805) was his successful coalition-building with:

A The British East India Company's private mercantile directors B European naval pirates operating out of the Persian Gulf C Indigenous tribal communities (Kurichyas and Kurumbas) and local agrarian peasants of Wayanad who provided intelligence and guerrilla combatants. D The Portuguese Inquisition tribunal in Goa

Q8 Multiple Choice Question

In which year was Mohammed Ali, famously known as Kunjali Marakkar IV, captured and publicly executed by the Portuguese with the complicity of the Zamorin?

A 1550 B 1741 C 1650 D 1600

Q9 Multiple Choice Question

What specific financial grievance imposed by the British East India Company did the Kundara Proclamation vehemently condemn?

A Exorbitant monetary demands, arbitrary financial subsidies, and plunder of the Travancore treasury under the guise of treaty obligations B Refusal of British merchants to purchase local pepper harvests C Establishment of British Christian missionary schools D Failure of the British to supply spices to European markets

Q10 Multiple Choice Question

In which year did the Dutch East India Company capture the strategic fort and town of Cochin from the Portuguese, marking the height of Dutch power in Kerala?

A 1600 B 1663 C 1503 D 1741

Q11 Multiple Choice Question

Who was the first Portuguese Viceroy of India, famous for introducing the 'Blue Water Policy' to establish naval supremacy in the Indian Ocean?

A Nuno da Cunha B Afonso de Albuquerque C Pedro Alvares Cabral D Francisco de Almeida

Q12 Multiple Choice Question

In the context of the Attingal Revolt (1721), what was the political significance of the 'Attingal Queens' (Attingal Mooppu) in the royal family of Venad?

A They were appointed directly by the British Parliament B They held independent sovereign estates and extensive landed properties in Attingal, separate from the Venad king. C They ruled over Cochin and Calicut jointly D They functioned as naval admirals of the Zamorin

Q13 Multiple Choice Question

In which year did the British East India Company construct its strategically important fortified factory at Tellicherry (Thalassery) with the permission of the Kolathiri Raja?

A 1721 B 1708 C 1661 D 1792

Q14 Multiple Choice Question

What notable administrative and judicial reforms were instituted by Velu Thampi during his tenure as Diwan (Dalawa) of Travancore?

A Introduction of Portuguese legal codes across all village councils B Strict punishment for corrupt officials, establishment of new courts of justice, standardization of weights and measures, and clearing wasteland for agriculture C Abolition of all land taxes and complete tax exemption for merchants D Handing over all judicial powers directly to British magistrates

Q15 Multiple Choice Question

Which Portuguese Governor captured Goa in 1510 and is regarded as the real founder of the Portuguese colonial empire in the East?

A Nuno da Cunha B Afonso de Albuquerque C Francisco de Almeida D Vasco da Gama

Q16 Multiple Choice Question

Which European power originally constructed the Pallipuram Fort (Aya Kotta) on Vypeen Island in 1503, which later fell into the hands of the Dutch?

A The French B The Dutch C The British D The Portuguese

Q17 Multiple Choice Question

The historic 'Coonan Cross Oath' (Koonan Kurisu Sathyam) of 1653 marked a major revolt by the St. Thomas Christians against:

A The British East India Company's salt tax imposition B The Portuguese padroado and the Jesuit attempts to Latinize their religious liturgy and authority C The Zamorin's naval blockade of Cochin port D The Travancore royal decree banning foreign trade

Q18 Multiple Choice Question

What was the immediate spark or grievance that provoked local Nairs and citizens to attack the British factory leading to the Attingal Revolt of 1721?

A Mandatory conversion of local temples into barracks B Imposition of direct salt taxes across Venad C Ban on traditional Malayalam attire D Arbitrary reduction of pepper prices, stoppage of customary gifts (Onakkazhcha), and arrogant behavior of English factors like Isaac Gyfford

Q19 Multiple Choice Question

Who was the prominent leader and Headman (Karanavar) who spearheaded the Kurichya Rebellion of 1812 in Wayanad against British revenue extraction?

A Pazhassi Raja B Velu Thampi Dalawa C Paliath Achan D Rama Nambi (Kurichya leader)

Q20 Multiple Choice Question

Following the massacre of English factors during the Attingal Revolt in 1721, how did the British East India Company ultimately respond to secure peace and trade resumption?

A They transferred the entire British headquarters to Calicut B They signed a peace treaty in 1723 with the Queen of Attingal and the ruler of Venad, acknowledging local customs and securing permission to fortify Anjengo further. C They launched a full-scale naval invasion that annexed Trivandrum permanently D They abandoned all commercial operations in Kerala forever

Early & Colonial Kerala