HP GK one liner - Most Important Personalities of Himachal Pradesh

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Freedom Fighters and Political Icons

• Who is known as the creator of Himachal Pradesh and the state's first Chief Minister? - Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar.
• Who gave the title of 'Pahari Gandhi' to Baba Kanshiram during the freedom struggle? - Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru (in 1937).
• Who called Baba Kanshiram the 'Bulbul of the Hills' for his melodious voice and Pahari songs? - Sarojini Naidu.
• Who was the main mastermind of the historical Dhami firing incident of 1939 and the Dhami Princely State Praja Mandal movement? - Bhagmal Sautha.
• The famous farmer leader and freedom fighter who led the famous 'Pajhauta Movement' (1942) of Sirmaur? - Vaidya Surat Singh.
• Which woman from Himachal Pradesh became India's first Health Minister? - Rajkumari Amrit Kaur.
• 'Himalayan Riyasati Praja Mandal' के प्रथम अध्यक्ष और प्रजामंडल आंदोलनों के प्रमुख स्तंभ कौन थे? - Pandit Padam Dev.
• Who were the main revolutionaries who, influenced by the Ghadar Party, plotted the anti-British 'Mandi Conspiracy' (1914-15) in Mandi state? - Mian Jawahar Singh and Bhai Hirda Ram.
• Yashpal, an active member of the revolutionary party and the famous Hindi novelist of 'Jhootha Sach', was from which district of Himachal? - Hamirpur (Bhampal village).
• Who was the freedom fighter who became the President of the Provisional Government in 1948 after the merger of the Pahari kingdoms? - Shivanand Ramaul.

Military Heroes and PVC Winners

• Who was the country's first soldier to receive the Union of India's highest military honor, the 'Param Vir Chakra'? - Major Somnath Sharma (Kangra).
• Major Somnath Sharma was the commander of which Kumaon Regiment unit that attained martyrdom in Budgam (Kashmir) in 1947? - 4th Kumaon Regiment.
• Which braveheart from Himachal received the Param Vir Chakra posthumously for showing indomitable courage during the 1962 Indo-China war? - Subedar Major Dhan Singh Thapa (Shimla).
• Who was the Captain who gave the slogan 'Yeh Dil Maange More' in the Kargil War (1999) and was awarded the Param Vir Chakra posthumously? - Captain Vikram Batra (Palampur, Kangra).
• Which brave soldier from Bilaspur, who captured 'Tiger Hill' during the Kargil War (Op Vijay), received the Param Vir Chakra while alive? - Rifleman Sanjay Kumar.
• Which braveheart from Hamirpur was awarded the 'Mahavir Chakra' for his extraordinary bravery in the 1971 Indo-Pak war? - Subedar Major Lal Singh.
• Captain Saurabh Kalia, who received the 'Mahavir Chakra' posthumously during the Kargil War, was a resident of which district of Himachal Pradesh? - Palampur (Kangra district).
• Who was the first Himachali to receive the British Army's highest honor, the 'Victoria Cross', for indomitable valor during the First World War (1914-18)? - Jamadar Lala (Hamirpur).
• What was the name of the soldier from Bilaspur who received the 'Victoria Cross' for extraordinary bravery in the Burma Campaign during the Second World War? - Subedar Bhandari Ram.
• Colonel Kawal Singh of Shahpur, Kangra, was awarded the 'Vir Chakra' for amazing acumen in which war? - In the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Art, Music and Painting Legends

• Who is considered the mother of Andretta and the one who revived Kangra's famous 'pottery' art? - Norah Richards.
• Who was the famous painter who established a famous art gallery in Andretta near Palampur and painted vivid portraits of 'Sikh Gurus'? - Sardar Sobha Singh.
• Who was the famous international Russian painter who lived in 'Naggar' of Kullu and immortalized the Pahari landscapes on canvas? - Nicholas Roerich.
• Who is the artist who gave a new life to the fading 'Pahari Miniature Painting' of Chamba and received the Padma Shri (2012)? - Vijay Sharma.
• Who was the Himachali musician who composed the tune for Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose and the Azad Hind Fauj (INA)'s famous national anthem "Kadam-Kadam Badhaye Ja"? - Captain Ram Singh Thakur (Dharamshala).
• The famous folk singer of Himachal Pradesh who is also called 'Pahari Nightingale'? - Gambhiri Devi (बिलासपुर).
• Who were the two greatest and historical painters of the Kangra painting style who adorned the court of Raja Sansar Chand? - Manku and Nainsukh.
• The famous woman who brought recognition to the fine handicraft art of Chamba Rumal on the international stage and received the National Award? - Lalita Vakil and Lalita Kumari.
• Who was the folk culture worker who established the famous folk dancer of Himachal and Nati at the national level? - Kartar Singh Bhatana.
• Who established 'Gauri Art Handicraft' for the development of clay sculptures and utensils near Andretta Art Gallery? - Gurcharan Singh.

Judiciary and Administration Heads

• Which famous jurist from the soil of Himachal Pradesh became the third Chief Justice (CJI) of the Supreme Court of independent India? - Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan (Kangra).
• Before becoming the Chief Justice of India, Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan was the Prime Minister (Diwan) of which state during the partition of India? - Jammu and Kashmir state (during 1947).
• Who became the first 'Chief Secretary' to handle the administrative system when Himachal was formed on 15 April 1948? - K.L. Mehta.
• Who was appointed as the first Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court, constituted on 25 January 1971? - Justice Hamidullah Beg (M.H. Beg).
• Who was the famous woman jurist who became the first female Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court in 1991? - Justice Leila Seth.
• Who was appointed as the first Chairman (1971) of the 'Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission' (HPPSC), which conducts examinations for administrative officers? - Lieutenant General K.S. Katoch.
• Who was the first 'Lokayukta' of Himachal Pradesh appointed in 1983 under administrative reforms? - Justice T.V.R. Tatachari.
• After the first election of the Himachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly (1951), who was unanimously elected as the first Speaker of the House? - Pandit Jaywant Ram.
• Who was the first Chairman of the Administrative Tribunal (SAT) formed to resolve the service matters of state government employees? - Justice Hira Singh Thakur.
• Which officer prepared the administrative framework as the first Director of the Himachal Pradesh Institute of Public Administration (HIPA)? - B.K. Sharma.

Social and Environment Activists

• Who was the famous environmental activist who fought a historic legal battle against illegal limestone mining in the forests of Sirmaur? - Kinkari Devi.
• For which national award was Kinkari Devi honored in Delhi in 1999 for her amazing work in environmental conservation? - Rani Lakshmi Bai National Award.
• Who was the person who brought a revolution in apple horticulture in the hilly regions of Himachal Pradesh and planted 'American Apple' saplings in Kotkhai? - Samuel Evan Stokes (Satyanand Stokes).
• Samuel Evan Stokes (Satyanand Stokes) was originally from which country and later adopted Hinduism and changed his name? - America (Philadelphia).
• The reformer who fought a tough struggle against the cruel 'Begar System' (forced labor without wages) that caused the exploitation of the poor in the Shimla Hills and Pahari states? - Satyanand Stokes.
• Who was the social worker who established the 'Lav Kush Ashram' in Kangra, Himachal Pradesh, for the upliftment of poor and destitute children? - Baba Amarnath.
• The famous female activist who brought awareness against women's education and evil practices in the tribal areas of Kullu and Chamba? - Sarla Sharma.
• The environmentalist of Himachal who dedicated his entire life to the conservation of wildlife and especially the endangered bird 'Jujurana'? - Pratap Singh.
• Who was the expert who laid the foundation of community forest committees for afforestation and increasing 'green cover' in Himachal Pradesh? - Shyam Singh Thakur.
• Who was the advocate of women's rights who became the first Chairperson of the Himachal Pradesh State Commission for Women? - Saroj Sharma.

Authors, Poets and Scholars

• Who is the author of the famous cultural and historical book 'Kulut Desh Ki Kahani' who was also a famous politician of Kullu? - Lal Chand Prarthi.
• The famous scholar who researched Pahari history and geography and wrote books like 'Himalayan Polyandry' and 'Kinnar Desh'? - Rahul Sankrityayan.
• What is the name of the famous research book written by Dr. Yashwant Singh Parmar on the marriage customs of Pahari society? - Polyandry in the Himalayas.
• The famous Hindi writer of Himachal Pradesh who is known for his revolutionary works and connection to Hamirpur? - Yashpal (Novels: Divya, Jhootha Sach).
• Who was the famous writer and linguist from Chamba who received the 'Pahari Sahitya Puraskar' for promoting the Pahari language? - Gautam Sharma Vyathit.
• Who was the famous British-Indian officer who compiled the 'Mandi State Gazetteer' on the ancient history of Mandi state and Suket? - M.S. Randhawa.
• The famous art critic and author who wrote excellent illustrated books on Kangra painting and Pahari folk arts? - Dr. M.S. Randhawa (Mohinder Singh Randhawa).
• Who is the author of the famous book 'Shimla Past and Present' based on the architecture of Shimla and British-era history? - Edward J. Buck.
• In which field is the highest 'Chandradhar Sharma Guleri Award' given by the Himachal Art, Culture and Language Academy? - In the field of Hindi literature.
• The immortal author of the famous Hindi story 'Usne Kaha Tha', Chandradhar Sharma Guleri, was a native of which district of Himachal Pradesh? - Kangra district (Guler village).

Sports Icons and Records

• Who is the famous international athletics runner from Sundernagar (Mandi) who received the first 'Parshuram Award' in 1987? - Suman Rawat.
• Who was the Himachali player who was the captain of the Indian national hockey team that won the gold medal in the 1964 Tokyo Olympics? - Charanjit Singh (Una district).
• Who is the famous international shooter from Hamirpur who won one gold and two silver medals in the 2006 Doha Asian Games? - Vijay Kumar.
• For his amazing sports achievements, with which highest sports honor was shooter Vijay Kumar awarded by the Government of India? - Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna (now Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna) and Padma Shri.
• Who was the world's youngest woman at that time to scale Mount Everest in 1993 by climbing the mountains of the Kullu Valley? - Dikki Dolma.
• Dalip Singh Rana, who made a name for himself worldwide in WWE wrestling by the name 'The Great Khali', is from which district? - Sirmaur district (Dhiraina village).
• The famous player and wicket-keeper of the Indian women's cricket team, Sushma Verma, belongs to which district of Himachal Pradesh? - Shimla district.
• Which sports administrator prepared the blueprint for the construction of the world's most beautiful 'International Cricket Stadium' (HPCA) located in Dharamshala? - Anurag Singh Thakur.
• Which Himachali player won the gold medal for India in the Kabaddi event in the Asian Games and captained the men's team? - Ajay Thakur (Nalagarh).
• By what nickname is Samaresh Jung, who won medals at the international level in shooting, known? - Golden Gun (Sirmaur district).

Spiritual and Religious Leaders

• With which holy Himachali place is the Buddhist monk 'Padmasambhava', who spread Buddhism and laid the foundation of Lamaism in Tibet, associated? - Rewalsar (Mandi district).
• By what respected name is Guru Padmasambhava called in the Tibetan Buddhist society, whose huge statue is installed in Rewalsar? - Guru Rinpoche.
• What is the real name of the supreme spiritual and political leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama? - Tenzin Gyatso.
• Since which year has the 14th Dalai Lama been living in exile permanently with his followers in McLeod Ganj (Dharamshala)? - Since 1959 (after coming to India).
• Which famous ancient Buddhist monastery was founded in Kinnaur district by the great Buddhist scholar and translator 'Rinchen Zangpo'? - Nako Gompa (Nako Monastery).
• Which historical Buddhist saint is considered responsible for the renovation of the famous 'Kaza Gompa' and Tabo Monastery of Lahaul-Spiti? - Lotsawa Rinchen Zangpo.
• Who was the local businessman who discovered the direct idol of Mata Bala Sundari in Trilokpur, Sirmaur, and was the mastermind behind the temple construction? - Lala Ram Das.
• Who was the spiritual guru who gave knowledge to the famous folk deity of Bilaspur, 'Baba Balak Nath', in the Siddhapeeth Deotsidh cave? - Guru Dattatreya.
• The first Guru of Sikhs, Guru Nanak Dev Ji, visited which famous religious places of Himachal during his lifetime? - Rewalsar and Manikaran.
• In which decade was the Kalachakra teaching of Tibetan Buddhism organized for the first time in Dharamshala by the Dalai Lama? - In the 1970s.

Himachali Leaders in National Politics

• Who is the powerful politician from Hamirpur district of Himachal Pradesh who is currently the National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a Union Minister? - Jagat Prakash Nadda (J.P. Nadda).
• Who is the MP from Hamirpur who holds the important independent charge of Minister of Information and Broadcasting and Youth Affairs and Sports in the Union Council of Ministers? - Anurag Singh Thakur.
• Who is the famous politician from Palampur, Kangra, who remained the Chief Minister of Himachal as well as the Union Cabinet Minister of Consumer Affairs? - Shanta Kumar.
• Who is considered the father of the telecom revolution during the time of Sukh Ram in the central government and represents the Mandi parliamentary constituency? - Pandit Sukh Ram (Former Union Minister of State for Communications).
• In which important department has the powerful leader of Himachal, Virbhadra Singh, worked as a full Cabinet Minister in the central government? - Union Steel Minister (Ministry of Steel) and Micro Industries Minister.
• Which politician of Himachal Pradesh held the post of National General Secretary in the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and Governor of several states? - Anand Sharma (Shimla).
• Who was the famous leader from Shimla who held the charge of Union Cabinet Minister in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Government of India? - Anand Sharma.
• Which Himachali MP currently serves as the Deputy Leader in the Rajya Sabha and Chairman of national-level parliamentary committees? - Jagat Prakash Nadda.
• Which female leader, rising from the politics of Kangra, became the Minister of State for Civil Aviation and Civil Supplies in the Union Council of Ministers? - Chandresh Kumari.
• Which senior leader from Solan, Himachal, held major organizational positions in Bihar and at the national level? - Rajeev Bindal.

Unique Records and Icons

• Who was the person who became the 'First Voter of Independent India' during the first general election of independent India in 1951? - Shyam Saran Negi.
• Shyam Saran Negi belonged to which tribal district and beautiful village of Himachal Pradesh where he cast his last vote in 2022? - Kinnaur district (Kalpa village).
• Who is that famous Bollywood actress of Himachal Pradesh who is from Bhawla of Mandi district and has won a National Award? - Kangana Ranaut (Kangana Ranaut).
• The world-famous Indian playback singer and Mohit Chauhan, who is famous for Sufi and rock songs, is from which district of Himachal? - Sirmaur district (Nahan).
• Which famous Bollywood actor from Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, is the brother of 'Anupam Kher' and is a big name in the film industry himself? - Raju Kher (and Anupam Kher himself is from Nabha Estate, Shimla).
• Who was the local villager to cast the country's first digital vote for the first time in the world's highest polling station 'Hikkim' (Lahaul-Spiti)? - Tenzin Norbu.
• Which Himachali conservationist received the 'Whitley Gold Award' (Green Oscar) for environment and wildlife conservation? - Dr. Charudutt Mishra (Snow Leopard Conservation Expert).
• The famous Himachali mountaineer who holds the record for hoisting the tricolor on Everest at the youngest age and hails from Manali? - Dikki Dolma.
• Who is the famous sculptor from Nurpur, Kangra, who built historic bronze statues in the country and abroad? - Rajiv Singh.
• Who is the woman who brought laurels to the state by becoming the first female IPS officer from HP? - Satwant Atwal Trivedi (Satwant Atwal Trivedi).