First asian winner of Noble prize is?

Appeared in: ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (shift-1)

Explanation

Rabindranath Tagore was the first person from Asia, and also the first non-European, to be awarded a Nobel Prize.
He received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913 for his profoundly sensitive, fresh, and beautiful verse, as embodied in his collection 'Gitanjali'.
His award in 1913 predates the awards of all other individuals listed in the options, making him the correct answer.

Option A: C.V. Raman won the Nobel Prize in 1930, which is 17 years after Rabindranath Tagore.
Option C: Mother Theresa received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, which is 66 years after Rabindranath Tagore's award.
Option D: Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1983, which is 70 years after Tagore's award.

Visual 1: Timeline Infographic - A visual timeline showing the years each of the four individuals won their Nobel Prizes, clearly highlighting Rabindranath Tagore's award in 1913 as the first.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain General Knowledge: First Asian Nobel Laureate as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
General knowledge questions about historical 'firsts' are common in the preliminary sections of many competitive examinations, including those for nursing roles.
Distinguishing between laureates and their specific achievements (e.g., first in any field vs. first in science) is a key skill for answering detailed GK questions.
What if the question asked for the first Indian to win the Nobel Prize in Economics? The answer would be Amartya Sen (1998), demonstrating the need to know both the person and the category.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key constraint in the question, which is 'first'.
Review the list of names, all of whom are known Nobel laureates from India.
The task is to recall the chronological order of their awards.
Access your memory of historical facts: Rabindranath Tagore (1913), C.V. Raman (1930), Mother Teresa (1979), and S. Chandrasekhar (1983).
Select the individual with the earliest award date, which is Rabindranath Tagore.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full ESIC Nursing Officer 2016 (shift-1)

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.