Neil O’Brien, who passed away recently, was a famous Indian figure best known as a what?

Introduction / Context:
Obituary based questions in general knowledge exams often highlight what field a notable person was associated with during their lifetime. Neil O’Brien was a pioneering figure in the world of quizzing in India and is widely regarded as one of the earliest and most influential quiz masters in the country. This question tests whether candidates can correctly associate his name with his main field of recognition.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The personality mentioned is Neil O’Brien.
• The question hints that he "died recently", a typical current affairs framing.
• The options include journalist, billiards player, dramatist, quiz master and classical singer.
• Only one of these fields matches the way Neil O’Brien is commonly described in news reports and GK material.

Concept / Approach:
Neil O’Brien is credited with helping to popularise quizzing in India, especially through school quizzes and live events. He hosted and organised many quiz contests and became synonymous with the role of quiz master. Thus, when asked about his profession or claim to fame, "quiz master" is the most accurate label. The other fields listed are unrelated to his core public identity.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall any news articles or GK notes that reported Neil O’Brien’s death and mentioned his contribution.Step 2: Remember that he conducted quizzes for schools, colleges and public events, especially in Kolkata and other Indian cities.Step 3: Recognise that he is often introduced as a "veteran quiz master" or "pioneer of quizzing in India".Step 4: Compare this with the options: journalist, billiards player, dramatist, quiz master and classical singer.Step 5: Select "Quiz master" as the only option that matches this description.

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, students can recall that Indian quiz culture acknowledges a few iconic quiz masters, including Neil O’Brien, Derek O’Brien and Siddhartha Basu. Neil O’Brien is frequently mentioned as the one who brought school quizzing into prominence. There is little or no coverage describing him as a professional athlete, journalist, or classical musician. This reinforces that his primary identity was as a quiz master.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
"Journalist" might seem plausible because some quiz masters also write columns, but news about Neil O’Brien focuses on quizzing, not journalism as his main career. "Billiards player" and "classical singer" are unrelated to his widely known contributions. "Dramatist" does not fit either; while he might have had varied interests, his national recognition came from quizzing activities. These incorrect options test whether candidates are guessing or genuinely remember his role.

Common Pitfalls:
Exam takers who have not followed quizzing news may confuse Neil O’Brien with other public figures and choose journalist or dramatist based purely on intuition. Another pitfall is to confuse Neil O’Brien with his son Derek O’Brien, who is both a quiz master and politician; however, both share the quizzing identity, so recognising that family association actually helps. The safest approach is to recall the simple association: O’Brien family quizzing Neil as one of India’s first quiz masters.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Quiz master.