Daily subject-wise quiz: History and Culture MCQs on Begum of Bhopal, Alexander's Indian campaign and more (Week 114)
Which of the following temples of South India is known as Dakshina Meru?
(a) Kailasanathar Temple at Kanchipuram
(b) Airavatesvara temple at Tanjavur
(c) Brihadisvara temple at Gangaikondacholapuram
(d) Brihadisvara temple at Tanjavur
According to whc.unesco.org,
The Great Living Chola Temples were built by kings of the Chola Empire, which stretched over all of south India and the neighbouring islands. The site includes three great 11th- and 12th-century Temples: the Brihadisvara Temple at Thanjavur, the Brihadisvara Temple at Gangaikondacholisvaram and the Airavatesvara Temple at Darasuram.
'The Brihadisvara temple at Tanjavur marks the greatest achievement of the Chola architects. Known in the inscriptions as Dakshina Meru, the construction of this temple was inaugurated by the Chola King, Rajaraja I (985-1012 CE) possibly in the 19th regal year (1003-1004 CE) and consecrated by his own hands in the 25th regal year (1009-1010 CE).'
Therefore, d is the correct answer.
(For more, refer: whc.unesco.org )
With reference to Begum Sultan Jahan, the last Begum of Bhopal, consider the following statements:
1. She was the first female Chancellor of the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College, Aligarh.
2. She authored a book, Dars-e-Hayat, about the education and parenting of young girls.
3. She founded a Science College in the city of Aligarh.
4. She was the fourth female ruler of Bhopal.
Which of the statements given above are true?
(a) 1, 2 and 3 only
(b) 3 and 4 only
(c) 1, 2 and 4 only
(d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Nearly a century ago, when the term feminism was not yet part of common parlance, the princely estate of Bhopal was run by a line of powerful women. In the absence of male successors, they initiated a matrilineal reign from 1819, which continued till 1926. These rulers are often referred to as the Begums of Bhopal.
The last Begum of Bhopal was Begum Sultan Jahan. She ruled from 1909 to 1926 after which she stepped down and was succeeded by her son.
Apart from being a philanthropist and prolific writer, she was a symbol of women empowerment, known for taking up the cause of female education. She was the first female Chancellor of Aligarh Muslim University, which she had nurtured during its nascent stage, when it was still known as the Mohammadan Anglo Oriental College.
Born in 1858, Begum Sultan Jahan ascended the throne in 1901. While she was the fourth female ruler of Bhopal, she is credited with many firsts.
She was a pioneer in the field of education and even authored a book, Dars-e-Hayat, about the education and parenting of young girls. There was a time when almost every city of the country had one or more educational institutes for girls which were funded by Begum Sultan Jahan.
Following in her footsteps, her son Hamidullah Khan, who studied in Aligarh, founded a Science College in the city, and donated Rs two lakh to it.
Therefore, c is the correct answer.
(For more, refer:The last Begum of Bhopal: How Begum Sultan Jahan fought patriarchy and educated a generation of women, IE)
Consider the following statements:
1. It is a temple located on the eastern shores of the Indian subcontinent.
2.It was built in the 13th century by Narasimhadeva I.
3. Its chief architect was Bisu Moharana.
4. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1984.
Which of the following temples is described by the above statements?
(a) Kakatiya Rudreshwara (Ramappa) Temple
(b) Sun Temple
(c) Jagannath Temple
(d) Mahabodhi Temple
According to whc.unesco.org,
The Sun Temple at Konarak, located on the eastern shores of the Indian subcontinent, is one of the outstanding examples of temple architecture and art as revealed in its conception, scale and proportion, and in the sublime narrative strength of its sculptural embellishment.
The Sun Temple is an exceptional testimony, in physical form, to the 13th-century Hindu Kingdom of Orissa, under the reign of Narasimha Deva I (AD 1238-1264).
It is associated with all the legends of its own artistic creation – the most evocative being its construction over twelve years using 1,200 artisans – and the stories about the deep commitment of its master builder, Bisu Moharana, to the project, in which his son (who was born during this period) later became involved.
Therefore, b is the correct answer.
(For more, refer: whc.unesco.org)
'Sadir attam' refers to:
(a) the name of a plant found in ancient Tamil texts
(b) classical instruments played along with Mohiniyattam
(c) ancient Indian dance book
(d) none of the above
According to indianculture.gov.in:
'Most classical dance forms of India which are strictly based on Natya Shastra, originated from within temple complexes. One such example is the Sadir Attam of Tamil Nadu, today known as Bharatanatyam.'
Therefore, d is the correct answer.
Consider following statements with reference to Alexander's Indian campaign:
1. The king of Taxila surrendered to Alexander, but beyond the Jhelum he was challenged by the legendary warrior, in the battle of Hydaspes, whom Greek sources have identified as Porus.
2. Alexander defeated Porus, but allowed him to retain his kingdom and left him in charge of Punjab when the Greek army eventually retreated.
Which of the above mentioned statements is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Alexander's Indian campaign
Alexander was born in 356 BC at Pella in ancient Greece, and succeeded his father, king Phillip II, to the throne at the age of 20. Over the next 10 years, Alexander led campaigns across large parts of West Asia and North Africa.
In 330 BC, he defeated Darius III in the decisive battle of Gaugamela, and after a long campaign in Bactria in the region of the Amu Darya north of today's Afghanistan, he crossed the Hindu Kush and entered the Kabul valley.
In 327 BC, Alexander crossed the Indus, the farthest frontier of the old Persian empire, and began his Indian campaign that lasted about two years.
The king of Taxila surrendered to Alexander, but beyond the Jhelum he was challenged by the legendary warrior whom Greek sources have identified as Porus.
In the battle of Hydaspes that followed, Alexander won, but following his famous interview with Porus — during which the wounded king is said to have demanded that the invading emperor treat him 'as befits a king' — was impressed enough to return to the captive Porus his kingdom, and to leave him in charge of Punjab when the Greek army ultimately retreated.
Therefore, c is the correct answer.
(For more, refer: Alexander and Chandragupta Maurya: A short history of war, empire, and greatness, IE)
With reference to the sources related to the life of Chandragupta Maurya,consider the following statements:
1.Buddhist and Brahmanical texts differ regarding Chandragupta Maurya's clan.
2.Greek and Indian sources disagree on the point that Chandragupta Maurya overthrew the unpopular last Nanda king, Dhana Nanda, and seized his capital, Pataliputra.
Which of the above given statements is/are true?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Chandragupta's imperial ambition
Greek and Indian sources agree that Chandragupta overthrew the unpopular last king of the Nandas, Dhana Nanda, and occupied his capital, Pataliputra. The young warrior is said to have been a protege of the Brahmin philosopher Kautilya who, having been insulted by the Nanda king, bore a grudge against him.
Buddhist texts say Chandragupta Maurya belonged to the kshatriya Moriya clan associated with the Shakyas. Brahmanical texts, however, refer to the Mauryas as shudras and heretics.
Guided by the guile and strategy of Kautilya and by his own great military prowess, Chandragupta went about fulfilling his imperial ambitions. Once he had established his mastery over the plains of the Ganga, he moved north-west to occupy the power vacuum left by the retreat of Alexander's army.
Therefore, a is the correct answer.
(For more, refer: Alexander and Chandragupta Maurya: A short history of war, empire, and greatness, IE )
'Ryndia', which has secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, belongs to which state?
(a) Sikkim
(b) West Bengal
(c) Meghalaya
(d) Mizoram
Ryndia Textile (Handicraft) from Meghalaya has secured the Geographical Indication (GI) tag recently.
Therefore, c is the correct answer.
(For more, refer: ipindia.gov.in)
Consider the following battles from history:
1. Battle of Saraighat
2. Battle of Karnal
3. Battle of Gaugamela
Which of the following is the correct chronological sequence?
(a) 1-2-3
(b) 2-3-1
(c) 3-2-1
(d) 3-1-2
In 330 BC, Alexander defeated Darius III in the decisive battle of Gaugamela, and after a long campaign in Bactria in the region of the Amu Darya north of today's Afghanistan, he crossed the Hindu Kush and entered the Kabul valley.
Lachit Barphukan, the great Ahom general, inflicted humiliating defeat on the mighty Mughal army in the Battle of Saraighat in 1671, bringing the curtain down on the last major attempt by the Mughals to take Assam.
The Battle of Karnal, on February 24, 1739, saw Persian emperor Nadir Shah handing a crushing defeat to the forces of Mughal emperor Muhammad Shah Rangila, effectively ending Mughal power in India.
Therefore, d is the correct answer.
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Manas Srivastava is currently working as Senior Copy Editor with The Indian Express (digital) and leads a unique initiative of IE - UPSC Essentials. He majorly writes on UPSC, other competitive exams and education-related projects. In the past, Manas has represented India at the G-20 Youth Summit in Mexico. He is a former member of the Youth Council, GOI. A two-time topper/gold medallist in History (both in graduation and post-graduation) from Delhi University, he has mentored and taught UPSC aspirants for more than four years. His diverse role in The Indian Express consists of writing, editing, anchoring/ hosting, interviewing experts, and curating and simplifying news for the benefit of students. He hosts the YouTube talk show called 'Art and Culture with Devdutt Pattanaik' and a LIVE series on Instagram and YouTube called 'You Ask We Answer'.His talks on 'How to read a newspaper' focus on newspaper reading as an essential habit for students. His articles and videos aim at finding solutions to the general queries of students and hence he believes in being students' editor, preparing them not just for any exam but helping them to become informed citizens. This is where he makes his teaching profession meet journalism. He is also the editor of UPSC Essentials' monthly magazine for the aspirants. He is a recipient of the Dip Chand Memorial Award, the Lala Ram Mohan Prize and Prof. Papiya Ghosh Memorial Prize for academic excellence. He was also awarded the University's Post-Graduate Scholarship for pursuing M.A. in History where he chose to specialise in Ancient India due to his keen interest in Archaeology. He has also successfully completed a Certificate course on Women's Studies by the Women's Studies Development Centre, DU. As a part of N.S.S in the past, Manas has worked with national and international organisations and has shown keen interest and active participation in Social Service. He has led and been a part of projects involving areas such as gender sensitisation, persons with disability, helping slum dwellers, environment, adopting our heritage programme. He has also presented a case study on 'Psychological stress among students' at ICSQCC- Sri Lanka. As a compere for seminars and other events he likes to keep his orating hobby alive. His interests also lie in International Relations, Governance, Social issues, Essays and poetry. ... Read More
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Introduction: — The event takes place during the monsoon season, usually in June, at the Kamakhya Temple in Guwahati, which is a shrine to the Goddess Kamakhya and one of the most prominent Tantrik Shakti centres. — The event is associated with fertility, the beginning of the monsoon season, and the common historical connotation of a fertile woman among nations on Earth. The name 'Ambubachi' literally means 'water flowing.' Body: You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer: — During Ambubachi, devotees at this spot are said to have access to the creative and nurturing power of mother Earth's'menses' during monsoon rain. During this time, all agricultural activities, including ploughing and sowing, are suspended. — The Kamakhya Temple has a long and complicated history, reaching back at least to the early years of the Common Era, but its beginnings are thought to be far older. 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(2024) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 108) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 109) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 108) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 109) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 108) UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 107) Subscribe to our UPSC newsletter and stay updated with the news cues from the past week. Stay updated with the latest UPSC articles by joining our Telegram channel – IndianExpress UPSC Hub, and follow us on Instagram and X.
