1. Which of the following parts of a temple structure is not correctly matched?
- (a) entry hall : mukhamaṇḍapa
- (b) pillared hall : ardhamaṇḍapa
- (c) vestibule : gopuram
- (d) sanctum : garbhagṛha
Answer: (c) vestibule : gopuram
Detailed Solution:
- (a) Mukhamaṇḍapa: Correct. It refers to the entry hall or porch of the temple.
- (b) Ardhamaṇḍapa: Correct. It is a pillared hall or intermediary space between the temple exterior and the interior.
- (c) Gopuram: Incorrect. In Dravidian architecture, the Gopuram is the monumental entrance tower. The vestibule (the transition space between the mandapa and the sanctum) is actually called the Antarala.
- (d) Garbhagṛha: Correct. It is the "womb-house" or the innermost sanctum where the primary deity is housed.
2. Which Chola King returned with the water of the Ganga to sanctify and commemorate his victory at a new capital in his homeland, called Gangaikondacholapuram, after his successful campaign in the north?
- (a) Rajaraja I
- (b) Rajaraja II
- (c) Rajendra I
- (d) Rajendra II
Answer: (c) Rajendra I
Detailed Solution:
Rajendra I (son of Rajaraja I) conducted a grand expedition to North India (c. 1022 CE), reaching the banks of the Ganga. To commemorate this victory, he assumed the title "Gangaikonda" (The Chola who took the Ganga) and built a new capital city named Gangaikondacholapuram. He also created a vast liquid pillar of victory—the Cholagangam tank—by pouring water brought from the holy river.
3. With reference to ‘Kudavolai system’ consider the following statements:
1. It is an ancient taxation system.
2. The system finds its mention in the Uttaramerur Inscriptions.
Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Detailed Solution:
Statement 1 is incorrect: The Kudavolai system was not a taxation system; it was an ancient system of local administration/election used by the Cholas to select members for village councils (Sabhas).
Statement 2 is correct: Detailed descriptions of this system (where names were written on palm leaves and put in a pot, then picked by a boy) are found in the Uttaramerur Inscriptions of Parantaka Chola I.
4. Manigramam and Ayyavole in the history of South India are closely related to:
- (a) Martial art
- (b) Classical music
- (c) Merchant guilds
- (d) None of the above
Answer: (c) Merchant guilds
Detailed Solution:
Manigramam and Ayyavole (specifically the Five Hundred of Ayyavole) were powerful merchant guilds that flourished in South India and Southeast Asia during the medieval period. They played a massive role in maritime trade and controlled commercial activities.
5. Consider the following statements:
1. Barahmasa, a poetic tradition that emerged in medieval South India, lent itself to other forms such as paintings, which were patronised by the Vijayanagar Empire.
2. Meghaduta, the classical sanskrit poem, tells the story of a yaksha who longs for his wife and uses a cloud as a messenger.
Which of the above given statements is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Detailed Solution:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Barahmasa (meaning "Twelve Months") emerged in North India (Indo-Aryan literature), not South India, and was heavily patronized in Rajput and Mughal miniature paintings.
Statement 2 is correct: Meghaduta is a famous lyric poem by Kalidasa.
6. Which of the following states were part of colonial Assam before Independence?
1. Arunachal Pradesh, 2. Meghalaya, 3. Nagaland, 4. Mizoram, 5. Manipur, 6. Sikkim, 7. Tripura
- (a) 1, 2, 3, 5 and 6 only
- (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
- (c) 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 only
- (d) All of the above
Answer: (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
Detailed Solution:
In the colonial era, Assam was a massive province. Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Nagaland, and Mizoram were part of it. Manipur and Tripura were Princely States, and Sikkim was a British Protectorate.
7. With reference to the travellers in Indian history, consider the following statements:
1. Italian traveller, Pietro Della Valle visited India during the reign of Krishnadevaraya.
2. Moroccan traveler, Ibn Battuta visited India during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (b) 2 only
Detailed Solution:
Statement 1 is incorrect: Pietro Della Valle visited in the 17th century (Jahangir). Krishnadevaraya ruled much earlier (1509–1529). Statement 2 is correct: Ibn Battuta arrived in 1333 during the reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq.
8. With reference to Laho, consider the following statements:
1. Laho is a folk dance of Meghalaya’s Jaintia hill region.
2. It is famous among the Pnar tribal community and an integral part of the Behdienkhlam festival.
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 2 only
- (c) Both 1 and 2
- (d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c) Both 1 and 2
Detailed Solution:
Laho is a folk dance of the Jaintia (Pnar) people and is a major part of the Behdienkhlam festival celebrated for a good harvest.
9. Battle of Colachel:
The Dutch dream of colonizing Malabar was shattered at this battle. Note: It was Marthanda Varma (Travancore), not Krishnaraja Wodeyar, who defeated them.
10. Lentina Ao: A Light on the Eastern Horizon is a documentary film theme:
Answer: (b) Life and social work of a Gandhian
Detailed Solution:
The film focuses on Lentina Ao Thakkar, a pioneering Gandhian social worker from Nagaland. It won the Best Biographical Film at the 71st National Film Awards.
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