UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : History, Culture and Social Issues MCQs on Ram Mohan Roy, Chola empire and more (Week 66)

1. In 1817, he collaborated with Scottish philanthropist David Hare to set up the Hindu College.

2. His relentless advocacy led to the abolition of Sati under the governor generalship of William Bentinck in 1829.

3. He campaigned for traditional education and opposed the introduction of a Western curriculum.

4. He was given the title of Raja by the Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Jafar.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— Ram Mohan Roy was born on May 22, 1772, in Radhanagar, Bengal Presidency, in the Hooghly district.

— According to historian Ramachandra Guha, “Roy was unquestionably the first person on the subcontinent to seriously engage with the challenges that modernity posed to traditional social structures and ways of being.”

— Roy grew up in the context of traditional caste norms of the time: child marriage, polygamy, and dowry were common among the upper castes, and he had been married more than once as a child.

— He campaigned for the modernisation of education, in particular the introduction of a Western curriculum, and started several educational institutions in the city. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— Roy was a polyglot who spoke Bengali, Persian, Arabic, Sanskrit, and, eventually, English. His exposure to each language’s literature and culture instilled in him cynicism towards religious dogmas and social strictures.

— His studies had piqued his interest in philosophy and theology, and he spent a significant amount of time studying the Vedas and Upanishads, as well as sacred books from Islam and Christianity.

— He produced large tracts on numerous theological, political, and human rights issues, as well as translating and making Sanskrit texts available in Bengal.

— In 1814, he founded the Atmiya Sabha (Society of Friends) to promote philosophical conversations about the concept of monotheism in Vedanta, as well as to battle against idolatry, casteism, child marriage, and other social problems.

— Roy advocated for educational modernization, including the implementation of a Western curriculum, and founded various educational institutions in the city.

— In 1817, he worked with Scottish benefactor David Hare to establish Hindu College (now Presidency University). He followed it up with the Anglo-Hindu School in 1822, and in 1830, he helped Alexander Duff establish the General Assembly’s Institution, which later became the Scottish Church College. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— His unrelenting advocacy, along with that of contemporaries such as Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, eventually resulted in the abolition of Sati in 1829 during the governor generalship of William Bentinck. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The title of Raja by the Mughal emperor Akbar II. Hence, statement 4 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the administration of the Chola empire, consider the following pairs:

Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(c) 2 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: ncert.nic.in)

QUESTION 3

With reference to Nalanda University, which of the following statements is/are correct?

1. The chronicles of seventh century Chinese traveller Fa Hein provided the most detailed description of ancient Nalanda.

2. Amartya Sen became the first Chancellor of the University.

3. In 2007, the proposal to re-establish Nalanda was endorsed at the East Asia Summit in Mandaue, Philippines.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Explanation

— The campus of Nalanda University was formally inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The campus spread across 455 acres, it is located in Rajgir, roughly 100 km from Patna, and merely 12 km away from the ruins of the eponymous ancient Buddhist monastery.

— In 2007, the proposal to re-establish Nalanda was endorsed at the East Asia Summit in Mandaue, Philipines. This endorsement was re-iterated in the East Asia Summit of 2009, in Hua Hin, Thailand. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Nalanda University admitted its very first batch of fifteen students in 2014, to the School of Historical Studies, and the School of Ecology and Environmental Studies.

— Nobel Prize-winning economist Amartya Sen, who had been associated with the project since 2007, became the University’s first Chancellor, and then-President Pranab Mukherjee became the first Visitor. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The chronicles of seventh century Chinese traveller Hsuan Tsang provide the most detailed description of ancient Nalanda. Hsuan Tsang estimated that at the time of his visit, the monastery housed 10,000 students, 2,000 teachers, and a gargantuan retinue of servants. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Which of the following states has recently got a geographical indication (GI) tag for “Gharchola Craft”?

(a) Rajasthan

(b) Punjab

(c) Maharashtra

(d) Gujarat

Explanation

— Gujarat’s tie-dyed fabrics are the best manufactured in India and are in high demand around the world. Bandhani (tye and dye fabric) is known for its elaborate motifs and patterns.

— These are used as bridal costumes known as ‘gharchola odhni‘ and sarees, which are worn by every Gujarati woman.

— Gharchola (also known as Ghatchola and Gharcholu) is a Gujarati textile woven in huge checks with silk and zari threads on cotton or silk cloth.

— Gharchola and Panetar (wedding gowns) are remarkable items with zari craftsmanship.

— Gharcholas are typically worn as wedding sarees. It has traditionally played an important role at Hindu weddings, particularly in North India.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Source: search.ipindia.gov.in)

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements:

1. These paintings are traditionally done on walls.

2. They are only painted by men commonly in the Chhotaudepur area of Gujarat.

3. The paintings are rich with imagery from their everyday life – elephants, men, women, arms and musical instruments, besides weddings, festivals and celebrations.

The above mentioned statements refer to:

(a) Kalamkari Paintings

(b) Kalighat Paintings

(c) Warli Paintings

(d) Pithora Paintings

Explanation

— Pithora paintings are traditionally done on walls that are characterised by seven horses representing the seven hills that surround the area bordering Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, which is home to the Rathwa community that makes these paintings.

— These wall murals are created as offerings to Pithora, the God of food grains. They are only painted by men commonly in the Chhotaudepur area of Gujarat.

— The paintings are rich with imagery from their everyday life – elephants, men, women, arms and musical instruments, besides weddings, festivals and celebrations.

— The paint is prepared by mixing pigments with milk and liquor prepared from the mahuda tree. Painters use a combination of bamboo sticks, cotton and wooden stencils to create their art. Although it is traditionally practised only as wall art, today’s generation of pithora painters use paper and canvas that they sell commercially.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.gujarattourism.com)

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 66)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 65)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 65)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 65)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 65)

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