The decline of the Mughal Empire in Delhi led to the emergence of numerous regional centers of culture and learning. Which of the following pairs of post-Mughal state and its associated cultural/literary development is correctly matched? |ForumIAS

[A] Awadh: Rise of the Qawwali musical tradition in its modern form.

[B] Hyderabad: Flourishing of the Dakshini language (an early form of Urdu) literature.

[C] Lahore: Patronage of Kangra miniature painting by the Sikh rulers.

[D] Bengal: Development of the Awadhi language as the court language of the Nawabs.

Answer: B

Notes:

Explanation:

(b) Correct. Hyderabad, under the Nizam and before the Mughal takeover, was the capital of the Qutb Shahi Sultanate of Golconda and Bijapur, where the Dakshini language flourished, continuing to be a major cultural hub even after the Nizam’s rule.
(a) Incorrect. Awadh (Lucknow) was famous for its refined Urdu poetry, dance, and music, but Qawwali’s roots are older and associated more widely with Sufi traditions (like the Nizamuddin dargah in Delhi).
(c) Incorrect. Kangra miniature painting flourished under the Rajput rulers of the hills (like Guler and Kangra), not the Sikh rulers of Lahore.
(d) Incorrect. The court language of the Nawabs of Bengal remained Persian.