Daily Quiz: UPSC Prelims Marathon – March 2, 2020

Akbar took a keen interest in the development of art and architecture during his reign. The principal feature of the constructions during Akbar’s reign was the use of red sandstone. He also introduced the use of ‘Tudor arch’ (four centred arch).

One of the highlights of Indo-Islamic architecture was the creation of a new capital city by Akbar at Fatehpur Sikri. It has been described as a “frozen moment in history” as the buildings here represent a unique blend of Hindu and Persian styles.

Some of the important buildings inside the city are:

• Buland Darwaza the imposing 40 metre red sandstone structure was built in 1576 AD, to commemorate Akbar’s victory over Gujarat. It is the largest gateway of the world.
• Salim Chisti’s tomb was built in 1581 AD. It has beautiful Jaali work in white marble. It has arabesque patterns with inscriptions of Quranic verses on the walls. It is in the imperial complex which also has Buland Darwaza and Jama Masjid. It was further decorated by Jahangir in 1606 AD.
• Panch Mahal is a five-storied structure made of columns and is inspired by the concept of Persian badgir (wind-catcher)
• Jodha Bai’s palace or Mariam-uz-Zamani’s palace (Mary of the Age) has beautiful interiorswith Hindu motifs of bell and flowers.
• Ibadat Khana Akbar used to meet the leaders of different religions here to have discussion.
• Pachisi Court in the courtyard where Akbar is said to have played chess.
• Hiran Minar was built in memory of Akbar’s favourite elephant, named Hiran. It also served as lighthouse for travellers. It is uniquely designed and its exterior wall contains tusk like spikes.
• Akbar also built a temple of Govind Dev in Vrindavan.

The East India Association was organised by Dadabhai Naoroji in 1866 in London to discuss the Indian question and influence public men in England to promote Indian welfare. Later, branches of the association were started in prominent Indian cities.

The first session of the Indian National Congress was attended by 72 delegates and presided over by Womesh Chandra Bonnerjee. Hereafter, the Congress met every year in December, in a different part of the country each time. Some of the great presidents of the Congress during this early phase were Dadabhai Naoroji (thrice president), Badruddin Tyabji, Pherozshah Mehta, P. Anandacharlu, Surendranath Banerjea, Romesh Chandra Dutt, Ananda Mohan Bose and Gopal Krishna Gokhale. Other prominent leaders included Mahadeo Govind Ranade, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Sisir Kumar Ghosh, Motilal Ghosh, Madan Mohan Malaviya, G. Subramaniya Aiyar, C. Vijayaraghavachariar, Dinshaw E. Wacha. In 1890, Kadambini Ganguly, the first woman graduate of Calcutta University, addressed the Congress session, which symbolised the commitment of the freedom struggle to give the women of India their due status in national life.

The Government of Ripon desired the provincial governments to apply in case of local bodies the same principle of financial decentralization which Lord Mayo’s Government had begun towards them. For his contributions, Lord Ripon is called father of local self-government in India.