[solution] – Thursday History and Culture Quiz #7

Q.1) Consider the following statements about Partition of Bengal.
1. Two new provinces were created-Assam and western Bengal.
2. Hindu and Muslim unity was seen during this partition time.

Select the correct statement using the codes given below.
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-[B]
Explanation- The decision to effect the Partition of Bengal was announced in July 1905 by the Viceroy of India, Lord Curzon. Though administrative convenience was cited but it was an effort to break down the strong nationalist feelings. The partition took place on 16 October 1905 and separated the largely Muslim eastern areas from the largely Hindu western areas. Two new provinces created were Eastern Bengal and Assam. Statement 2 is correct. As the plan came to be known to the public, there was a great protest by the Hindus and Muslims of Bengal against it. The unity of the Hindus and the Muslims in their protest against the plan of partition made it all the more clear to Curzon that it would be more dangerous to allow the national feeling of the Bengalees to grow further. The people of Bengal thus, reacted to the partition very strongly and considered it disruptive to Hindu Muslim unity and a blow to Bengali literature and Culture. Lord Curzon had to face the outrage of the Bengali people when the moderates and the radicals along with the Muslims made strong joint efforts to stop the partition. This belied the hope of checking the growing nationalist movement. The people got more united because of the anti partition movement and became more involved in the national movement. Partition day was declared as day of mourning. Vande Mataram, the song written by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee became national song and encouraged a sense of solidarity. Rabindranath Tagore also asked Hindu and Muslim to tie Rakhis in each other’s hand to show solidarity.

Q.2) Rasleela has not been a popular theme in which of the followng dances
1. Manipuri
2. Kathak
3. Kathakali
4. Mohiniattam

Select the correct answer using the codes given below.
a) 2 and 3  only
b) 2, 3 and 4 only
c) 1, 2, 3 and 4 only
d) None of them

Ans-[D]* – As answer should be 1 and 2 only and it is not part of any option.
Explanation-Rasleela has been a popular theme depicting traditional story of Krishna as described in Bhagvata Purana and Geeta Govinda where Krishna dances with Radha and Gopikas. The term, rasa meaning “aesthetics” and lila meaning “act,” “play” or “dance” is a concept from Hinduism, which roughly translates to “play (lila) of aesthetics (rasa),” or more broadly as “Dance of Divine Love. In modern times- Kathak,Bharatnatyam, Odissi, Manipuri and kuchipudi are based on ras-lila themes only. So option D is the ans. As, there is no option like 1 and 2 only, so correct answer would be (d).

Q.3) Select the correct statement about Indian council historical research ICHR.
1. It is a statutory body under Ministry of Human resource development.
2. Only Indian citizens are eligible to receive grants and scholarships from it.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-[D]
Explanation-ICHR it is a registered autonomous organization under Societies Registration Act (Act XXI of 1860) which had been established by an Administrative Order of the then Ministry of Education and Social Welfare. It is plainly a Fund-disbursing Agency for carrying out research to Indian and Foreign Scholars on their specific applications for Fellowships, Grants, symposia, etc.

Q.4) What is Cartaz?
a) Permission document to non European to carry out trade in African waters
b) Permission document to non European to carry out trade in Asian waters
c) Communication letters between French and English
d) Communication letters between Dutch and English

Ans-[B]
Explanation-Cartaz was a naval trade license or pass issued by the Portuguese in the Indian ocean during the sixteenth century (circa 1502-1750), under the rule of the Portuguese empire to non Europeans to carry out trade in Asian waters

Q.5) Consider the following statements:
1. Banabhatta was patronized by Harshavardhan.
2. Harshacharitam was composed by Banabhata.
3. Priydarshika was composed by Harsha himself.

Select the correct statement using the codes given below.
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans-[D]
Explanation-Banabhatta was patronized by Harsha. He composed Harshacharitam. Harsha composed three sanskrit texts-Naganda, Ratnavali and Priyadarshika.

Q.6) Consider the following statements:
1. Government threatened to seize property of peasants if taxes are not paid.
2. Narhari Parikh, Mohanlal Pandya and Ravi Shankar Vyas organized this major tax revolt.
3. It gave India a powerful leader who will be later known as Bismarck of India.
4. It was pure Gujrati struggle.

Which  of the following struggle had above features?
a) Ahemdabad Mill strike
b) Kheda Satyagrha
c) Champaran Satyagraha
d) None of them.

Ans-[B]
Explanation- The Kheda peasant struggle is also known as no-tax peasant struggle. It was a satyagraha launched in March 1919 under the leadership of Gandhiji, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Indulal Yajnik, N.M. Joshi, Shankerlal Pareekh and several others.

It was again an experiment, quite like that of Champaran, made on non-violence. It was also par­ticipated by intelligentsia. Incidentally, the movement provided an opportunity to the educated public workers to establish contact with the actual life of the peasantry. The educated workers learnt to identify themselves with the peasantry and made themselves available for sacrifices.

Q.7) Consider the following statements regarding Subhash Chandra Bose.
1. He founded INA.
2. He started Azad Hind Radio in Japan.

Which of the above statement is/are correct?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-[D]
Explanation- INA was founded by Captain Mohan Singh and not by Subhash Chandra Bose. Azad Hind Radio was a propaganda radio service that was started under the leadership of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose in Germany in 1942 to encourage Indians to fight for freedom. Though initially based in Germany, its headquarters was shifted to Singapore and later to Rangoon following the course of the war in South East Asia.

Q.8)Consider the following statements about Alvars and Nayanars.
1. Nayanars and Alvars were not critical of Buddhists and Jains.
2. Tevaram and Tiruvacakam are two of their song composition compilation.

Select the correct statement using the codes given below.
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-[B]
Explanation-They were critical of Buddhists and Jains and preached love the love of Shiva or Vishnu as a path to salvation.They drew upon the ideals of love and Heroism as found in the Sangam literature and blended them with the values of Bhakti. Appar, Sambandar, Sundarar and Manikkavasagar are best known Saiva poets.