[Solution] – Thursday History and Culture Quiz #9

Hello Everyone, how is your preparation for UPSC IAS Prelims 2016? Hope you have already attempted the quiz and wrote your answers in comment section. Here are the solution set with explanation. How much you are scoring? Write your correct and incorrect in the comment section to compare yourself with others.

[Solution]

Q.1) Consider the following statements about Gandhara school of Art.
1. It was patronized by Kushanas.
2. It is based on ‘Mahayana Budhhism’
3. It made use of white marble.

Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
a) 2 only
b) 1 and 2 only
c) 1, 2 and 3
d) None of the above

Ans – [B]

Explanation– Gandhara School was based on Greco-Roman norms encapsulating foreign techniques and an alien spirit. It is also known as Graeco-Buddhist School of art. The Gandhara School of art had developed in first century AD.

Both Shakas and Kushanas were patrons of Gandhara School, which is known for the first sculptural representations of the Buddha in human form. The art of the Gandhara school was primarily Mahayana and shows Greco-Roman influence. It made use of grey sandstone. White Marble was used in Amravati school.

Q.2) Consider the following statement.
1. Rowlatt Act authorized the government to imprison any person suspected of terrorism for a maximum period of three years, without trial.
2. After Rowlatt Satyagraha, Gandhiji lost his faith on public using non-violent satyagraha as a method of struggle. 

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

Ans-[B]

Explanation– In the year 1919, the British Government passed a new act called Rowlatt Act, under which the Government had the authority and power to arrest people and keep them in prisons without any trial for  two years if they are suspected with the charge of terrorism. The government also earned the power to refrain the newspapers from reporting and printing news. The Act was ill famed as ‘Black Act’ by the people and Indians revolt in protest against the Rowlatt Act.

Rowlatt satyagraha was not a non violent satyagraha. Various riots and disturbances broke out in  in the city of Bombay, Ahmedabad, Nadiad and other places. Gandhiji finally decided to retrace his steps, to give up the idea of seeking re-arrest, restrict and finally suspend Rowlatt Satyagraha. He observed a three-day fast to atone for his “Himalayan miscalculation” in launching a mass movement without making sure that the people were ready for it.

Q.3) Consider the following statements with respect to judicial system under British Rule:
1. Supreme court of Calcutta had jurisdiction over complete India.
2. Federal court was established in Bombay by Govt of India act 1935.
3. Supreme court was established under Regulating Act of 1773..

Which of the above statement(s) is/are incorrect?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 3 only
d) 1,2 and 3

Ans – [A]

Explanation– Statement 1 is wrong. Supreme court was the supreme judiciary over all British subjects including provinces from Bengal Bihar and orissa. It was established under regulating act of 1773.  So, statement 3 is correct.
Statement 2 is wrong as well because the seat of the federal court was at Delhi and not in Bombay.

Q.4) Consider the following statements about literary art of India.
1. Vedas are just a series of normal texts used in religious rituals and sacrifices.
2. All Buddhist canonical literature is written in Prakrit.

Which of the following statement(s) is/are incorrect?
a) 1 only
b) 2 only
c) Both 1 and 2
d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans-[C]

Explanation:  As per CCRT website, “It is not true to say that the Vedas are a series of sacred texts used in religious rituals and sacrifices. The Vedas are essentially archetypal poetry of high literary value. They are mythical in nature and their language is symbolic. Being mythical, they have multiple meanings, and, therefore, the theologian moulds his rites, the preacher seeks his belief, the philosopher finds the clues for his intellectual speculation and the law-makers work out the social and political life-style in accordance with the archetypal truths of the Vedas.”

Hence statement 1 is incorrect.

Statement 2 is also incorrect as all the Buddhist canoncial literature is written in Pali.

Q.5) Which of the following statements is/are correct regarding Buddhism during Gupta Period?
1. Nalanda became the centre of Buddhist education.
2. Buddhism received greater impetus of royal patronage during Gupta Period.

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 – [A]

Explanation – Statement 1 is right as Nalanda became centre of Buddhist education during Gupta rule. However statement 2 is wrong. Buddhism patronage declined, some scholars believe it was almost ceased as Gupta focussed their attention of Hindu religion more and stressed in the construction of temples. Architecture of temple reached its zenith during Gupta age.

Q.6) Consider the following statements.
1. Namdhari movement started after Anglo Sikh wars.
2. Namdhari movement was also known as Kuka movement.

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-[C]

Explanation– After the fall of kingdom of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, there were several attempts to raise the old glory of the Khalsa. Several movements to reform the Sikhism were started. First one being Namdhari movement, which was started by Baba Ram Singh Namdhari after anglo Sikh wars. He was a soldier in Khalsa army. Namdhari movement was also known as Kuka movement. It had its origin in the north-west corner of the Sikh kingdom, away from the places of royal pomp and grandeur. It harked back to a way of life more in keeping with the spiritual tradition of the community. Its principal object was to spread the true spirit of Sikhism shorn of tawdry customs and mannerism, which had been growing on it since the beginning of Sikh monarchy. In the midst of national pride born of military glory and political power, this movement extolled the religious obligation for a pious and simple living. They were called “Kukas” because of their peculiar style to recite the Gurbani (Sayings of the Gurus). This style was in a high pitched voice, called Kook in punjabi, and thus Namdhari Khalsa’s were named Kukas.

Nirankari movement was started by Baba Dayal. He preached against the rites and rituals that were creeping into Sikhism. He saw that Sikhism was being assimilated into Hinduism in front of his eyes. His main target was the worship of images against which he preached vigorously. He re-emphasized the Sikh belief in Nirankar the Formless One. From this, the movement originating from his message came to be known as the Nirankari movement.

Q.7) Consider the following statement(s) about Bhakti movement.
1. It was limited to North and Central India.
2. It was a spontaneous movement.

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 – [B]

Explanation– Bhakti movement started in south of India. The Bhakti Movement actually originated from South India and expanded all over India. Thus statement 1 is incorrect. The doctrine of Bhakti Movement is the foundation of modern Vaishnavite Hinduism. Unlike in the south, where devotion was centered on both Shiva and Vishnu (in all his forms), the northern devotional movement was centered on Rama and Krishna, both of whom are considered incarnations of Vishnu.

Statement 2 is correct as Bhakti movement was a spontaneous movement and not a planned movement.

Q.8) What are the reasons for the fizzling out of the Swadeshi movement?
1. Narrow Social Base
2. Leaderless movement
3. Lack of women participation

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

Ans-[A]

Explanation– The Swadeshi movement was a  part of the Indian independence movement and the developing Indian nationalism, was an economic strategy aimed at removing the British Empire from power and improving economic conditions in India by following the principles of swadeshi which had some success. Strategies of the Swadeshi movement involved boycotting British products and the revival of domestic products and production processes. But it failed because of the following reasons:

1.Severe government repression
2.Lack of effective organization
3.Leaderless movement
4.Fighting among leaders
5.Movement was largely confined to upper and middle classes and zamindars
6.Passive resistance was not effective

Q.9) Which of the following were the proposals of Cripps mission?
1. It gave dominion status to India
2. British government to keep only defence portfolio.
3. Provinces will mandatorily use the same constitution as centre.

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

Ans – [A]

Explanation – The Cripps mission was an attempt in late March 1942 by the British government to secure full Indian cooperation and support for their efforts in World War II. The mission was headed by Sir Stafford Cripps, a senior left-wing politician and government minister in the War Cabinet of Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Proposals were:
1. During the course of the war, the British would retain their hold on India. Once the war finished, India would be granted dominion status with complete external and internal autonomy. It would however, be associated with the United Kingdom and other Dominions by a common allegiance to the Crown.

2. At the end of the war, a Constituent Assembly would be set up with the power to frame the future constitution of India. The members of the assembly were to be elected on the basis of proportional representation by the provincial assemblies. Princely States would also be given representation in the Constituent Assembly.

3. The provinces not agreeing to the new constitution would have the right to keep itself out of the proposed Union. Such provinces would also be entitled to create their own separate Union. The British government would also invite them to join the commonwealth.

4. During the war an interim government comprising of different parties of India would be constituted. However, defence and external affairs would be the sole responsibility of the viceroy.

Q.10) Consider the following statements about Home rule movement.
1. It was founded by Annie Besant.
2. It had a demand for greater political representation of Indians.

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

Ans-[C]

Explanation– The Indian Home Rule Leagues were organised on the lines of the Irish Home Rule Leagues and they represented the emergence of a new trend of aggressive politics. It was launched by Annie Besant and Tilak. Tilask’s league was launched before Annie Besant’s league.

Factors leading to the Movement some of the factors were as follows:

(i) A section of nationalists felt that popular pressure was required to attain concessions from the Government.

(ii) The Moderates were disillusioned with the Morley- Minto reforms.

(iii) People were feeling the burden of wartime miseries caused by high taxation and a rise in prices, and were ready to participate in any aggressive movement of protest.

(iv) The War, being fought among the major imperialist powers of the day and backed by naked propaganda against each other, exposed the myth of white superiority.

(v) Tilak was ready to assume leadership after his release in June 1914, and had made conciliatory gestures to reassure the Government of his loyalty and to the Moderates that he wanted, like the Irish Home Rulers, a reform of the administration and not an overthrow of the Government. He also said that the acts of violence had only served to retard the pace of political progress in India. He urged all Indians to assist the British Government in its hour of crisis.

(vi) Annie Besant, the Irish theosophist based in India since 1896, had decided to enlarge the sphere of her activities to include the building of a movement for Home Rule on the lines of the Irish Home Rule Leagues.

Objectives of the Home Rule League movement :

1.To establish self- government To build up an agitation for home rule by promoting political education and discussion.

2.To build the confidence of the Indians against the suppression of the British government and to create an alternative movement to break the existing state of stagnation and the inertia.

3.To revive the political activity on their own while maintaining the principles of congress.

4.To demand for greater political representation from the British government.