Books and Authors Quiz

Vasantsena by artist Raja Ravi Varm / Image Credit

Q.1. Whose drama Mṛcchakatika did film personality Shashi Kapoor adapt for the Hindi film Utsav?

(A) Sudraka

(B) Bhavabhuti

(D) Mahendravarman I

Q.2. The writer of the Brihatkatha was

(A) Dattamitra

(B) Gudadhya

(D) Sarvavarman

Q.3. Which Prakrit work by Vakpati centres on exploits of Kannauj ruler Yashovarman?

(A) Gaudavaho

(B) Setubandha or Ravanavaho

(D) Gathasaptashati

Q.4. Who wrote Kalpasutra?

(A) Simuka

(B) Panini

(D) Patanjali

Q.5. Which of these books was not written by Bhavabhuti?

(A) Mahaviracharita (Deeds of a Great Hero)

(B) Malatimadhava

(D) Uttararamacarita (The Later Deeds of Rama)

Q. 6. From which Upanishad are the words 'Satyameva Jayate', adopted by Indian Republic as its National Emblem, taken?

(A) Aitareya Upanishad

(B) Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

(D) Mandukya Upanishad

Answers

1. A

Mricchakatika (The Little Clay Cart) is ascribed to Śūdraka, Utsav is a 1984 Hindi erotic drama film, produced by Shashi Kapoor and directed by Girish Karnad. The film is based on play Mrichakatika by Śūdraka.

Mrichakatika tells a story of the love of a poor Brahman Charudatta for a wealthy and virtuous courtesan Vasantasena.

2. B

Gunadhya's Brihatkatha is written in the Paishachi language. Gunadhya was a scholar in the court of Satvahana King Hala.

3. A

Gaudavaho, ascribed to 8th century poet Vakpat. details the exploits of Yashovarman who had established an empire at Kanyakubj which for a while controlled much of the North India. Vakpati was the court poet of Yasovarman.

In this work the poet has described the slaying of the king of Bengal by Yashovarman.

4. C

The Kalpa Sūtra is a Jain scripture containing the biographies of the Tirthankaras, notably Parshvanatha and Mahavira. Kalpasutra was written by Bhadrabahu who was spiritual teacher of Chandragupta Maurya.

5. C

Kiratarjuniya is an epic poem written by Bhāravi, written in Sanskrit

6. D

The words "Satyameva Jayate" are taken from the Mundaka Upanishad, which is a part of the Atharva Veda. This ancient Sanskrit text means "Truth Alone Triumphs," which was adopted as the national motto of India on January 26, 1950, and is inscribed below the National Emblem of India.

Comments

Muhammad Shah Rangila

Aurangzeb, the last great Mughal emperor, died in 1707. Muhammad Shah became Mughal emperor in 1719. During the interregnum, Bahadur Shah I , JahandarShah , Farrukhsiyar r, Rafi-ud-Darajat and Rafi-ud-Daula ascended the Mughal throne. Jahandar Shah was murdered on the orders of Farrukhsiyar who had the support of the two powerful Mughal nobles Sayyid Abdullah and his brother Sayyid Husain Ali at that time. They are famous in history as Sayyid brothers, the King-makers. In 1719, Farrukhsiyar were murdered in utter disregard of a Mughal emperor by Sayyid brothers. Rafi-ud-Darajat died of consumption in a few months. Rafi-ud-Daula was addicted to opium and died in 4 months. Sayyid brothers now chose Raushan Akhtar, a son of Jahan Shah (the fourth son of Bahadur Shah I), to be the emperor. Raushan Akhtar ascended the throne under the title of Muhamamd Shah in September 1719. In the beginning Muhammad Shah was a puppet in the hands of Sayyid brothers who soon began to lose their...

Ghaseti Begum: The Begum of Motijheel

Clive meeting Mir Jafar after the Battle of Plassey, (By Francis Hayman) Ghaseti Begum, originally named Mehar un-Nisa, was the eldest daughter of Alivardi Khan, the Nawab of Bengal. She was married to Nawazish Muhammad Khan. Ghaseti Begum went all out to conspire against her nephew Siraj-ud-Daula who was the last independent Nawab of Bengal. Siraj-ud-Daula was defeated by the British under Lord Clive in the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and was killed on the orders of Miran, the son of Mir Jafar who was now made the Nawab of Bengal by the British. Ghaseti Begum was called the Begum of Motijheel due to her residence at the bend of this reservoir in Murshidabad. Motijheel or Pearl Lake is an oxbow lake in Murshidabad. The lake was created by her husband Nawazish Muhammad Khan. Nawazish Muhammad Khan died of grief when his adopted son Ekram-ud-Daulah succumbed to smallpox at a yo...

Chauth and sardeshmukhi: Two important taxes in the Maratha taxation system

Chauth and sardeshmukhi were the two most important taxes in the taxation system of the powerful Maratha state founded by brilliant Maratha leader Shivaji (1627-1680). According to Mahadev Govind Ranade , a famous Indian scholar and freedom fighter, chauth was a military tribute that was levied as a quid pro quo for protection against the invasion of a third power. But eminent historian Jadunath Sarkar does not ascribe to this view. According to him, chauth, 25% tax on revenue or produce, was realized from the alien territories to save themselves from the unwelcome presence of the Maratha soldiers and civil underlings. Shivaji was not under obligation to guard the territory from foreign invasion or internal disorder. According to another authority S. G Sardesai , chauth was a military tribute paid by the conquered or hostile territories. Since Shivaji was the hereditary sardeshmukh (Chief Headmand) of Maharashtra, he demanded an additional levy of 10 percent know...

Indian History

Search This Blog