History quiz: how much do you know about Sunga dynasty?

Test your knowledge of the Sunga dynasty with our history quiz...

Q.1. The last Mauryan ruler was killed by the founder of the Sunga dynasty. Who was the founder of Sunga Dynasty?

(a)  Pushyamitra Sunga

(b)  Agnimitra

(c)  Vasumitra

(d)  Devabhuti

Q.2. Agnimitra was the son of which Sunga king?

(a)  Pushyamitra 

(b)  Devabhuti

(c)  Vasumitra

(d)  Bhagvata 

Q.3. Which of the following rules did not belong to the Sunga dynasty?

(a)  Vasumitra

(b)  Vasudeva  

(c)  Bhagvata 

(d)  Devabhuti

Q.4. How many Ashvamedha or horse-sacrifices was/were performed by Pushyamitra, the founder ruler of Sunga Dynasty? 

(a)  One 

(b)  Two

(c)  Three 

(d)  None 

Q.5. The last ruler of the Sunga dynasty was killed by Vasudeva Kanva who laid the foundation of Kanva dynasty? Who was he?

(a)  Vasumitra

(b)  Bhagvata 

(c)  Devabhuti

(d)  Bhagabhadra

Q.6. Greek ambassador Heliodorus visited the court of which Sunga ruler?

(a)  Pushyamitra Sunga

(b)  Agnimitra

(c)  Devabhuti

(d)  Bhagabhadra

Q.7. The famed Indian grammarian Patanjali was a contemporary of 

(a)  Pushyamitra Sunga

(b)  Agnimitra

(c)  Devabhuti

(d)  None of the aboce

Q.8. Who among the following Sunga rulers was the hero of Kalidasa’s drama Malavikagnimitra?

(a)  Pushyamitra 

(b)  Agnimitra

(c)  Vasumitra, 

(d)  Devabhuti

Q.9- Which of the following rulers was not responsible for the expansion of Buddhism?

(a) Asoka

(b) Harshvardhan

(c) Kanishka

(d) Pushyamitra

Answers

1-a 

Notes

The founder of the Sunga dynasty was Pushyamitra, a Brahman general of Brihadratha, the last Mauryan emperor.

2- a

Notes

Pushyamitra was succeeded by his son Agnimitra.

3- b 

Notes

Pushyamitra was succeeded by his son Agnimitra. Prominent among other rulers belonging to the Shunga dynasty were Vasumitra, Bhagvata and Devabhuti. 

4- b

Notes

According to Ayodhya Inscription of Dhandeva, Pushyamitra Sunga performed two Ashwamedha (Horse Sacrifices). 

5- c

Notes

Devabhuti (83 to 73 BC) was the last ruler of Sunga dynasty. He was killed by his minister Vasudeva Kanva who established a new dynasty which came to known as Kanva dynasty.

6 – d

Notes

The Besanager inscription records that a Sunga king Bhagabhadra received an ambassador named Heliodorus from a Greek king of Taxila, Antialcidas.

7- a

8 – b

Notes

Agnimitra, the second ruler of the Shunga dynasty, is the hero of Kalidasa’s famous drama Malavikagnimitra. 

9 - d

Notes

According to the Buddhist texts, Pushyamitra persecuted the Buddhists. However, these claims are probably exaggerated given the flourishing state of Buddhism during his rule attested by the remains of Bharhut. 

Two Day International Conference on temple architecture underway at Hampi

 

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) is organizing a two-day international conference ‘Devayatanam – An odyssey of Indian temple architecture’ on 25th - 26th February, 2022 at the World Heritage Site of Hampi in Karnataka. 

The chosen venue, Hampi served as the capital of the great medieval era empire of Vijayanagara for more than two centuries from 1336 to 1556 CE. 

                                                Lighting of the lamp

The conference aims to deliberate upon the philosophical, religious, social, economic, technical, scientific, art and architectural aspects of temple. It also intends to initiate a dialogue on the evolution and development of the various styles of temple architecture such as the Nagara, Vesara, Dravida, Kalinga and others.

The conference is attracting eminent scholars discussing on the various facets of the great temples of India. 

The inaugural session of Devayatanam took place at Pattabhirama Temple in Hampi. Various sessions of discussions include Temple- From the Formless to Form, Temple- Evolution of Temple Architecture, Temple-Regional Development Forms and Styles, Temple-Epicenter of art, culture, education, administration and economy, Temple-Protector of environment, Temple- Culture diffusion in South east Asia.

The conference is beneficial for scholars, students of Indian history, archeology, culture and architecture and general public. It intends to create interest among scholars and students alike, to learn and respect our heritage.

Temple has always been an integral part of the Indian life and its ecosystem in its own ways. Temple construction was practiced as a pious act not only in the subcontinent but the idea also travelled to the nearest neighborhood such as south-east and East Asia; therefore, it becomes an interesting study as to how the art and technique of temple architecture spread from India to other regions and how this art was modified.

Matangini Hazra

Matangini Hazra was a woman revolutionary and brave freedom fighter who fought for the independence of India from the British and laid down her life for it. 

She was from a small village called Hogla located near Tamluk, the headquarters of the Purba Medinipur district in West Bengal. Hazra was born on October 19, 1870.

Matangini Hazra was one of the protagonists of the Tamralipta Jatiya Sarkar (Tamralipta National Government), a parallel government established during the Quit India Movement. 

Matangini Hazra was shot dead by the police in front of the Tamluk Police Station on 29 September 1942. 

Matangini Hazra was affectionately known as Gandhi buri, Bengali for old lady Gandhi. The famed Hazra Road in Kolkata is also named after her. 

India celebrates 157th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai

Today India is celebrating the 157th birth anniversary of Lala Lajpat Rai, a leading light of Indian Independence Movement. 

One of the famous triumvirate called “Lal-Bal-Pal”, Lala Lajpat Rai was born on January 28, 1856 in Ludhiana district in Punjab. 

Lala Lajpat Rai was elected President of the Indian National Congress in its Calcutta Session In 1920. In 1921, he founded Servants of the People Society. 

On 17 November 1928 Lala Lajpat Rai succumbed to the injuries received by him during a protest in Lahore against the Simon Commission which had arrived in India in 1928 to study constitutional reform in the country.

Unhappy India is one of the works of Lala Lajpat Rai. 

Belur: Showcase of Hoysala Architecture

                                Chennakesava Temple at Belur / Image Source

An absolute must see destination in any cultural tour of India, Belur in the Hassan district of Karnataka was the capital of the powerful south Indian dynasty of the Hoysalas which ruled from 11th to 14th century AD

Situated on the banks of the river Yagachi, Belur is also known as the Banaras of the South, “Dakshin Varanasi”. The place is home to the awe-inspiring Chennakesava Temple. This Vishnu temple is a fine specimen of Hoysala architecture. 

Commissioned by Hoysala ruler Vishnuvardhana in 1117 AD, the Chennakesava temple took 103 years to complete. The Chennakesava temple has three entrances and is intricately carved with sculptures and pillars.

                                Chennakesava Temple at Belur /Image source

History Medieval India - MCQs – Set 6

Q.1. The actual name of Later Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II was

(a) Alamgir

(b) Aziz-ud-Din

(c) Ali Gauhar 

(d) Muhammad Kam Bakhsh

Q.2. Name the Mughal Queen whose name was inscribed on the coins and all royal firmans.

(a) Mumtaz Mahal

(b) Nur Jahan

(c) Ladli Begum

(d) Mariam uz-Zamani 

Q.3. How did the Mughal Emperor Jahandar Shah's reign come to an early and?

(a) He was addicted to drinking and died of too much consumption.

(b) He was deposed by his Wazir

(c) He died due to a slip while descending from the staircase

(d) He was defeated by his nephew Farrukhsiyar in a battle

Q.4. Who was the Mughal Emperor when the Battle of Plassey was fought in 1757 between Siraj ud Daula, the Nawab of Bengal and the English East India Company?

(a) Muhammad Shah

(b) Ahmad Shah

(c) Aziz-ud-Din Alamgir II

(d) Shah Alam II

Q.5. Who was the last Mughal Emperor to sit on the peacock throne?

(a) Aurangzeb 

(b) Muhammad Shah Rangila 

(c) Bahadur Shah I

(d) Farrukhsiyar

Q.6. Who is the author of the famous 11th century literary work Tahqiq- I- Hind?

(a) Al-Beruni

(b) Badauni

(c) Minhaj-us-Siraj

(d) Shams Siraj Afif

Q.7. The famous Arab traveller Alberuni came to India with

(a) Mahmud of Ghazni 

(b) Muhamamd Ghori

(c) Babur

(d) Amir Timur

Q.8. Who had built the Badshahi Masjid at Lahore?

(a) Babar

(b) Akbar

(c) Shah Jahan

(d) Aurangzeb 

Q.9. In which of the following places is Shah Jahan Mosque located in Pakistan?

(a) Thatta

(b) Karachi

(c) Lahore

(d) Jacobabad

Q. 10. Who among the following had organized Turkan-i-Chahalgani, the Group of Forty ?

(a) Qutbuddin Aibak

(b) Aram Shah 

(c) Razia Sultan 

(d) Iltutmish

Answers

1-c 

Notes: The actual name of Shah Alam II was Ali Gauhar. After his defeat in the Battle of Buxar in 1764,  Shah Alam II was forced to grant the diwani of Bengal, Bihar and Orissa to the English East India Company in 1765. 

2- b

Notes: Wife of Mughal emperor Jahangir, Nur Jahan was the first Mughal queen in whose name coins were struck. She had deep influence on the Jahangir who took pride in saying that he had handed her the country in lieu of a cup of wine and few pieces of mutton.

3- d

Notes: Jahandar Shah was defeated by his nephew Farrukhsiyar outside the city of Agra on 10th January, 1713. Jahandar Shah fled to Delhi in a bullock cart where he was strangled to death in prison on Farrukhsiyar’s orders. 

4- c

Notes: Known as Aziz-ud-Din before he ascended the Mughal throne, Alamgir II ruled from 1754 to 59. 

5-b

Notes: It was during the reign of Muhamamd Shah that Nadir Shah, the ‘Napolean of Iran’ invaded India in 1739. Nadir Shah took with him the peacock throne.

6-a

Notes: Al-Beruni’s book Tahkik-i-Hind (reality of Hindustan or Enquiry into India) is a mirror of the eleventh century India.

7-a:

Notes: One of the most famous Arab travellers to India, Alberuni visited India when Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Somnath, the famous shrine in Gujarat dedicated to Lord Shiva. Between 1001 and 1027 Mahmud made seventeen great raids on India.

 

8-d: 

Notes: Badshahi Masjid was built at Lahore by Aurangzeb. The mosque was built under the supervision of his foster brother Fidai Khan Koka. 

9-a: 

Notes: The 17th-century Shah Jahan Mosque was built in Thatta during the reign of 5th Mughal emperor Shah Jahan.

10-d: 

Notes: Iltutmish had organised the turkan-i-chahalgani, also known as Amir-i-Chahalgani. Turkan-i-chahalgani was a group of 40 faithful slaves which came into existence with the task of protecting Shamsuddin Iltutmish 

Tai Khamti-British War of 1839

Tai Khampti diorama / Image Credit

Arunachal Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein has urged the Centre to declare Tai Khamti-British War of 1839 as the first war of India’s independence against the British. 

80 British soldiers, including the British agent Colonel Adam White, were killed by the Tai Khamtis in Tai Khamti-British War that took place in 1839. 

Recently the Centre has refused to accept Odisha’s demand to declare Paika rebellion as the First War of Independence. Paika Rebellion took place from 1817 to 1825 in Odisha. Currently, the Revolt of 1857, known variously as First War of Independence and Sepoy Mutiny of 1857 is called the first war of independence against British Rule. The Revolt of 1857 shook the very foundation of the British Empire in India.

About Tai Khamti-British War of 1839

The Arunachal Deputy CM Chowna Mein also underscored the need to recognize battles between other communities of Arunachal Pradesh and the British. They include four Anglo-Abor wars fought by the Adis in 1858, 1859, 1894 and 1911 and the Wancho-British war, also known as ‘Ninu Massacre’, at Ninu in Tirap district in Arunachal Pradesh in 1875.

The Abors, now called Adis, live in the central part of the state, while the Wanchos inhabit the southern Arunachal Pradesh. 

Today the population of Tai Khamti people is a little more than 1,00,000. They live in areas straddling Arunachal Pradesh and Assam. They follow Theravada Buddhism.