Indian History

Saturday, March 5, 2022

History quiz: How much do you know about the Tughlaq Dynasty - Part 2

Tomb of Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq / Image credit

Q.1. Prior to becoming Sultan, Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq was the governor of?

(a) Dipalpur

(b) Badaun

(d) Bhatinda

Q.2. Which of the following Tughlaq rulers was responsible for establishing the 'Diwan-e-Amir Kohi' department?

(a) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq

(b) Muhammad bin Tuhglaq

(d) None of the above

Q.3. Between whom was the battle of Lahrawat fought in 1320 AD?

(a) Guiyas-ud-din Tughlaq and Khusrav Khan

(b) Guiyas-ud-din Tughlaq and Malik Kafur

(d) Malik Kafur and Khusrav Khan

Q.4. Muhammad bin Tughlaq was well versed in

(a) Astronomy

(b) Jurisprudence

(d) All of the above

Q.5. The tomb of Sufi saint Shah Rukn-e-Alam in Multan was built by_______.

a) Qutub-ud-din Aibak

b) Alau-ud-din Khiliji

c) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq

d) Firoz Shah Tughlaq

Q.6. When did Muhammad bin Tughlaq shift his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?

a) 1325

b) 1326

c) 1327

d) 1328

Q.7. Which city was named Daulatabad by Muhammad bin Tughlaq?

(a) Devagiri

(b) Badaun

(d) Warangal

Q.8. Which Tughlaq Sultan built the Tughlaqabad Fort?

(a) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq

(b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

(d) Muhammad Shah

Q.9. Which Delhi Sultanate Sultan died from the collapse of the pavilion built by his son?

(a) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq

(b) Ala ud-din Khilji

(d) Feroz Shah Tughlaq

Q.10. In which year did Muhammad bin Tughlaq succeed to the throne of Tughlaq dynasty?

(a) 1324

(b) 1325

(d) 1327

Answers

1-a

Notes

Guiyas-ud-din Tughlaq worked under the Khilji rule as the governor of Dipalpur (now in Pakistan).

2-b

Notes

Muhammad bin Tuhglaq had established the 'Diwan-e-Amir Kohi' department related to agriculture.

3-a

Notes

The battle of Lahrawat was fought in 1320 AD between Gazi Malik or Guiyas-ud-din Tughlaq and Khusrav Khan. Guiyas-ud-din Tughlaq defeated defeated Khusrav and beheaded Khusrav. Gazi Malik became the Sultan of Delhi Sultanate under the title of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq and the dynasty, he founded, is known as Tughluq dynasty.

4-d

Notes

With an excellent command on Arabic and Persian, Muhammad bin Tughlaq was well versed in astronomy, jurisprudence, logic, philosophy, medicine, mathematics, and rhetoric.

5-c

Notes

The Tomb of Shah Rukn-e-Alam is the mausoleum of the Sufi saint Sheikh Rukn-ud-Din Abul Fateh. The shrine is considered to be the earliest example of Tughluq architecture. It is located in Multan in Pakistan.

6-c

Notes

In 1327 a rebellion by his cousin Bahauddin Gurshasp, governor of Sagar, prompted Muhammad bin Tughluq to transfer his capital from Delhi to centrally located Devagiri, which he named Daulatabad. However, this experiment of his did not go down well with the Delhi populace. This forced the Sultan to retransfer the capital to Delhi.

7-a

Notes

Devagiri is in Maharashtra.

8-a

Notes

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq is credited with the construction of the fortified city of Tughlaqabad, located on the Mehrauli-Badarpur Road in Delhi.

9-a

Notes

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq, founder of the Tughlaq dynasty, died in 1325 from the collapse of the pavilion which was constructed by his son Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

10-b

Notes

Muhammad bin Tughlaq was the Tughlaq Sultan of Delhi from 1325 to 1351.

History quiz: How much do you know about the Tughlaq Dynasty - Part 1

Tughlaqabad Fort

Q.1. Who was the founder of Tughlaq Dynasty?

(a) Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq

(b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

(d) None of these

Q.2. Who among the following Tughlaq Sultans had established Diwan-i-Bandagan (department of slaves)?

(a) Giyas-ud-din Tughlaq

(b) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

(d) None of the above

Q.3. The last ruler of the Tughlaq Dynasty was _____.

(a) Nusrat Shah

(b) Mahmud Shah

(d) Muhammad Shah lll

Q.4. In which year was the Tughluq dynasty founded?

(a) 1315 AD

(b) 1320 AD

(d) 1330 AD

Q.5. Who among the following was the Delhi Sultanate ruler when the Vijayanagara Empire came into existence?

(a) Muhammad bin Tughlaq

(b) Giyas-ud-din Tughlaq

(d) Khizr Khan

Q.6. Which among the following was the real name of Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq?

(a) Ghazi Malik

(b) Juna Khan

(d) None of these

Q.7. Where did Muhammad bin Tughlaq die?

(a) Thatta

(b) Kara

(d) Jaunpur

Q.8. Which among the following was the real name of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq?

(a) Ghazi Malik

(b) Juna Khan

(d) None of these

Q.9. Who among the following historians was appointed as the Chief Qazi of Delhi by Delhi Sultanate sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq?

(a) Shams Siraj Afif

(b) Ibn Battuta

(d) Amir Khusrav

Q.10. Which of the following statements are correct with respect to Muhammad bin Tuhglaq?

1) Muhammad bin Tuhglaq had introduced monetary reforms

2) Muhammad bin Tuhglaq increased the tax paid by the people living in the Doab region.

3) Muhammad bin Tuhglaq had established the department of slaves or Diwan-i-Bandagan

(a) Only 1

(b) Only 2

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answers:

1- a

Notes

Ghazi Malik or Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq was the founder of the Tughluq dynasty, the third of the five dynasties, the combination of which went on to be called the Delhi Sultanate.

2- c

Notes

Firoz Shah Tughlaq had established Diwan-i-Bandagan (department of slaves).

The officer in-charge of Diwan-i-Bandagan (department of slaves) was Arj-e-Bandagan.

Firoz Shah Tughlaq is known to have as many as 180,000 slaves. According to the contemporary historian Shams Siraj Afif, their rise brought disaster to the Tughlaqs. They annihilated Firuz's sons and played roles in destroying the Tughlaq dynasty. Firuz's eunuch named Malik Sarwar founded the Sharqi dynasty of Jaunpur.

3- b

Notes

Nasir-ud-Din Mahmud Shah Tughlaq was the last sultan of the Tughlaq dynasty.

4- b

Notes

The rule of the Tughlaq dynasty lasted from 1320 to 1413

5- a

Notes

The rule of Muhammad bin Tughlaq lasted from 1325 to 1351. The Vijayanagara Empire was founded in 1336.

6-a

Notes

Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq was called Ghazi Malik before his ascension to the throne of Tughluq dynasty.

7-a

Notes

While fighting against the rebels in Thatta in Sindh Muhammad bin Tughlaq died in 1351.

8-b

Notes

Real name of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq was Juna Khan.

9-b

Notes

Ibn Battuta was appointed Qazi of Delhi by Delhi Sultanate sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

Ibn Batuta was an Arab traveller who arrived at Multan in 1333 during the rule of second Tughlaq ruler Muhammad bid Tughluq. After serving for eight years as the Qazi (judge) of Delhi, he was dismissed from the post by the Tughlaq Sultan.

Ibn Batuta was a native of Morocco.

10-c

Notes:

Feroz Shah Tughlaq had established a department of slaves or Diwan-i-Bandagan.

Wednesday, March 2, 2022

History quiz: How much do you know about the Lodi Dynasty

Sikander Lodi's Tomb

Lodi dynasty was replaced by the Mughal rule in 1526. How much do you know about the Lodi Dynasty which was the last of the dynasties that comprised Delhi Sultanate?

Q.1. After which dynasty did the Lodi dynasty come to rule during the Delhi Sultanate period?

(a) Slave Dynasty

(b) Khiliji dynasty

(d) Sayyid dynasty

Q.2. Who was the founder of the Lodi dynasty?

(a) Daulat Khan Lodi

(b) Bahlul Khan Lodhi

(d) Sikandar Lodhi

Q.3. When was the foundation of the Lodhi dynasty laid?

(a) 1414

(b) 1451

(d) 1526

Q.4. Who was the Lodi sultan when Guru Nanak was born?

(a) Bahlul Khan Lodi

(b) Sikandar Lodhi

(d) None of the above

Q.5. Bahlul Khan Lodi was the governor of which province/s during the rule of Muhammad Shah of Sayyid dynasty?

(a) Lahore

(b) Sirhind

(d) Both a and b

Q.6. Bahlul Khan Lodi, founder of the Lodi dynasty, was succeeded by whom in 1489?

(a) Sikandar Lodhi

(b) Ibrahim Lodhi

(d) None of the above

Q.7. Who among the following Lodi rulers was known as Nizam Khan before he became sultan?

(a) Bahlul Khan Lodi

(b) Ibrahim Lodhi

(d) Daulat Khan Lodi

Q.8. Which of the following rulers of Delhi Sultanate introduced the system of auditing the accounts?

(a) Sikandar Lodhi

(b) Alau-ud-din Khiliji

(d) Ibrahim Lodi

Q.9. Which of the following Delhi Sutans is credited with the foundation of Agra?

(a) Bahlol Lodhi

(b) Sikandar Lodhi

(d) Muhammad Bin Tughlaq

Q.10. Which of the following statements is/are correct about Sikandar Lodi?

1.Sikandar Lodi was a religious bigot

2.The rule of Sikandar Lodi saw the rising popularity of Avicenna’s philosophy in Delhi.

3.Sikandar Lodi had written verses in Persian under the penname of Gulrakhi.

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) None of the above

Answers

1-(d)

Notes

Lodi Dynasty which ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1451 to 1526 came after the Sayyid Dynasty which ruled from 1414 to 1451.

2-(b)

Notes

One of the five dynasties that ruled Delhi Sultanate, the Lodi dynasty was the last of these. The founder of the dynasty was Bahlul Khan Lodi.

3-(b)

Notes

The Lodi dynasty ruled for seventy five years from 1451-1526 till their last ruler Ibrahim Lodi was defeated and killed by Babur in the First battle of Panipat in 1526 resulting in the establishment of Mughal empire in India.

4-(a)

Notes

Guru Nanak was born on 15 April 1469 at Rāi Bhoi Kī Talvaṇḍī village (present-day Nankana Sahib, Punjab, Pakistan).

5-(d)

Notes

Bahlul Khan Lodi, the founder of the Lodi dunasty, was the governor of Lahore and Sirhind during the rule of Muhammad Shah of Sayyid dynasty.

6-(a)

Notes

Bahlul Khan Lodi was succeeded by his son Sikandar Lodi in 1489.

7-(c)

Notes

Sikandar Lodhi was born as Nizam Khan.

8-(a)

Notes

Sikandar Lodhi had introduced the system of auditing the accounts.

9-(b)

Notes

Sikandar Lodhi had laid the foundation of Agra in 1504.

10-(c)

Notes

Sikandar Lodi was a religious bigot and destroyed Hindu temples including Jwalamukhi temple at Nagarkot.
His rule saw the rising popularity of Avicenna’s philosophy in Delhi.
Sikandar Lodi had written verses in Persian under the penname of Gulrakhi.

Tuesday, March 1, 2022

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

(d) Devabhuti

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

(a) Pushyamitra

(b) Devabhuti

(d) Bhagvata

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

(a) Vasumitra

(b) Vasudeva

(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

(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

(d) Bhagabhadra

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

(a) Pushyamitra Sunga

(b) Agnimitra

(d) Bhagabhadra

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

(a) Pushyamitra Sunga

(b) Agnimitra

(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

(d) Devabhuti

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

(a) Asoka

(b) Harshvardhan

(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.

Friday, February 25, 2022

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.

Sunday, January 30, 2022

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.

Friday, January 28, 2022

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.