Konark Sun Temple: Symbol of India

Built in the 13th century, the Sun Temple at Konark in Odisha is a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known worldwide for its architectural grandeur, the temple was built by Eastern Ganga ruler Narasimha I. Eastern Ganga dynasty was a kingdom in India, ruling over an area corresponding to present day Odisha, the coastal plain between the Ganga and the Godavari.

The majestic Sun Temple at Konark is a symbol of India. Formerly called the Black Pagoda, this magnificent temple has been designed as a gigantic chariot of the Sun God. 

Eastern Gangas were great temple builders. The temples built by them survive to be awe-inspiring spectacles for the people who throng to them. 

Chief among them are Jagannatha temple of Puri and the Sun Temple (also known as Black Pagoda) at Konark. The dynasty is called Eastern Gangas to differentiate them from Western Gangas, a separate dynasty, ruling in Mysore. 

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Dashavatara Temple, Deogarh

Dashavatara Temple at Deogarh near Jhansi in Uttar Pradesh is the finest Gupta temple that has come down to us in a relatively good state of preservation. 

The temple is known for the carvings depicting Hindu Gods and mythological figures.  It is known as the earliest example of Panchayatana style of temple. 

Dashavatara Temple was discovered by Captain Charles Strahan and was named so by Alexander Cunningham. It depicts the 10 avatara of Vishnu. 

Disappearance of Harappan Civilisation

The disappearance of the Harrapan Civilisation, also known as Indus Valley Civilisation, is still shrouded in mystery. Leading explanations include warfare with the Aryans, a nomadic, Indo-European tribe.  

While some say that frequent regular flood could have contributed to the civilisation’s collapse, another school of thought is of the opinion that an earthquake might be the real culprit.

According to one theory by British archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler, the Indus River Valley civilization was overthrown by the Aryans.  An Indo-Aryan Migration theory has found currency amongst various scholars who believe that the Harappan culture was assimilated during a widesperead migratorty movements of the Aryan people into northwest India.

Though it is still not known whether it was the Aryan invasion, natural catastrophes, or something else that destroyed the Harrapan culture, but whatever it was, the end of the Harrapan civilisation was the end of a glorious chapter in the Indian History as well the world.

Kashi Vishwanath Temple

You will be confronted by a symbol of Hindu India in the spiritually important Vishwanath Temple, the number-one attraction of Varanasi that draws hordes of pilgrims daily. The temple is one of the Dwadasa Jyotirlinga shrines or the 12 shrines enshrining Shiva in the form of a Jyotirlingam in the country.

Built in 1776 Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, the wonderful Vishwanath Temple is a big attraction in Varanasi. This sacred Hindu shrine attracts pilgrims from all over the world who come here to offer their prayers to Lord Siva, one of the Hindu Trinity of Gods. One of the 12 jyotirlinga sites, Vishwanath Temple is a pilgrimage site that every Hindu cherishes to visit. 

In 1839, two domes of the Temple were covered by gold, donated by the great Sikh leader Maharaja Ranjeet Singh.

BRICS Expansion

The five-member BRICS have invited six more nations to join the alliance on Thursday (August 24),

The group owes its name to the initials of its five member states. They are Brazil, Russia, India, C hina, and South Africa. In its recent 15th summit at Johannesburg in South Africa, BRICS has invited Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Argentina, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Their membership will begin in January.

Approximately two dozen countries had formally applied to join the group, but there had to be consensus among its existing five members for candidate countries to be admitted.

BRICS currently represents around 40% of the world’s population and more than a quarter of the world’s GDP.

With the additions, it will represent almost half the world’s population, and will include three of the world’s biggest oil producers, Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Iran.

The formation of BRICS in 2009 was driven by the idea that the four emerging markets of Brazil, Russia, India, and China would be the future economic powerhouses of the world. South Africa was added a year later.

Jamat Khana Masjid : One of Delhi’s Early Mosques

Jamaat Khana Masjid, Nizamuddin Dargah, Delhi / Image Credit

 

Jamat Khana Masjid in the Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya Dargah complex in Delhi is said to be built by Khizr Khan, eldest son of Khilji Sultan Sultan Alauddin Khilji. Also known as Khilji mosque, this 14th century mosque is a living mosque still in use for prayers.

History MCQs – Set 10 - Modern India

Vasco da Gama lands at Calicut, May 20, 1498

Q.1. Renowned Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama discovered the sea route to India in  _____.

(a) 1490

(b) 1492

(c) 1496

(d) 1498

Q.2. To whom the statement “The soul of India lives in villages” has been attributed?

(a) Mahatma Gandhi

(b) Vinoba Bhave

(c) Gopalakrishna Gokhale

(d)     Lala Lajpat Rai

Q.3. Who was the political guru of Mahatma Gandhi?

(a) Gopal Krishna Gokhale

(b) Bal Gangadhar Tilak

(c) Dadabhai Naoroji

(d) Pherozeshah Mehta

Q.4. The first Governor-General of Bengal was________.

(a) Warren Hastings

(b) Robert Clive

(c) Canning

(d) William Bentinck

Q.5. The last Governor-General and the first Viceroy of India under the British crown was

(a) Lord Canning

(b) Warren Hastings

(c) William Bentinck

(d) Lord Dalhousie

Q.6. On what pretext, Lord Dalhousie annexed the state of Oudh to the British Empire in India?

(a) Doctrine of Lapse

(b) Policy of Subsidiary Alliance

(c) Maladministation of the State

(d) Financial instability

Q.7. Who among the following abolished the Sati System in 1829 A.D. 

(a) Lord Curzon

(b) Lord Wellesley

(c) Lord Lytton

(d) Lord William Bentinck

Q. 8. Who led the revolt from Lucknow against the British during the mutiny of 1857?

(a) Begum Hazrat Mahal

(b) Kunwar Singh

(c) Tantia Tope

(d) Nana Saheb

Q.9. The first session of Indian National Congress was held at ________

(a) Calcutta

(b) Bombay

(c) Delhi

(d) Allahabad 

Q.10. The Bhoodan Movement was launched by

(a) Baba Amte

(b) Mahatma Gandhi

(c) Vinoba Bhave

(d) Rammanohar Lohia 

Answers

1-d

Notes:On 24th December, 1524, Vasco da Gama died in Cochin (now Kochi), a major port in India.

2- a

Notes:Gandhiji had said that the soul of India resides in its villages.

3- a

Notes: Gopal Krishna Gokhale was a mentor to Mahatma Gandhi and Mohammed Ali Jinnah. Gokhale had described Jinnah as "an ambassador of Hindu-Muslim unity". Once Jinnah had expressed the desire to become "the Muslim Gokhale".

4- Warren Hastings

Notes:Due to the passing of Regulating Act 1773, the position of “Governor of Bengal” got converted into that of "Governor-General of Bengal". 

Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal.

By Charter Act of 1833, the post name of Governor-General of Bengal again converted into "Governor-General of India" 

First Governor-General of India was William Bentinck.

When the rule of the East India Company came to an end and authority passed to the British crown, Canning, the first governor-general of the imperial government, received also the title of viceroy.

5-a

Notes:Due to the passing of Regulating Act 1773, the position of “Governor of Bengal” got converted into that of "Governor-General of Bengal". 

Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General of Bengal.

By Charter Act of 1833, the post name of Governor-General of Bengal again converted into "Governor-General of India" 

First Governor-General of British ruled India was William Bentinck.

When the rule of the East India Company came to an end and authority passed to the British crown, Canning, the first governor-general of the imperial government, received also the title of viceroy.

6-a

Notes:Doctrine of Lapse was introduced by Lord Dalhousie in 1848. This law banned an Indian prince without a natural heir from adopting a successor. Oudh was annexed to the British Empire in India in 1856.

7-d

Notes:The Bengal Sati Regulation which banned the Sati practice in all jurisdictions of British India was passed on December 4, 1829 by the then Governor-General of the British-ruled India Lord William Bentinck who also happened to be the first governor general. 

8-a

Notes:Begum Hazrat Mahal was one of the important leaders of the Revolt of 1857 which shook the very foundation of the British rule in India. 

She refused to accept the pension offered by the British and chose to die unknown in alien country in 1879. She is buried in a grave in Kathmandu. 

9-b

Notes:The first session of Indian National Congress was held at Mumbai in 1885 from 28 to 31 December. It was attended by 72 delegates. The first president of the Indian National Congress was Womesh Chunder Bonnerjee and the first General Secretary was A O Hume.

10-c

Notes:The Bhoodan Movement (Land Gift movement) was launched by freedom fighter and Gandhi disciple Vinoba Bhave. The Bhoodan movement was a voluntary land reform movement in India persuading rich people to give up a part of their land which could then be distributed among the landless poor.