Indian History

 Q.1. Of the 14 Indian Prime Ministers, how many have lost the top job due to losing a general election? (A) 3 (B) 4 (C) 5 (D) 6 Answer: D Six prime ministers had their prime ministerial careers cut short following the loss of a general election: Charan Singh (1980), Rajiv Gandhi (1989), Chandrasekhar (1991), Inder Kumar Gujral (1998), Atal Bihari Vajpayee (2004), Manmohan Singh (2014) 

Identify the historical event the painting shows. (A) Mughal Emperor Shah Alam conveying the grant of the Diwani to Lord Clive (B) English diplomat Sir Thomas Roe being received by the Mughal Emperor Jahangir  (C) Jesuits at Akbar’s court. (D) None of the Above Answer : A The Mughal Emperor Shah Alam II had granted the Diwani of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa to the East India Company in 1765. The Treaty of Allahabad was signed on 16 August 1765 between Shah Alam II, and Robert Clive, of the East India Company, in the aftermath of the Battle of Buxar of 22 October 1764. 

 Can you  identify which historical event the painting shows? (A) First Anglo-Afghan War (B) Second Anglo-Afghan War (C) Third Anglo-Afghan War (D) Fourth Anglo-Afghan War Answer - A  Dr. William Brydon was the lone British survivor who rode into Jalalabad in Afghanistan in January 1842, bringing the first news of the devastating retreat from Kabul during the First Anglo-Afghan War.  Brydon was a British doctor who was assistant surgeon in the British East India Company Army.  The First Anglo-Afghan War (1838-42) was fought between the British East India Company (EIC) and, the Emirate of Afghanistan.  The war caused the greatest misfortune that ever befell the British army and dealt a severe blow to their prestige in India.

Khajuraho Temple / Image Credit- Unsplash Q. 1.  Badami, once the capital of the Chalukyas, is situated in which Indian state? (A) Andhra Pradesh (B) Tamil Nadu (c) Maharashtra (D) Karnataka Q.2.  Where might one go to see Adhai-din-ka-Jhonpra?  (A) Rajasthan (B) Haryana (C) Madhya Pradesh (D) Uttar Pradesh Q.3.  Where would you find the final resting place of Sufi saint Moinuddin Chishti? (A) Fatehpur Sikri  (B) Ajmer   (C) Gulbarga   (D) Delhi  Q.4.  In which Indian state would you find the world heritage site of Hampi? (A) Andhra Pradesh (B) Tamil Nadu (C) Karnataka (D) Telangana Q.5. Bidar, the capital of the Bahamani and Barid Shahi dynasties, is located in which state? (A) Maharashtra  (B) Tamil Nadu (C) Karnataka (D) Andhra Pradesh Q.6. Jaunpur, the seat of power of the medieval Muslim kingdom of Sharqi, is located in which state? (A) Uttar Pradesh (B) Bengal (C) Malwa (D) Maharashtra Q.7.  Where is the World Herita...

Cave No.3 Gautamiputra Vihara,  Pandavleni Caves    / Image Credit Pandavleni Caves are located at a distance of 8 km from Nashik in Maharashtra. Chiselled into the hills, Pandavleni is a group of 24 caves dating back to the period between the 2nd century BCE and the 2nd century AD. Of these Cave 18, a chaityagrha , is the most impressive.  These magnificent Buddhist and Jain rock-cut caves are known for profusion of ornate carvings of the highest order. These caves received the patronage of various rulers inducing those belonging to the Satavahana dynasty .  Nasik Prashasti   (eulogy), an inscription found at Cave No.3 of the Pandavleni Caves, contains the achievements of Gautamiputra Satakarni , the greatest Satavahana ruler.  The Nasik Prashasti was commissioned by his mother Gautami Balasri. The Nasik Prasasti describes Gautamiputra Satakarni as the ruler of the Aparanta, Anupa, Saurashtra, Kukura, Akara and Avanti. He had defeated the Saka ruler ...

Lotus Mahal /  Photo by Avin CP on Unsplash Choose the correct one Q.1. Lotus Mahal is an important monument in___ (A) Pattadakal  (B) Hampi (C)  Badami (D)  Aihole  Q.2.  Hazarduari Palace is a famous landmark of which of the following places in West Bengal? (A)   Lakhnauti (B)  Gaud  (C)   Murshidabad  (D)  Pandua Q. 3. Who had designed the calligraphy of Taj Mahal> (A) Afzal Khan Aalmi (B) Abdul Haq Shirazi  (C) Ustad Ahmad Lahori (D) Ustad Isa Afandi Q.1- Answer - B Notes Lotus Mahal or Chitrangini Mahal is an important secular structure in Hampi in Karnataka.  The Lotus Mahal is an example of Vijayanagara style of architecture.  Hampi,  now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is dotted with several monuments built during the Vijayanagara empire including Lotus Mahal.  Q.2- Answer -   C  Notes A famous monument in Murshidabad in West Bengal, Hazarduari Palace was built dur...

Photo Credit - Unsplash Svapnavasavadattam (The Dream of Vasavadatta) is a six-act Sanskrit play by ancient Indian playwright Bhāsa. It is the best among the thirteen plays written by  Bhāsa. Dating back to  2nd BCE, the play tells the story of the love of Kaushambi ruler Udayana for his queen Vasavadatta. Udayana was the most famous ruler of Vatsa kingdom in the 6th century BC.  Kaushambi was a thriving centre of Buddhism in ancient times and was one of the six greatest cities during Buddha’s time besides serving as the capital of the Vatsa kingdom.  Udayana was also the hero of other Sanskrit dramas- Priyadarshika , and Ratnavali written by seventh century AD Indian emperor Harsha . Among other wives of Udayana was  Samavati, daughter of  Ghosita,  the leading Shreshti (banker) of Kaushambi. In Kaushambi Ghosita had built the Ghositarama monastery which was donated to the Bhikshu Sangha.  Bhāsa has been spoken highly of by Kalidas who has mentio...