Insights Prelims Revision 2017 Test – 37

Solution: b)
Remnants of rock paintings have been found on the walls of the caves situated in several
districts of Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Bihar. Some
paintings have been reported from the Kumaon hills in Uttarakhand also. The rock shelters
on banks of the River Suyal at Lakhudiyar, about twenty kilometres on the Almora–
Barechina road, bear these prehistoric paintings.
Lakhudiyar literally means one lakh caves. The paintings here can be divided into three
categories: man, animal and geometric patterns in white, black and red ochre. Humans are
represented in stick-like forms. A long-snouted animal, a fox and a multiple legged lizard
are the main animal motifs. Wavy lines, rectangle-filled geometric designs, and groups of
dots can also be seen here. One of the interesting scenes depicted here is of hand-linked
dancing human figures.
THE ABOVE MAKES IT CLEAR that option D is not appropriate. For the other options
here is the argument and evidence.
There is some superimposition of paintings. The earliest are in black; over these are red
ochre paintings and the last group comprises white paintings. From Kashmir two slabs with
engravings have been reported. The granite rocks of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh
provided suitable canvases to the Neolithic man for his paintings. There are several such
sites but more famous among them are Kupgallu, Piklihal and Tekkalkota. Three types of
paintings have been reported from here—paintings in white, paintings in red ochre over a
white background and paintings in red ochre.

Solution: a)
Archaeologists have discovered thousands of seals, usually made of steatite, and
occasionally of agate, chert, copper, faience and terracotta, with beautiful figures of animals,
such as unicorn bull, rhinoceros, tiger, elephant, bison, goat, buffalo, etc. The realistic
rendering of these animals in various moods is remarkable. The purpose of producing seals
was mainly commercial. It appears that the seals were also used as amulets, carried on the
persons of their owners, perhaps as modern-day identity cards. The standard Harappan seal
was a square plaque 2×2 square inches, usually made from the soft river stone, steatite.
Every seal is engraved in a pictographic script which is yet to be deciphered. Some seals
have also been found in gold and ivory. They all bear a great variety of motifs, most often of
animals including those of the bull, Unicorn, Tiger etc

Solution: b
The main architectural features of Odisha temples are classified in three orders, i.e.,
rekhapida, pidhadeul and khakra.
Most of the main temple sites are located in ancient Kalinga—modern Puri District,
including Bhubaneswar or ancient Tribhuvanesvara, Puri and Konark. The temples of
Odisha constitute a distinct substyle within the nagara order. In general, here the shikhara,
called deul in Odisha, is vertical almost until the top when it suddenly curves sharply
inwards. Deuls are preceded, as usual, by mandapas called jagamohana in Odisha. Theground
plan of the main temple is almost always square, which, in the upper reaches of its
superstructure becomes circular in the crowning mastaka.
This makes the spire nearly cylindrical in appearance in its length. Compartments and
niches are generally square, the exterior of the temples are lavishly carved, their interiors
generally quite bare. Odisha temples usually have boundary walls.

Solution: c)
The Lion Capital discovered more than a hundred years ago at Sarnath, near Varanasi, is
generally referred to as Sarnath Lion Capital. This is one of the finest examples of sculpture
from the Mauryan period. Built in commemoration of the historical event of the first sermon
or the Dhammachakrapravartana by the Buddha at Sarnath, the capital was built by Ashoka.
The motif of the chakra becomes significant as a representation of the Dhammachkra in the
entire Buddhist art .

Each animal figure, despite sticking to the surface, is voluminous, its posture creating
movement in the circular abacus. Despite having limited space between each chakra, these
animal figures display considerable command over the depiction of movement in a limited
space. The circular abacus is supported by an inverted lotus capital.

Solution: a)
During the early phase of Buddhism, Buddha is depicted symbolically through footprints,
stupas, lotus throne, chakra, etc. This indicates either simple worship, or paying respect, or at
times depicts historicization of life events. This was because Buddha said Digha Nikaya i.e.
he discouraged his representation in human forms after his death.
Gradually narrative became a part of the Buddhist tradition. Thus events from the life of the
Buddha, the Jataka stories, were depicted on the railings and torans of the stupas. Mainly
synoptic narrative, continuous narrative and episodic narrative are used in the pictorial
tradition.
While events from the life of the Buddha became an important theme in all the Buddhist
monuments, the Jataka stories also became equally important for sculptural decorations. The
main events associated with the Buddha‘s life which were frequently depicted were events
related to the birth, renunciation, enlightenment, dhammachakrapravartana, and
mahaparinibbana (death). Among the Jataka stories that are frequently depicted are Chhadanta
Jataka, Vidurpundita Jataka, Ruru Jataka, Sibi Jataka, Vessantara Jataka and Shama Jataka.
Stupa worship, Bharhut.

Solution: b)
Along with the images of the Buddha, other Buddhist images of Boddhisattvas like
Avalokiteshvara, Padmapani, Vajrapani, Amitabha, and Maitreya Buddha started getting
sculpted.
However, with the rise of Vajrayana Buddhism many Boddhisattva images were added as a
part of the personified representations of certain virtues or qualities as propagated by the
Buddhist religious principles for the welfare of the masses.

Solution: d)
The Elephanta Caves located near Mumbai, were originally a Buddhist site which was later
dominated by the Shaivite faith. It is contemporary with Ellora, and its sculptures show
slenderness in the body, with stark light and dark effects. The other noteworthy cave site is
Bagh located near Indore in Madhya Pradesh.
The tradition of rock-cut caves continued in the Deccan and they are found not only in
Maharashtra but also in Karnataka, mainly at Badami and Aiholi, executed under the
patronage of the Chalukyas; in Andhra Pradesh in the area of Vijayawada; and in Tamil
Nadu, mainly at Mahabalipuram, under the patronage of the Pallavas.

Solution: d)
Company officials felt that a fixed revenue demand would give zamindars a sense of
security and, assured of returns on their investment, encourage them to improve their
estates. In the early decades after the Permanent Settlement, however, zamindars regularly
failed to pay the revenue demand and unpaid balances accumulated. The reasons for this
failure were various.
First: the initial demands were very high. This was because it was felt that if the demand
was fixed for all time to come, the Company would never be able to claim a share of
increased income from land when prices rose and cultivation expanded. To minimise this
anticipated loss, the Company pegged the revenue demand high, arguing that the burden
on zamindars would gradually decline as agricultural production expanded and prices rose.
Second: this high demand was imposed in the 1790s, a time when the prices of agricultural
produce were depressed, making it difficult for the ryots to pay their dues to the zamindar.
If the zamindar could not collect the rent, how could he pay the Company?
Third: the revenue was invariable, regardless of the harvest, and had to be paid punctually.
In fact, according to the Sunset Law, if payment did not come in by sunset of the specified
date, the zamindari was liable to be auctioned. Fourth: the Permanent Settlement initially
limited the power of the zamindar to collect rent from the ryot and manage his zamindari.
The Company had recognised the zamindars as important, but it wanted to control and
regulate them, subdue their authority and restrict their autonomy.
The zamindars‘ troops were disbanded, customs duties abolished, and their ―cutcheries‖
(courts) brought under the supervision of a Collector appointed by the Company.
Zamindars lost their power to organise local justice and the local police. Over time the
collectorate emerged as an alternative centre of authority, severely restricting what the
zamindar could do. In one case, when a raja failed to pay the revenue, a Company official
was speedily dispatched to his zamindari with explicit instructions ―to take charge of the
District and to use the most effectual means to destroy all the influence and the authority of
the raja and his officers‖.

Solution: b
The sepoys began their action with a signal: in many places it was the firing of the evening
gun or the sounding of the bugle. They first seized the bell of arms and plundered the
treasury. They then attacked government buildings – the jail, treasury, telegraph office,
record room, bungalows – burning all records. Everything and everybody connected with
the white man became a target. Proclamations in Hindi, Urdu and Persian were put up in
the cities calling upon the population, both Hindus and Muslims, to unite, rise and
exterminate the firangis.
When ordinary people began joining the revolt, the targets of attack widened. In major
towns like Lucknow, Kanpur and Bareilly, moneylenders and the rich also became the
objects of rebel wrath. Peasants not only saw them as oppressors but also as allies of the
British. In most places their houses were looted and destroyed. The mutiny in the sepoy
ranks quickly became a rebellion.

Solution: d)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swami_Vivekananda

Solution: a
In June 1944, with the end of the war in sight, Gandhiji was released from prison. Later that
year he held a series of meetings with Jinnah, seeking to bridge the gap between the
Congress and the League. In 1945, a Labour government came to power in Britain and
committed itself to granting independence to India. Meanwhile, back in India, the Viceroy,
Lord Wavell, brought the Congress and the League together for a series of talks. Early in
1946 fresh elections were held to the provincial legislatures.
The Congress swept the ―General‖ category, but in the seats specifically reserved for
Muslims the League won an overwhelming majority. The political polarisation was
complete. A Cabinet Mission sent in the summer of 1946 failed to get the Congress and the
League to agree on a federal system that would keep India together while allowing the
provinces a degree of autonomy. After the talks broke down, Jinnah called for a ―Direct
Action Day‖ to press the League‘s demand for Pakistan. On the designated day, 16 August
1946, bloody riots broke out in Calcutta. The violence spread to rural Bengal, then to Bihar,

and then across the country to the United Provinces and the Punjab. In some places,
Muslims were the main sufferers, in other places, Hindus.

Solution: d)
The tradition of constructing pillars is very old and it may be observed that erection of
pillars was prevalent in the Achamenian empire as well. But the Mauryan pillars are
different from the Achamenian pillars. The Mauryan pillars are rock-cut pillars thus
displaying the carver‘s skills, whereas the Achamenian pillars are constructed in pieces by a
mason.
Stone pillars were erected all over the Mauryan Empire with inscriptions engraved on them.
The top portion of the pillar was carved with capital figures like the bull, the lion, the
elephant, etc. The Mauryan pillar capital found at Sarnath popularly known as the Lion
Capital is the finest example of Mauryan sculptural tradition. It is also our national emblem.

Solution: b
The above event is part of the enlightenment where Buddha is surrounded by Mara‘s army.
It is a personification of the commotion of mind which the Buddha went through at the time
of enlightenment. Mara represents desire.
According to the narrative, there is a dialogue between the Buddha and Mara, and the
Buddha is shown with his right hand indicating towards earth as a witness to his generosity.

Solution: d

Badami was the capital of the western Chalukyan dynasty which ruled the region from 543
to 598 CE. With the decline of the Vakataka rule, the Chalukyas established their power in
the Deccan. The Chalukya king, Mangalesha, patronised the excavation of the Badami
caves. He was the younger son of the Chalukya king, Pulakesi I, and the brother of
Kirtivarman I. The inscription in Cave No.4 mentions the date 578–579 CE, describes the
beauty of the cave and includes the dedication of the image of Vishnu. Thus it may be
presumed that the cave was excavated in the same era and the patron records his Vaishnava
affiliation. Therefore, the cave is popularly known as the Vishnu Cave. Only a fragment of
the painting has survived on the vaulted roof of the front mandapa.
Paintings in this cave depict palace scenes. One shows Kirtivarman, the son of Pulakesi I and
the elder brother of Mangalesha, seated inside the palace with his wife and feudatories
watching a dance scene. Towards the corner of the panel are figures of Indra and his retinue.

Solution: d)
The painters in Kerala evolved a language taking cues from contemporary traditions like
Kathakali and kalam ezhuthu using vibrant and luminous colours, representing human
figures in three-dimensionality. Most of the paintings are seen on the walls of shrines and
cloister walls of temples and some inside palaces. Thematically too, paintings from Kerala
stand apart. Most of the narrations are based on those episodes from Hindu mythology
which were popular in Kerala. The artist seems to have derived sources from oral traditions
and local versions of the Ramayana and the Mahabharata for painted narration.

More than sixty sites have been found with mural paintings which include three palaces—
Dutch palace in Kochi, Krishnapuram palace in Kayamkulam and Padmanabhapuram
palace. Among the sites where one can see the mature phase of Kerala‘s mural painting
tradition are Pundareekapuram Krishna temple, Panayanarkavu, Thirukodithanam,
Triprayar Sri Rama temple and Trissur Vadakkunathan temple

Solution: d

Solution (a)
The first gold coins were issued in India by the Kushanas. Punch-marked coins made
of silver and copper (c. sixth century BCE onwards) were amongst the earliest to be minted and
used. These have been recovered from excavations at a number of sites throughout the
subcontinent. A punch-marked coin, so named because symbols were punched or stamped onto
the metal surface

Solution (c)
According to the Manusmriti, the paternal estate was to be divided equally amongst sons after the
death of the parents, with a special share for the eldest. Women could not claim a share of these
resources. The Manusmriti laid down the “duties” of the chandalas. They had to live outside the
village, use discarded utensils, and wear clothes of the dead and ornaments of iron. They could
not walk about in villages and cities at night. They had to dispose of the bodies of those who had
no relatives and serve as executioners

Solution.(b)
The Lucknow Pact of December 1916 was an understanding between the Congress and the
Muslim League (controlled by the UP-based “Young Party”) whereby the Congress accepted
separate electorates. The Poona Pact was signed in 1932 between Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar and
Mahatma Gandhi by which seats were reserved for the Depressed Classes out of general
electorate

Solution.(a)
After the failure of the Cripps Mission, Mahatma Gandhi decided to launch his third major
movement against British rule. This was the “Quit India” campaign, which began in August 1942.
Although Gandhiji was jailed at once (many other Congress leaders were also remained in the jail
for most part of the movement) , younger activists organised strikes and acts of sabotage all over
the country. Particularly active in the underground resistance were socialist members of the
Congress, such as Jayaprakash Narayan.