QUIZ – 2020: INSIGHTS STATIC QUIZ, 25 January 2020 – History

Solution: a)

With the Gupta dynasty (~4th to 6th century), the growth in ritualistic Mahayana Buddhism, and the adoption of Buddhist ideas into Hindu schools, the differences between Buddhism and Hinduism blurred. Vaishnavism, Shaivism and other Hindu traditions became increasingly popular, and Brahmins developed a new relationship with the state. As the system grew, Buddhist monasteries gradually lost control of land revenue. In parallel, the Gupta kings built Buddhist temples such as the one at Kushinagara, and monastic universities such as those at Nalanda, as evidenced by records left by three Chinese visitors to India.

According to Hazra, Buddhism declined in part because of the rise of the Brahmins and their influence in socio-political process.

Solution: a)

Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were the types of taxes collected in South India, particular in Maratha Empire.

Solution: b)

The three Round Table Conferences of 1930–32 were a series of conferences organized by the British Government and Indian national congress was participant to discuss constitutional reforms in India. These started in November 1930 and ended in December 1932. They were conducted as per the recommendation of Jinnah to Viceroy Lord Irwin and Prime Minister Ramsay MacDonald, and by the report submitted by the Simon Commission in May 1930. Demands for swaraj, or self-rule, in India had been growing increasingly strong.

The Congress had boycotted the first conference.

A settlement between Mahatma Gandhi and Viceroy Lord Irwin known as the Gandhi–Irwin Pact was reached and Gandhi was appointed as the sole representative of the Congress to the second Round Table Conference.

Although MacDonald was still Prime Minister of Britain, he was by this time heading a coalition Government (the “National Government”) with a Conservative majority. It was held in London in September 1931.

Solution: a)

In November 1927 itself (i.e., 2 years before the schedule), the British Government announced the appointment a seven-member statutory commission under the chairmanship of Sir John Simon to report on the condition of India under its new Constitution.

All the members of the commission were British and hence, almost all the parties boycotted the commission with a few exceptions like Justice Party of Madras and Unionist Party in Punjab.

Rabindranath Tagore renounced his knighthood to protest against Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Solution: b)