Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Bhavai – Gujarat.

Key Points

• Bhavai is a folk dance popular in Rajasthan.
• The male or female performer balance a number of earthen pots or brass pitchers as they dance nimbly swimming with the soles of their feet first on top of the glass and on the edge of the sword or on the rims of the brass plate during the performance.
• Bhavai is also one of the most colourful performances of the state as the women wear bright coloured Ghaghra cholis and dupattas.
• The men from these communities offer the music to this dance, using string and percussion instruments.

Confusion Points

• Bhavai dance is often misinterpreted from ‘Bhavai’ which is a folk theatre form of Gujarat. 

Additional Information

The correct answer is Ladakh.

Key Points

• Hemish festival is celebrated in Ladakh.
• Hemish Festival:
  • It is celebrated every year on the birth anniversary of Guru Padmasambhava. 
  • The Dance Festival is world-famous representing the reincarnation of Buddha.
  • The most attractive part of the festival is the mystic mask dance.
  • The mask dances of Ladakh are referred to as Chams dance.

Additional Information

The correct answer is A hand-painted cotton textile in South India.

• Kalamkari painting refers to a hand-painted cotton textile in South India.

Key Points

• Kalamkari derives its name from Kalam meaning Pen, and Kari meaning work, literally Pen-work.
• A Kalamkari artist uses a bamboo or date palm stick pointed at one end with a bundle of fine hair attached to the pointed end which serves as the brush or pen.
• There are two distinctive styles of Kalamkari art in India
  • The Srikalahasti style
  • The Machilipatnam style of art.

(a) - 3, (b) - 4, (c) - 2, (d) - 1correctly matched.

Key Points

• There are six orthodox schools of Indian Philosophy called shatdarshanas and it includes Nyaya, Sankhya, Yoga, Vaisheshika, Purva Mimamsa, and Uttara Mimamsa (Vedanta Philosophy).
• Vaisheshika school deals with metaphysics. It was founded by the sage Kanada. According to the Vaisheshika school of philosophy, the universe is reducible to a finite number of atoms, Brahman being the fundamental force causing consciousness in these atoms.

Important Points

The other five schools of Indian Philosophy are as follows:

• Sankhya is the oldest philosophy. It was put forward by Kapila. Samkhya emphasizes the attainment of knowledge of the self by means of concentration and meditation.
• Yoga presents a method of physical and mental discipline. The founder of Yoga is Pathanjali.  It is believed that practicing Ashtanga Yoga is the way to relieve oneself from past sins in order to make way for liberation.
• Nyaya school follows a scientific and rational approach. Sage Gautama is the founder of this school. Nyaya Philosophy states that nothing is acceptable unless it is in accordance with reason and experience (scientific approach).
• Purva Mimamsa school believes in the complete authority of Vedas. It is based on sage Jaimini’s Mimamsa Sutras.
• Vedanta school is a monotheistic school of philosophy that believes that the world is unreal and the only reality is Brahman. It is based on Upanishads (the end portions of Vedas).

The correct answer is Gupta.

Key Points

• Gupta Dynasty:
  • ​The Gupta empire was founded by Sri Gupta. 
  • The Gupta Empire rose in Magadha around the 4th century AD and covered the greater part of Northern India.
  • The Gupta Period is popularly known as the ‘Golden Age of India’.

Additional Information

• Nanda Dynasty:
  • Nanda Dynasty ruled during 344 BC-323 BC.
  • Nanda dynasty was founded by Mahapadma Nanda.
  • Mandivardhana the last ruler of the Shishunaga dynasty was overthrown by Mahapadma Nanda and started the Nanda dynasty.
  • It is considered to be the first non-Kshatriya dynasty and ruled for 100 years. 
  • Dhanananda was The last king of the Nanda Dynasty.
• Maurya Dynasty:
  • ​Brihadratha was the last ruler of the Mauryan dynasty.
  • Chandragupta Maurya was the founder of the Mauryan dynasty. He defeated the Nanda king Dhanananda with the help of Chanakya/Kautilya.
  • Ashoka was the son of Bindusara and one of the greatest rulers of the Mauryan Empire. Ashoka fought the battle of Kalinga.
• Sunga Dynasty:​
  • ​Devabhuti was the last ruler of the Sunga dynasty.
  • He was assassinated by his minister Vasudeva.
  • Pushyamitra sunga was the founder of the Sunga dynasty.
  • Pushyamitra Sunga assassinated the last Mauryan ruler Brihadratha and established the Sunga dynasty.
  • Agnimitra Sunga was the son and successor of Pushyamitra Sunga.
  • Agnimitra Sunga was the main protagonist in the play Malvikagnimitram written by Kalidasa.