Question Discussion & Solution

The correct answer is Kuchipudi: Odisha.

Key Points

• Kuchipudi
  • There are eight Indian classical dance forms. Kuchipudi is one among those which is performed in Andhra Pradesh.
  • The dance form derives its name from a village named Kuchipudi in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.
  • Kuchipudi derives its roots from the ancient Hindu Sanskrit text of Natya Shastra and is a dance-drama performance.
  • The dance drama performance has a long history in Andhra Pradesh and is known under the generic name Yakshagana.
  • The systematized and modern version of Kuchipudi was founded by Siddhendra Yogi in the 17th century.
  • The Kuchipudi style of Yakshagana was conceived by Yogi. He was guided by his guru Tirthanarayana Yogi.
  • It is largely devoted to the Hindu God - Krishna and it is most closely related to Bhagavata Mela.
  • Traditionally this dance form is performed only by male artists, later female artists were also allowed.
  • The dance drama has the following components:
    • Dharavu - a short preliminary dance performed by the artists after their roles are introduced.
    • Nritta - it is the pure dance performance presented after the Dharavi. It includes parts viz., darus, jatis, jatiswarams, tirmanas, and tillanas.
    • Nritya - it is the expressive part of the performance where the story is conveyed through rhythmic hand gestures. It includes padams, varnams, shabdams, and shlokas.
    • Natya - it is performed when the underlying text is a play.​

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Additional Information

The correct answer is Shehnai.

Key Points

• Ustad Bismillah Khan used to play the shehna
• He was awarded India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 2001, becoming the third classical musician after M. S. Subbalakshmi and Ravi Shankar to be awarded Bharat Ratna.
• On his 102nd birthday, Google honoured Bismillah Khan with a Google doodle.
• The Department of Posts issued a five-rupee commemorative stamp on Bismillah Khan on 21st August 2008, on the occasion of his second death anniversary.
• He had the rare honour of being invited by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to play shehnai on the ramparts of the Red Fort on the eve of 15th August 1947.
• He also heralded the first Republic Day celebrations on 26th January 1950.
• Since then the charming strain of his shehnai marked the beginning of Republic Day celebrations every year.

The correct answer is 2 only.

Key Points

• The three main components of classical dances are
  • Natya (the dramatic element of the dance i.e. the imitation of characters)
  • Nritta (the dance movements in their basic form)
  • Nritya (expressional component i.e. mudras or gestures)

There are eight classical dances in India:

1. Bharatanatyam: Tamil Nadu (Hence pair 3 is incorrectly matched)
2. Mohiniyattam: Kerala
3. Kathakali: Kerala
4. Kathak: North India (Uttar Pradesh)
5. Kuchipudi: Andhra Pradesh  (Hence pair 1 is incorrectly matched)
6. Sattriya: Assam (Hence pair 2 is correctly matched)
7. Odissi: Odisha 
8. Manipuri: Manipur

Important Points

• Yakshagana is a traditional theatre form of Karnataka that depicts mythological stories and Puranas.
• It is a temple art form performed with massive headgears and vibrant costumes.

The correct answer is Baiga.

Key Points

• Baiga
  • It is a sub-tribe of Gond.
  • The Baigas are semi-nomadic Dravidian tribes and are linked to Indo-Australian aboriginal groups. Hence, Option 1 is correct.
  • The largest number of Baigas is found in Southern districts i.e. Mandla and Balaghat districts of Madhya Pradesh.
  • Some important sub-castes of Baiga are Bijhwar, Narotia, Bharotiya, Nahar, Rai Bhaina, Kadh Bhania, etc.
  • It is believed that the ancestors of the Baigas spoke an Austroasiatic language.
  • Now they are speaking in the ‘Baigani’ language which is a variety of Chhattisgarhi influenced by Gondi and Western Hindi used by the Baigas.
  • The Baigas are true inhabitants of forests, retaining customs, traditions, handed by their ancestors.
  • They are fierce protectors and worshippers of the forests and Mother nature.
  • Five panches of Baiga Panchayat are Mukdam, Deewan, Samrath, Kotawar, and Dawari.
  • The Baigas eat coarse grain, Kodo and Kutki, drink pej (made from grounding macca or from the water left from boiling rice).
  • Tattooing all over the body is an integral part of their lifestyles.

 Additional Information

• The women who work as tattooing artists belong to the Ojha, Badni, and dewar tribes of Madhya Pradesh.
• A weekly market is an important event in the lives of the Baiga people.
• Widow remarriage and bride price are prevalent in this tribe.
• Baiga lives in a joint family and endogamy is prohibited among them.
• Their main dance forms are Karma, Saila, Phaag, etc.
• They have great faith in Magic and the Baiga regard themselves as the most powerful Magician. They worship sal trees.
• Their sacred beliefs prohibit them from plowing the land as this is perceived as traumatizing Mother Earth.
• Baiga depends on agriculture. They adopt the slash and burn form of shifting agriculture known as ‘Webar’ as ‘Pondu’.
• They are courageous woodsmen and hunters and it is below the dignity of a Baiga to become a laborer.

The correct answer is Lokayata system.

Key Points

• Charvaka philosophical system 
  • It is also called Lokayata Philosophy-the philosophy of masses.
  • It was developed around c. 600 BCE.
  • It rejected all supernatural claims, all religious authority and scripture.
  • It says that the ultimate good in life is a pleasure.
  •  It emphasised perception/evidence (pramana) and observation (anubhava) of the real, material world.

 Additional Information

• Astika system is defined as one that accepts the authority of the Vedas, the superiority of the Brahmans, and a society made up of the four traditional classes (varna).
• Mimamsa system provides rules for interpreting the early Hindu scriptures known as the Vedas and offers a philosophical rationale for observing Vedic rituals.
• Vaisesika system - According to the Vaisesika system all objects of valid knowledge come under seven categories- Substance (Dravya), Quality (Guṇa), Action (Karma), Generality (Sāmānya), Particularly (Vaiśeṣa), Inherence (Samavāya), Non-existence (abhāva).