Question Discussion & Solution

Jagat Pati Joshi(J.P. Joshi) is an Indian archaeologist who discovered the Indus Valley site of Dholavira.​

• As per the evidence, the Harappan people used to trade with Afghanistan, Persia, and Oman.
• But there is no evidence that they also trade with Mongolia. 

• Indus Valley Civilization is the sole example of the Proto-Historical Phase in the Indian subcontinent.
• We consider this phase as proto-historical because modern historians have discovered scripts of that period but they have not deciphered it.

  S No	Phase	Script	Deciphered or not
  1	Pre Historical	No Script	Not Deciphered
  2	Proto Historical	Scripts exist	Not Deciphered
  3	Historical	Scripts exist	Deciphered

The correct answer is 1829 AD.

• The Bengal Sati Regulation which banned the Sati practice in all jurisdictions of British India was passed on 4 December 1829 by the then Governor-General Lord William Bentinck.

Key Points

• Sati is a practice among Hindu communities where a recently widowed woman, either voluntarily or by force, immolates herself on her deceased husband's pyre.
• The woman who immolates herself is called a Sati which is also interpreted as a chaste woman or a good and devoted wife.
• Raja Rammohan Roy was a vociferous campaigner against Sati.
• Lord William Bentinck helped Raja Rammohan Roy to suppress many prevalent social evils like Sati, polygamy, child marriage, and female infanticide.

• The correct answer is option 3, i.e., Both I and II.

Key Points

• Mohenjodaro had a Great Bath in which important people used to take a dip on special occasions.
• Great Bath was a very special tank built on the citadel, the higher part on the left side of the city.
• The Great Bath was lined with bricks coated with plaster and made water-tight with a layer of natural tar.
• The steps used to lead down to it from two sides, and there used to be rooms on all sides of the Great Bath.
• Water in the tank was brought from the well and drained out after use.
• Important people used to take bath in this tank on special occasions.

Thus, we can say that both the statement are correct.

The correct answer is Simuka.

Key Points

• The founder of the Satavahana dynasty was Simuka.
• The Satavahanas established their independent rule after the decline of the Mauryas.
• Satavahanas ruled over parts of western and central India.
• They were also known as the Andhras.
• The Puranas and inscriptions remain important sources for the history of Satavahanas.
• Important inscriptions:
  • The Nasik and Nanaghad inscriptions throw much light on the reign of Gautamiputra Satakarni. 
• Satvahana rulers worshipped a large number of Vaishnava gods such as Krishna, Vasudeva, and others.
• The official language of the Satavahanas was Prakrit.

Additional Information

• Gautamiputra Satakarni:
  • He was the greatest ruler of the Satavahana dynasty.
  • He took his name after his mother.
  • He ruled for a period of 24 years from 106 to 130 A.D.
• Hala:
  • ​He was the 17th King of the Satavahana dynasty.
  • He wrote books on Gathasaptasati and Sattasai.
• Vasudeva:
  • ​The founder of the Kanva dynasty
  • He assassinated the last ruler of the Sunga dynasty.