Making of Regional Culture Flashcards
To study chapter 7 of history perfectly
Name the key facts about Malayalam Language.
2 marks questions ; Write 5-6 points
- Malayalam was one of the earliest languages used as official records in the Indian subcontinent.
- The Chera rulers of Mahodayapuram established their kingdom in mid-9th century and spoke this Language.
- Prominent in present-day Kerala.
- Malayalam is directly indebted to Sanskrit language.
- Lilatilakam is and important Malayalam literature text which is composed in Manipravalam script.
- Manipravalam means diamonds and corals and is a metaphor to the harmonious relationship of Sanskrit & regional languages.
Page 79-80
What was the most prominent inspiration of Kathak?
The Rasalila (Love story of Krishna & Radha)
Page 83
Why did Mughals maintain a collection of miniatures?
Miniature paintings convey same informations as the Manuscripts. They help the uneducated understand the information the manuscript tries to relay. Mughals also maintained miniatures to display their social life, hunting expeditions or court scenes. They also used these as gifts and were very exclusive
Page 85
How did Rajasthani and Haryanvi Paintings (Miniatures) evolve?
3 points
As the Mughal empire declined, several artisans and painters from the land fled to either the Himachal region or further west towards the desert. Here again, they displayed their skill by retaining key features of Mughal miniatures but with a local tint. Centres in Rajasthan include Mewar, Jodhpur, Kota, Kishangarh, Buni etc., In the Himachal region, the fled artisans painted the Khangra style of art.
Page 85
Whose invasion 1739 lead migration of Mughal artisans to the Himachal?
Nadir Shah
Page 86
Who were Naths?
Naths were ascetics who engaged in a variety of yogic practises.
Page 88
What are the 6 classical dances of India?
Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Odissi, Manipuri, Kathak and Kuchipudi
Page 84
Where was emphasis laid on in the dance form of Kathak?
Emphasis was laid on intricate and rapid footwork, elaborate costumes and enactment of stories in the classical dance form of Kathak.
Page 84
Which city did prince Raj Singh Belong to?
Bikaner
Page 81
Under whose rule did Kathak blossom?
Wajid Ali Shah
Page 83
Wajid Ali Shah had a specific place to keep the Kathak dancers pre their performances. What is this place?
Important question
Horem
Page 83; Side information
Which Seventeenth Century Chinese traveller observed that languages related to Sanskrit were used all over Bengal?
Xuan Zang
Page 87
What is the irony about survival of miniature paintings?
The irony is that the miniature paintings [in Kangra form] painted by ordinary men & women on pots, cloth, walls occasionally survived contrary to those which were preserved in palaces.
Page 86-87
Explain the Basohli style of painting
The late seventeenth century saw a new miniature style evolve in the Himachal regions which consists of bold and intense painting called Basohli.
Page 86
Name any 4 famous translations into Bengali of Sanskrit texts?
Mangalyakavyas, Bhakti Literature, Biographies of Chaintanyadeva and the Vaishnavism Bhakti Movement albums.
Page 88
What does Nath Literature comprise of?
Nath Literature is completely independent Bengali and isn’t dependent of Sanskrit. It revolves around the songs of Maynamati and Gopichandra, stories containing worship of Dharma Thakur and fairy tales, folk tales and ballards.
Page 88
Who was Dharma Thakkur?
Dharma Thakur is a popular regional deity often worshipped in form of a stone or piece of wood.
Page 88
Bengali Language was the language of administration in the Bengali suba, true or false?
False
It was Persian. Bengali developed as a regional language under Mughals.
Explain the evolution of Kangra art.
3 points
The people who lived in Mughal land fled during their decline as Nadir Shah’s invasion peaked. They found shelter in the hills of Himachal. Here, they found ready patrons and soon established the Kangra school of painting.
Page 86
Features of Kangra art
Kangra art was a new form of miniature paintings in the mid-eighteenth century. The source of inspiration was the Vaishnavite traditions. Soft colours, including cool blues and greens and a lyrical treatment of themes distinguished Kangra painting.
Page 86
Why was Wajid Ali Shah sent into exile?
The British of the 19th and 20th centuries had a certain disliking for classical dance forms. They felt that Wajid Ali Shah gave priority only to the dance forms and help them grow rather than on administration of Awadh and therefore exiled him to Calcutta.
Page 84
At what point of Wajid Ali Shah’s life can we find most of his writings about his love for Kathak and awadh?
During exile
Page 84 ; side information
What is Awadh called today?
Lucknow
Discussed in class
What is the definition of gharanas?
Very important
a community of performers who share a distinctive musical style that traces to a particular instructor or region.
Page 83
Technically a tradition
Bhanudatta painted the Mangalyakavya miniatures. True or False
False
Page 86
Mangalyakavyas were auspicious poems in Sanskrit translated into Bengali. Bhanudatta painted the Rasamanjari.
From the eight century, Bengal became the centre of a regional kingdom under the ________. Fill in the blanks
Palas
Page 87
Name the 5 main centres of Rajasthani miniature art forms?
Kota, Kishangarh, Jodhpur, Bundi and Mewar
Page 85
Fun Question
Name the only Indian regional language palindrome
Malayalam
Name any one miniature from Kota
Maharan Ram Singh II playing holi in the rajput miniature
Page 86
What distinguished Kangra painting?
Soft colours of cool blues and greens and lyrical treatment of themes
Page 86
Who are the 3 icons of the Jagannatha Puri temple in Orissa?
Balabhadra {Balaram}, Subhadra, Jagannatha
Page 80
Why did the East Indian Company try to gain control over the Puri Jagannatha temple?
They felt that this would make their rule acceptable to the local people
Page 81
What led to the growing influence of Sanskrit on Bengali?
From fourth-third centuries BCE, commercial ties began to develop between Bengal and Magadha which may have led to the growing influence of Sanskrit over Bengali.
Page 87
Name me any 3 differences between the Basohli and the Kangra styles of art
Basohli
* Text Based
* Bold, Intense Colors
* Rasalila Inspired
* Grew in 17th century
Kangra
* Myth Based
* Cool Soft Colors
* Vaishnavite traditions inspired
* Grew in 18th century
Page 86
Who proclaimed himself as the
“deputy of god” to Lord Jagannatha the deity and in which year?
Anangabhima, 1230
Page 80
King Anangabhima III
How did Jagannatha temple become a socially active centre?
As the temple gained in importance as a centre of pilgrimage, its authority in social and political matters increased as well. Therefore, many rulers wanted to conquer this temple and it became socially active.
Page 81
Rajputana was completely inhabited by Rajputs and only scarce traces of other people were found. True or False?
False
Page 81
There were several groups of Rajputs living in Rajasthan and in the northern part of India, but they did not make up Rajasthan’s culture. Rajputana (Rajasthan) still consisted of several other tribes. The Rajput merely contributed to the rich culture there
What quality defined a Rajput?
The Rajput rulers cherished the ideal of the hero who fought valiantly, often choosing death on the battlefield rather than face defeat.
Page 81
Who are minstrels?
A medieval musician or singer who sang and recited heroic poetry about feats in war to a noble was a minstrel.
Page 81, extra information
Cholas developed malayalam. True or False?
False
Page 79
Cheras developed Malayalam
Which is the most common way of descirbing people
Language
Page 79, Introduction to Making of Regional Culture
Correct the statement: By the third quarter of the sixteenth century, Kathak was firmly entrenched as a dance form not only in Rajasthan and Lucknow but even in Punjab, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
Nineteenth
Page 83
Not in the sixteenth but in the nineteenth century
Which persian word means spiritual guide?
Pir
Page 89
Who did the villagers seek when they needed order and assurance?
Order and Assurance was provided by community leaders, who were actually teachers, adjudicators and were described as people with supernatural powers. They refered to them as pir.
Page 89
Define Animism
The giving or belief that even plants, everyday playthings, objects and natural phenomenon have souls.
Page 89 (Side box)
Who did the association of elderly pirs include?
- Saints or Sufis
- Other Religious personalities
- Daring Colonisers
- Deified soldiers
- Hindu Buddhist deities
Page 89
Who were the Kansari?
Bell Metal Workers
Page 90
Who were the Kolu?
Oil Pressers
Page 90
Why did the emerging groups or individuals build temples?
- Demonstrate power
- Proclaim their devotion to the deity
- Gain acceptance amongst the higher class groups
Page 89
What are the 2 methods of Bengali temple architecture?
Dochala (Two roofed)
Chauchala (Four Roofed)
Page 90
How did the “low” social groups gain acceptance?
Low social groups such as the Kolu and Kansaris were previously used by emegring groups as temple builders. The East India Company provided them with better job oppurtunities and slowly, the low social groups proclaimed their status by building independent temples.
Page 90
Give an example for decoration on outer walls of chauchala temple in Vishnupur?
The terracotta plaques of Krishna with the gopis have been brilliantly carved on to the outer walls of vishnupur temple.
Page 91
Features of Chauchala
Four triangle roofs placed on four walls move up to converge on a curved line or point. Temples usually were built on squared platforms. The interior was pretty plain, but the exterior walls were intricate and elaborate.
Page 90
