Making of Regional Culture

Question 1

Name the key facts about Malayalam Language.

2 marks questions ; Write 5-6 points

Answer 1

• 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

Question 2

What was the most prominent inspiration of Kathak?

Answer 2

The Rasalila (Love story of Krishna & Radha)

Page 83

Question 3

Why did Mughals maintain a collection of miniatures?

Answer 3

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

Question 4

How did Rajasthani and Haryanvi Paintings (Miniatures) evolve?

3 points

Answer 4

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

Question 5

Whose invasion 1739 lead migration of Mughal artisans to the Himachal?

Answer 5

Nadir Shah

Page 86

Question 6

Who were Naths?

Answer 6

Naths were ascetics who engaged in a variety of yogic practises.

Page 88

Question 7

What are the 6 classical dances of India?

Answer 7

Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Odissi, Manipuri, Kathak and Kuchipudi

Page 84

Question 8

Where was emphasis laid on in the dance form of Kathak?

Answer 8

Emphasis was laid on intricate and rapid footwork, elaborate costumes and enactment of stories in the classical dance form of Kathak.

Page 84

Question 9

Which city did prince Raj Singh Belong to?

Answer 9

Bikaner

Page 81

Question 10

Under whose rule did Kathak blossom?

Answer 10

Wajid Ali Shah

Page 83

Question 11

Wajid Ali Shah had a specific place to keep the Kathak dancers pre their performances. What is this place?

Important question

Answer 11

Horem

Page 83; Side information

Question 12

Which Seventeenth Century Chinese traveller observed that languages related to Sanskrit were used all over Bengal?

Answer 12

Xuan Zang

Page 87

Question 13

What is the irony about survival of miniature paintings?

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Explain the Basohli style of painting

Answer 14

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

Question 15

Name any 4 famous translations into Bengali of Sanskrit texts?

Answer 15

Mangalyakavyas, Bhakti Literature, Biographies of Chaintanyadeva and the Vaishnavism Bhakti Movement albums.

Page 88

Question 16

What does Nath Literature comprise of?

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Who was Dharma Thakkur?

Answer 17

Dharma Thakur is a popular regional deity often worshipped in form of a stone or piece of wood.

Page 88

Question 18

Bengali Language was the language of administration in the Bengali suba, true or false?

Answer 18

False

It was Persian. Bengali developed as a regional language under Mughals.

Question 19

Explain the evolution of Kangra art.

3 points

Answer 19

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

Question 20

Features of Kangra art

Answer 20

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

Question 21

Why was Wajid Ali Shah sent into exile?

Answer 21

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

Question 22

At what point of Wajid Ali Shah’s life can we find most of his writings about his love for Kathak and awadh?

Answer 22

During exile

Page 84 ; side information

Question 23

What is Awadh called today?

Answer 23

Lucknow

Discussed in class

Question 24

What is the definition of gharanas?

Very important

Answer 24

a community of performers who share a distinctive musical style that traces to a particular instructor or region.

Page 83

Technically a tradition

Question 25

Bhanudatta painted the Mangalyakavya miniatures. True or False

Answer 25

False | Page 86 ## Footnote Mangalyakavyas were auspicious poems in Sanskrit translated into Bengali. Bhanudatta painted the Rasamanjari.

Question 26

From the eight century, Bengal became the centre of a regional kingdom under the ________. Fill in the blanks

Answer 26

Palas | Page 87

Question 27

Name the 5 main centres of Rajasthani miniature art forms?

Answer 27

Kota, Kishangarh, Jodhpur, Bundi and Mewar | Page 85

Question 28

# Fun Question Name the only Indian regional language palindrome

Answer 28

Malayalam

Question 29

Name any one miniature from Kota

Answer 29

Maharan Ram Singh II playing holi in the rajput miniature | Page 86

Question 30

What distinguished Kangra painting?

Answer 30

Soft colours of cool blues and greens and lyrical treatment of themes | Page 86

Question 31

Who are the 3 icons of the Jagannatha Puri temple in Orissa?

Answer 31

Balabhadra {Balaram}, Subhadra, Jagannatha | Page 80

Question 32

Why did the East Indian Company try to gain control over the Puri Jagannatha temple?

Answer 32

They felt that this would make their rule acceptable to the local people | Page 81

Question 33

What led to the growing influence of Sanskrit on Bengali?

Answer 33

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

Question 34

Name me any 3 differences between the Basohli and the Kangra styles of art

Answer 34

**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

Question 34

Who proclaimed himself as the "deputy of god" to Lord Jagannatha the deity and in which year?

Answer 34

Anangabhima, 1230 | Page 80 ## Footnote King Anangabhima III

Question 34

How did Jagannatha temple become a socially active centre?

Answer 34

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

Question 34

Rajputana was completely inhabited by Rajputs and only scarce traces of other people were found. True or False?

Answer 34

False | Page 81 ## Footnote 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

Question 35

What quality defined a Rajput?

Answer 35

The Rajput rulers cherished the ideal of the hero who fought valiantly, often choosing death on the battlefield rather than face defeat. | Page 81

Question 36

Who are minstrels?

Answer 36

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

Question 37

Cholas developed malayalam. True or False?

Answer 37

False | Page 79 ## Footnote Cheras developed Malayalam

Question 38

Which is the most common way of descirbing people

Answer 38

Language | Page 79, Introduction to Making of Regional Culture

Question 39

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.*

Answer 39

Nineteenth | Page 83 ## Footnote Not in the sixteenth but in the nineteenth century

Question 40

Which persian word means spiritual guide?

Answer 40

Pir | Page 89

Question 41

Who did the villagers seek when they needed order and assurance?

Answer 41

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

Question 42

Define Animism

Answer 42

The giving or belief that even plants, everyday playthings, objects and natural phenomenon have souls. | Page 89 (Side box)

Question 43

Who did the association of elderly pirs include?

Answer 43

* Saints or Sufis * Other Religious personalities * Daring Colonisers * Deified soldiers * Hindu Buddhist deities | Page 89

Question 44

Who were the Kansari?

Answer 44

Bell Metal Workers | Page 90

Question 45

Who were the Kolu?

Answer 45

Oil Pressers | Page 90

Question 46

Why did the emerging groups or individuals build temples?

Answer 46

* Demonstrate power * Proclaim their devotion to the deity * Gain acceptance amongst the higher class groups | Page 89

Question 47

What are the 2 methods of Bengali temple architecture?

Answer 47

Dochala (Two roofed) Chauchala (Four Roofed) | Page 90

Question 48

How did the "low" social groups gain acceptance?

Answer 48

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

Question 49

Give an example for decoration on outer walls of chauchala temple in Vishnupur?

Answer 49

The terracotta plaques of Krishna with the gopis have been brilliantly carved on to the outer walls of vishnupur temple. | Page 91

Question 50

Features of Chauchala

Answer 50

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