RPSC RAS Prelims 2013 Art and Culture Questions with Solutions

Explanation

The chronological sequence of these festivals according to the calendar year begins with the Camel Festival in Bikaner, which is traditionally held in January. This is followed by the Maru (Desert) Festival in Jaisalmer, which typically takes place in late January or February depending on the lunar cycle. The Elephant Festival in Jaipur occurs next, as it is celebrated on the day of Holi in March. The sequence concludes with the Summer Festival in Mount Abu, which is organized in May. This progression follows the standard schedule of the Rajasthan Tourism Department from the start of the Gregorian year.

Explanation

The chronological sequence of these festivals according to the English calendar year is determined by their traditional scheduling. The Camel Festival in Bikaner is held in the month of January. It is followed by the Maru Festival (Desert Festival) in Jaisalmer, which takes place in February, usually concluding on Magh Purnima. The Elephant Festival in Jaipur is celebrated on the day of Holi, which typically falls in March. Finally, the Summer Festival in Mount Abu is organized in May or June, coinciding with Buddha Purnima. This puts the events in the order of 3, 1, 2, and 4.

Explanation

The Chopa (often referred to as Chunp or Chupa in Rajasthani culture) is a traditional ornament worn on the teeth. It consists of a small gold or silver pin or stud that is carefully embedded into the front teeth. This practice involves drilling a tiny hole in the enamel to fix the metal piece, serving as a permanent dental decoration. It is a distinctive cultural adornment primarily seen in the Rajasthan region, where such dental jewelry is considered a mark of beauty and social tradition.

Explanation

Savitri Devi Bhati was a prominent freedom fighter from Jodhpur who actively participated in the Marwar Prajamandal movement and the Lok Parishad. Bhagwati Devi Vishnoi was associated with Udaipur and contributed significantly to the Mewar Prajamandal activities, even facing imprisonment during the struggle for independence. Lakshmi Devi Acharya served as a key leader and president of the Bikaner Rajya Prajamandal, mobilizing public opinion against the princely rule in Bikaner. Kumari Kusum Gupta was an influential activist in the Kota region, playing a vital role in the Prajamandal movements and the political awakening of women in the Hadoti area.

Explanation

The Rawalon ki Madal is a traditional percussion instrument used primarily by the Rawal community of Rajasthan in folk performances. It is unique among the state's folk instruments because its construction incorporates a tensioning system identical to the classical Pakhawaj. The drum features leather braces, referred to as doti, which secure the drumheads to the body. Small cylindrical wooden blocks are wedged between these braces and the shell of the drum. By moving these blocks up or down, the performer can precisely adjust the tension of the skins to tune the instrument, a mechanical characteristic not found in other local folk drums.

Explanation

The Suratkhana, frequently transliterated as SaratKhana in historical administrative records of the Jaipur state, was the royal department dedicated to the creation and preservation of visual art. It was one of the thirty-six karkhanas or specialized workshops maintained by the Kachwaha rulers to manage state affairs and cultural patronage. Within this factory, skilled artists were employed to produce miniature paintings, royal portraits, and illustrated manuscripts. This institution was central to the growth of the Jaipur school of painting, providing the necessary infrastructure, materials, and royal supervision for artists to refine their craft and document the courtly life and religious themes of the era.

Explanation

Munda tribes of the Chota Nagpur plateau worship the Mahua tree (Madhuca longifolia) during various cultural and religious festivals.

Bishnois of Rajasthan are renowned for their spiritual devotion to the Khejri tree (Prosopis cineraria), which they protect as a core tenet of their faith.

Tribes of Odisha traditionally worship the Tamarind (Imali) tree during significant life events and specific rituals such as marriage ceremonies.

Buddhists consider the Peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) sacred because Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment beneath a specimen of this species, known as the Bodhi tree.

Explanation

Munda: Mahua. The Munda and Santal tribes of the Chota Nagpur region worship the Mahua and Kadamba trees during their traditional rituals and festivals.

Bishnoi: Khejri. The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is deeply committed to nature conservation and holds the Khejri tree sacred for its spiritual and ecological significance.

Tribes of Odisha: Imali. Various tribes in Odisha and Bihar specifically worship the Tamarind (Imali) and Mango trees during wedding ceremonies.

Buddhist: Peepal. The Peepal tree is considered sacred by Buddhists as the Bodhi Tree under which Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment at Bodh Gaya.

Explanation

The Munda and Santhal tribes of the Chota Nagpur region consider the Mahua tree sacred and worship it during their religious festivals and cultural ceremonies. The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is famously dedicated to the protection of the Khejri tree, which is a lifeline for the desert ecosystem and is considered holy in their faith. Tribal societies in Odisha and Bihar hold the Tamarind (Imali) tree in high regard, particularly worshipping it during wedding rituals as a symbol of sanctity. In Buddhism, the Peepal tree is the most significant sacred plant because Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under its shade at Bodh Gaya, leading it to be known as the Bodhi Tree. These associations reflect the deep historical tradition of nature worship and ecological conservation within diverse Indian communities.

Explanation

A-2 (Munda - Mahua): The Munda and Santhal tribes of the Chota Nagpur region traditionally worship the Mahua and Kadamba trees as sacred symbols. B-4 (Bishnoi - Khejri): The Bishnoi community of Rajasthan is famous for their conservation efforts and religious reverence for the Khejri tree. C-1 (Tribes of Odisha - Imali): Tribal societies in Odisha and Bihar worship the Tamarind (Imali) and Mango trees during significant ceremonies such as weddings. D-3 (Buddhist - Peepal): The Peepal tree is the most sacred tree in Buddhism, known as the Bodhi tree under which Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.

Explanation

The Archery Sports Academy was established in Udaipur by the Tribal Area Development (TAD) Department of the Government of Rajasthan. The primary objective of this academy is to provide professional training and modern facilities to tribal youth who possess a natural aptitude for traditional archery. By focusing on the tribal population of the Mewar and Vagad regions, the academy aims to refine their indigenous skills to meet international competitive standards. Udaipur serves as the administrative headquarters for tribal welfare activities in the state, making it the central location for such specialized sports infrastructure.

Explanation

The claim that Mughal-e-Azam was the first Indian film nominated for an Oscar is factually incorrect. The distinction of being the first Indian film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film belongs to Mother India, which was released in 1957 and directed by Mehboob Khan. Mother India was shortlisted among the final five nominees for the 30th Academy Awards and lost to the Italian film Nights of Cabiria by a margin of only one vote. Mughal-e-Azam, released in 1960, was never nominated for an Oscar.

Explanation

Goga Navami is a traditional festival dedicated to the folk deity Gogaji, also known as Jahar Veer or Goga Pir, who is primarily worshipped in Rajasthan and North India as a protector against snake bites. According to the Hindu lunar calendar, the festival is observed on the Navami tithi during the Krishna Paksha, which is the dark fortnight, of the month of Bhadrapada. This day is believed to be the birth anniversary of Gogaji. Devotees participate in various rituals and large fairs are organized at his major shrines, most notably at Gogamedi in the Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan, to seek protection and prosperity.

Explanation

The Veer Tejaji Cattle Fair is held in Parbatsar to honor the Rajasthani folk deity Veer Tejaji. This major livestock fair takes place annually in the Hindu month of Bhadrapada, specifically commencing on Bhadrapada Shukla Dashami. It serves as a significant commercial hub for the sale and purchase of the Nagauri breed of cattle. The fair was established in Parbatsar during the 18th century under the patronage of Maharaja Vijay Singh of Marwar, who moved the celebration to this location to promote trade and religious devotion in the region.

Explanation

The Khilji dynasty introduced the decorative feature of a lotus-bud fringe or floral designs on the lower surface of arches, most notably seen in the Alai Darwaza in Delhi. The Tughlaq period is credited with the emergence of octagonal tombs in India, with the tomb of Khan-i-Jahan Tilangani being the first of its kind, breaking the earlier tradition of square plans. The Vijayanagara Empire developed a unique pillar style that incorporated intricate carvings of the Bodhi tree and other floral motifs alongside mythical creatures like the yali to adorn temple halls. The Sharqi dynasty, referred to as Shishya in certain architectural contexts, is famous for its grand mosque architecture in Jaunpur which features massive main gates or pylons with sloping walls, a structural technique known as batter that was inherited from Tughlaq influences but made more prominent in their gateway designs.

Explanation

Kalanidhi is a scholarly treatise on architecture and temple renovation written by Govinda, the son of Maharana Kumbha's chief architect, Mandan. The text specifically addresses the reconstruction of temples and the technical aspects of building shikharas. While Govinda was a contemporary of the Maharana and belonged to the family of architects serving the Mewar court, the authorship of this specific work is historically attributed to him rather than to Maharana Kumbha himself.

Explanation

Jamnadas, Chhotelal, Baksaram, and Nandlal were prominent artists of the Alwar school of painting, which is a significant sub-style under the Dhundhar school of Rajasthan. This artistic tradition reached its peak during the reigns of Maharaja Bakhtawar Singh and Maharaja Vinay Singh in the late 18th and 19th centuries. The Alwar style is distinguished by its synthesis of Mughal delicacy and Rajput themes, often focusing on portraits, courtly life, and religious manuscripts. These specific artists are recognized for their contributions to the miniature paintings and intricate border decorations that define the Alwar school's unique aesthetic identity within Rajasthani art.

Explanation

Molela is a village located in the Rajsamand district of Rajasthan, internationally acclaimed for its unique terracotta craft. The artisans here specialize in creating handcrafted clay plaques that feature raised relief figures of local deities, such as Dharmaraja and Devnarayan, as well as scenes depicting village life. This craft is traditionally practiced by the Kumhar community, who use a specific blend of clay from the Banas River mixed with rice husk and donkey dung to create durable ceramic panels. These plaques are highly sought after by tribal groups for their shrines and are recognized for their distinct folk-art style, which earned Molela terracotta a Geographical Indication (GI) tag.

Explanation

Hammirayan was authored by Bhandu Vyas and is a significant Rajasthani literary work detailing the life and heroic deeds of Hammir Deva of Ranthambore. Veermayan was composed by the poet Bader, also known as Badar Dhadhi, and focuses on the valor of Rao Viramdev. Raghunath Rupak is a work by Manchharam Sevag written in the Dingal language that provides historical accounts of the rulers of Marwar, specifically Maharaja Vijay Singh. Kirtar Bawani, often spelled as Kitara Bawani in older texts, consists of 52 couplets written by the famous court poet Dursa Aadha, reflecting the social and political atmosphere of the medieval period.

Explanation

The Kamaycha is a bowed string instrument, classified as a Tattva Vadya in the traditional Indian classification system. It is a central folk instrument of the Manganiyar community in Rajasthan, carved from a single block of mango wood with a large circular resonator covered in goat hide. The instrument typically features three main strings made of gut and several sympathetic metal strings, which are played using a bow made of horsehair. Because its sound is generated by the vibration of strings rather than the vibration of an air column, it is not categorized as a wind instrument.

Explanation

In Malaysia, Teacher's Day is known as Hari Guru and is celebrated annually on May 16. The term is derived from the Malay language, where hari means day and guru means teacher. This specific date was chosen to commemorate the endorsement of the Razak Report by the Federal Legislative Council of the Federation of Malaya on May 16, 1956. This landmark document served as the foundation for the modern Malaysian national education system, outlining the framework for a unified educational structure for the country. The day is marked by various school activities and ceremonies to honor the contributions of educators to the nation's development.

Explanation

Amol Palekar, a renowned veteran of Indian cinema, was appointed by the Film Federation of India to lead the selection committee for the 88th Academy Awards. As chairman, he headed a multi-member jury that evaluated film submissions from across the country. This committee eventually nominated the Marathi film Court, directed by Chaitanya Tamhane, as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film category at the 2016 Oscars.

Explanation

Salman Rushdie is the author of the novel Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-Eight Nights. The book is a work of magical realism that draws heavily from Eastern folklore and mythology. The specific duration mentioned in the title is significant because two years, eight months, and twenty-eight nights equals one thousand and one nights, paying homage to the classic collection of Middle Eastern stories known as the Arabian Nights. Rushdie uses this framework to explore the conflict between the supernatural world of the jinn and the rational world of humans, centering the narrative on the descendants of the philosopher Ibn Rushd and their struggle against dark forces.

Explanation

The Shakambhari Devi temple is located on the southern bank of the Sambhar Lake in Rajasthan. She is the traditional tutelary deity (Kuldevi) of the Chauhan dynasty of Sambhar and Ajmer. According to local legend and historical inscriptions like the Bijolia inscription, the goddess transformed a forest of precious metals into a lake of salt (Sambhar Lake) to prevent human greed, and she is revered as the goddess who provided vegetarian food (Shaka) to the people during a long famine, which led to her being named Shakambhari.

Explanation

Vimla Bhandari was conferred with the Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2013 in the Rajasthani language category for her book titled Antaryami. This prestigious award is presented annually by the Sahitya Akademi to recognize outstanding contributions to children's literature in various Indian languages, including Rajasthani. Her work Antaryami was selected for its literary merit and its contribution to the body of literature specifically written for children in the Rajasthani language.

Explanation

Rajendra Yadav was a seminal figure in the Nayi Kahani movement of Hindi literature, and Sara Akash is one of his most influential works. Originally published in 1951 under the title Pret Bolte Hain, the novel was later renamed and became a cornerstone of modern Hindi fiction. It provides a realistic and psychologically profound portrayal of a joint family in an urban setting, focusing on the internal conflicts and domestic pressures faced by a newly married couple. The novel's significance was further cemented when it was adapted into a critically acclaimed film by Basu Chatterjee in 1969, marking a major moment in the Parallel Cinema movement in India.

Explanation

The Rabab is a traditional stringed instrument classified as a plucked instrument or Tata Vadya. It is typically carved from a single block of wood with a hollowed-out sound box covered with parchment. The strings are vibrated by plucking them with a plectrum, historically made from coconut shell or bone. In the context of Indian folk music, particularly in the regions of Rajasthan and Kashmir, the Rabab is a prominent melodic instrument used by communities such as the Langas and Bhats. It also holds deep historical significance in the Sikh musical tradition, as it was the instrument played by Bhai Mardana to accompany Guru Nanak Dev Ji.

Explanation

The Rabab is a traditional stringed instrument, which classifies it as a Tat Vadya according to the Indian system of musical instrument categorization. In this classification, Tat Vadya includes all instruments where sound is produced through the vibration of strings. The Rabab is widely used in the folk music of Rajasthan, especially by the Langa and Manganiyar communities. It typically consists of a hollow wooden body with a soundboard covered in goat skin, and it features several strings that are plucked to produce a deep, resonant tone used for both melodic and rhythmic accompaniment.

Explanation

The chronological order of these festivals follows the sequence of months in the Hindu lunar calendar, which begins with the month of Chaitra. Gangaur (iii) is celebrated on Chaitra Shukla Tritiya, falling in the first month of the year. Akha Teej (ii), also known as Akshaya Tritiya, occurs on Vaishakh Shukla Tritiya in the second month. Teej (i), specifically referring to Hariyali Teej or Chhoti Teej, is observed on Shravan Shukla Tritiya in the fifth month. Kajli Teej (iv), also known as Badi Teej or Satudi Teej, takes place on Bhadrapada Krishna Tritiya, which falls in the dark fortnight of the sixth month. Thus, the sequence based on the traditional calendar year is Gangaur, followed by Akha Teej, then Teej, and finally Kajli Teej.

Explanation

Maharaja Ganga Singh of Bikaner entered into an agreement with the British Government in 1893 to have coins for his state minted at the Calcutta Mint. These coins featured the bust of Queen Victoria on the obverse side along with the legend Victoria Empress inscribed in English. The reverse side of the coins bore the name of the ruler, Maharaja Ganga Singh Bahadur, written in Devanagari script along the upper edge and in Urdu script along the lower edge. These modern coins replaced the older local currencies and were issued in various denominations, including the silver Rupee. The presence of English, Devanagari, and Urdu on a single coin reflected the administrative integration of the Bikaner state with British India while maintaining the sovereign identity of the local Maharaja.

Explanation

The Vedangas are the six auxiliary disciplines traditionally associated with the study and understanding of the Vedas. These limbs consist of Shiksha (phonetics), Kalpa (ritual instructions), Vyakarana (grammar), Nirukta (etymology), Chhanda (metrics), and Jyotisha (astronomy). Alankara refers to the study of figures of speech and poetic ornamentation. It is a vital part of Kavyashastra, the science of literary composition and aesthetics, rather than a formal component of the Vedic structural framework.

Explanation

The Jantar Mantar in Jaipur was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010 during the 34th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Brasilia. Built by Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh II in the early 18th century, it is an astronomical observation site that represents the culmination of the astronomical skills and cosmological concepts of the court of a scholarly prince. The site consists of nineteen architectural astronomical instruments, including the world largest stone sundial known as the Samrat Yantra. These instruments were designed for observing astronomical positions with the naked eye and provide an outstanding testimony to the astronomical traditions and philosophical beliefs of the period. It is recognized as the most significant, most comprehensive, and best-preserved of India's historic observatories, reflecting a unique fusion of architectural form and scientific function.

Explanation

The Dwarkadhish temple is a prominent seat of the Vallabh Sampraday located in Kankroli near Rajsamand. Shrinathji is the central deity of the Pushtimarg sect, and the main temple is situated in Nathdwara, where the idol was installed after being moved from Mathura during the reign of Aurangzeb. Mathuradheesh represents the first peeth of the Vallabh Sampraday and is located in Kota. Govind Devji is the principal deity of the Gaudiya Sampraday in Rajasthan, and the temple is located within the City Palace complex in Jaipur, having been brought there from Vrindavan by Sawai Jai Singh II.