Question : “Not only does ancient Tamil literature furnish an accurate picture of widely disparate classes, it also describes the social condition of Tamil country as it was” Discuss.
(2015)
Answer : The ancient tamil literature refers to the the ancient Tamil which land was divided into five types- Kurinji, Mullai, Marutam, Neithal and Palai. The people were divided into five different clans (“kudes”) based on their profession. They were;
Tholkappiyam refers to 5 fold ....
Question : What light do early inscription and literature throw on the status of women in politico-socio-economic sphere.
(2010)
Answer : Literary sources and inscription bring out the status of women in early India. These literary sources include religious text, smritis, secular literature, Biographies etc. The account from inscription, through limited in context is mostly in the form of prastis.
Literary sources are the most primitive historic sources which give an account from around 1500 B.C. Literary sources which through light on status of women in Vedic period are the 4 Vedas i.e. Rigveda, Samveda, Yajurveda and ....
Question : Bring out the regional variations in the early South Indian Temple’s architectural styles.
(2009)
Answer : The South Indian style of temple architecture is very distinct from that of the rest of India. It is convenient to resolve the types of architecture into four periods corresponding to the principal kingdoms that ruled in southern India down the centuries i.e. the Pallavas, Cholas, Pandyas and the Vijayanagara rulers. According to the plan four sided, polygonal or curvilinear the southern Vimanas are classified in the southern Silpa and Agama texts as Nagara, Dravida ....
Question : Give an account of the use of gold coins by commoners in the Gupta Period.
(2009)
Answer : The Gupta period is called the Golden Age of ancient India. This may not be true in the economic field because several towns in north India declined during this period. But the Guptas possessed a large amount of gold and they issued a large number of gold coins. An important feudal development that surfaced under the Guptas was the grant of fiscal and administrative concessions to priest and administrators. The practice became a regular affair. ....
Question : Furnish a critical and comparative account of various schools of art in the Post-Mauryan period (C. 200 B.C. - C. 300 A.D).
(1998)
Answer : The Post-Mauryan period saw the development of local or regional styles of sculptural art-Gandhara and Mathura in the north and Amarvati in the lower Krishna-Godavari valley.
Gandhara School : A great deal of Gandhara sculpture has survived dating from the 1st to probably as late as the 6th on 7th Century, but in a remarkably homogenous style, almost always in a blue-grey mica schist, though sometimes in a green phyllite on in stucco or very ....
Question : The architectural and artistic features of the great Stupa at Sanchi
(1997)
Answer : Sanchi is the only place where all the examples of Buddhist architecture are available. There are three stupas which are to much artistic. The main Stupa is 16.4 metre in height with a circumference of 36.5 metre at the ground level. There is a hornika at the top with the sign of Ashoka’s Dhamma under a Chhatradanda. The stupa is made of red-stone surrounded by a egg-shaped way known as the Pradakshinapath. There are two ....
Question : “The centuries between C. 200 B.C. and C. A.D. 300 constitute a landmark in the socio-religious history of India”. Analyze the proposition.
(1995)
Answer : A political events in India after the close of the Mauryan period became diffuse, involving a variety of kings, eras, and people. Whereas the people of the peninsula and South India were seeking to define their personality, northern India found itself caught up in the turmoil of happenings in central Asia. Yet beneath this apparent confusion there was one factor which gave continuity and consistency to this period-and that was trade. Through all the political ....
