Solutions and Keys to General Studies Paper 2005

Master Index for General Studies Preliminary Paper 2005


General Studies Preliminary Paper May 15, 2005
Time Allowed: Two Hours
Maximum Marks: 150
Total Questions: 150


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The Sheets contain answers to all the questions which have appeared in General Studies Preliminary Question paper held on May 15, 2005, conducted by UPSC for the Civil Services Examination 2005.

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General Studies Prelims 2005

General Studies Prelims 2005 paper with solutions will be available at General Studies Civil Services: Both Prelims/Mains at the posting General Studies Prelims 2005

Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India Third Set

Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India:

Chapter II:

Try to answer the following questions:

Style: Book Based

Suggestion:
Use Chapter IV, The Wonder That Was India by A. L. Basham

Reference: Continuation of the post Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient and Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India Second Set

The Provincial and Local Administration:

What was the structure of the administration in ancient India from center to the lowest rank?
How was the provincial governor was appointed in Mauryan and Guptan period of ancient period of Indian history?
Who were generally the people appointed as the provincial governors?
What changes did take place in the status of the provincial governor as the ancient of Indian history ended?
How could we learn about the change in the status of the provincial governors in the ancient period of India history?
What was the status of Chitradutta, a Guptan official?
How is the case of Chitragupta an important case study in learning about the political changes in post Guptan era?
How had the provincial dynasties developed in the post Guptan period?
Who appointed the head of the districts?
What were the functions of the district officers?
From which inscription do we learn that the district officer worked with the consultation with a council of the local leading representatives?
Who was the member of the local council, with whom the district officer consulted before implementing major decision in the strict during the Guptan period?
What was tittle of the district officer in Mauryan times?
What title did Magasthenes give to the district officer?
What was the title given to the district officer by Arthashastra?
What was the title of the district officer during the Guptan regime?
What were the powers of the local councils in Cholas periods?
What was the difference between the local councils of Chola period and the Gupta period?
What was the role of the city councils in the ancient history of India?
What was the structure of the city council give by Magasthenes?
What were the powers of the city councils in Chola period?
Who was the most important official in the city administration?
Who was Purpal in ancient administration of India?
What were the main duties of Nagaraka in ancient administration India?
Who assisted Nagaraka in maintaining the law and order in ancient cities?
What were the duties of a Dandanayaka in ancient city administration of India?
What was the general impression about the police as a part of administration during the ancient period of India?
What was one of an important immunity in the land grants to the police?
What were the duties of a Gopa as envisaged for him in Arthashastra?
What was the actual status of the post Gopa?
What was the main duty of a Gopa?
What was the reach of the authority of Gopa?
Describe in brief the functions of a Gopa?
How was the functions performed by Gopa recorded?
Which other source had corroborated the facts on Gopa as given in Arthashastra?
What impression develops about the nature of the government from the description given in Arthashastra?
Which other post supplemented the activity of Gopa?
Describe in brief the major functions performed by Nagaraka?
What do we learn about the functions of the city head from the inscription of Girnar?
Who was the governor of Saurashtra during the reign of Skand Gupta?
Who was the last person to repair the Girnar dam?
What was the post of Chkarapalita, who repaired the Girnar dam in 455 AD?
Who was the father of Chkarapalita?
What picture develops about the social condition from the inscription on Girnar dam about the Guptan period?

Village Administration:

What was the main unit of the administration throughout the ancient Indian history?
What was the basis of classification of the city administration?
Where was the classification of city more popular?
What was Gangavadi district in South during the ancient period of India history?
What is a Niagundige district in South during the ancient period of Indian history?
What was the definition of grama and what habitation could be covered under that definition during the ancient period of Indian history?
Since when the tax collector had been appointed as the major arm of the administration in ancient period of India?
Which two of the arms of the government, which had been raised in the ancient times, from earliest available records on the ancient period, has continued to the present times?
What was the status of the post of a headman of village in the ancient India?
What was the tradition of the existence of the post of the headman?
What was the major qualification for the appointment of a person as a headman of a village in ancient India?
What were the incentives to the post of the village headman in ancient India?
Which level of the village headman was given the official assistance for performing his duties in ancient India?
What were the incentives given to the officers who were to assist the high-level village headman in ancient India?
What was the actual status of the functionaries who were raised to assist the high level headman in ancient India?
What was the image of the post of village headman in the ancient Indian literature?
What is the term used of the village headman in Pali Jatak stories?
What was extend of the power of a village headman over the villagers as per the Jatak stories?
Whom could the villager approach their complaints against their village headman?
What was the actual image of a headman for the cause of villagers in Jatak stories?
What was the most important function of a village headman as per the ancient literature?
What was the most important function of the village headman in the South which head dominating village councils?
What were the major dangers to the ancient villages for which the village headman had to take special care?
Who could cause the major harm to the villages in the ancient India?
What was the ancient feature of the raiding character in Aryans and Dravidian?
What were the sensitive times for the ancient Indian villages?
What is Viragal?
What is the importance of Viragal?
What information can we deduct from Viragal?
What is the role of the position of the village headman in rise of the feudal system in India?
What was the position of the king Udayamana who was mentioned in Bihar inscription?
Do we find references to the village councils in the ancient Indian literature?
Was the Indian village council equally recognized in every ancient Empire?
Is the interpretation of Yakvalkya samriti, that the powers of village council are derived from the king, true? If no, then what was the actual situation?
What was the legal position of the powers of a village council in ancient India?
Which empire and administration had fully recognized the position of importance of the village councils?
What is the shortcoming in information on the village councils in North of ancient India?
What was the general constituent of a village council in North?
What was the constituent of a village council in Western Deccan in ancient period of Indian history?
What was the general pattern of selection of village council in ancient period of Indian history?
What is the best source of information, on the working of the village administration, in the Chola period in India?
How was the village council raised in Uttaramerur village of Chola period?
In how many wards was a village divided to raise a council in the village in Chola period?
What was the basis of selection to the council in villages of Chola period?
How many committees constituted the whole village council in Chola Empire?
What were the functions of the various village committees in Chola Empire?
Which are the three important identifies areas of activities of village committees of Chola Empire?
What was the remuneration of the members of the village committees in Chola Empire?
What were the disabilities that could revoke the membership of the committee members in the Chola Empire?
What were the qualifications for the eligibility for being elected to the village committees in the Chola Empire?
What were the restrictions on the reelection to the committees in the Chola Empire?
Which of the two major eligibilities for the election to the village committee of Uttaramerur village of Chola Empire were practiced for similar elections in other village committees in South India, for which the records are available?
What was the category of the Uttaramerur village of Chola Empire?
What was the usual age of entry to the committees in Village councils of South Indian Empires of ancient India?
Why was there restriction on the reelections to the village committees in the South Indian states of ancient India?
What were the extreme types of restriction, on the reelection to the village committees in South Indian State in ancient India?
What were peculiar ambits of functions of the village councils of South Indian States in the ancient period of Indian history?
What was the authority of the village councils in South Indian State over the wasteland of the village in the ancient period of Indian history?
Where the transactions carried out by the village council in South Indian States were recorded during the ancient period of Indian history?
Describe in brief the functioning of the village councils in South Indian States of ancient period of Indian history?

Financial Administration in Government setup

What could assure the success of the government according to ancient Indian authorities on statecraft?
When did the regular system of taxation evolve in India?
What was the land tax called in the ancient period of Indian history?
What was the main tax throughout the ancient period of Indian history?
What is the actual recommendation on the rate of land tax in the samriti literature in ancient period of Indian history?
What is the rate of land tax in ancient India as quoted by Magasthenes?
What is the recommendation of Arthashastra on the rate of land tax in ancient India?
What is the recommendation of Arthashastra on the rate of land tax on the fertile land in ancient period of Indian history?
What is the rate of land tax in the reign of Ashoka?
In what form the land tax was paid during the ancient period of Indian history?
What do we learn about the methods adopted to fix the land tax from the Jatak stories?
What was the usual method of imposing the land tax in the latter part of the ancient period of Indian history?
What was practice of paying the land tax, in South Indian empires, during the latter part of ancient period of Indian history?
Where was the land tax collected in the earliest part of the ancient period of Indian history?
What were the practices for remission and exemptions in the land tax payments during the ancient period of Indian history?
In which case was the land tax not charged for five years?
What could be the case, in which, the land tax could be partially or completely remitted during the ancient period of Indian history?
What could be the case when a group of villages could be exempted from paying land tax even during the normal harvest in the ancient period of Indian history?
What was the general formula and what were it variations while assessing the land tax on the yield of a field in the ancient period of Indian history?
Who were not being taxed as per the recommendations of the Sacred books on law?
Who were granted tax-free lands in ancient period of Indian history?
What was the tax on the religious institutions in ancient period of Indian history?
What were made to pay more than the normal tax in the ancient period of the Indian history?
What were the other kinds of taxes apart from land tax in the ancient period of Indian history?
Which was the most important tax on cultivators apart from the land tax in the ancient period of Indian history?
List the numerous taxes of ancient history of India.
List the numerous taxes of South India in ancient period of Indian history.
What was the share of the village councils in the different taxes?
Who was appointed to collect taxes from the merchants as per the Arthashastra?
What were the main functions of the Antapala?
Was there anything similar to insurance in ancient India?
What was the significance of the tax paid to Antapala for the merchants in ancient India?
Was there any insurance of the merchandise in the Mauryan period?
Was the feature of the insurance of the merchandise continue in the post Mauryan period?
Were there any tolls on the incoming merchandise in ancient period of India history?
What was the tariff schedule given by Arthashastra concerning different types of the items for selling?
What was the toll on the essential items as given in Arthashastra?
What was the toll on the non-essential items in Arthashastra?
Do we find any mention in Arthashastra of the sales tax at the rate of ten percent given by Magasthenes in his accounts?
What was the probable form of income tax in ancient period of Indian history?
What was the meaning of vishti?
Was vishti an oppressive tax in ancient period of Indian history?
What type of demands of the kings and officers were to be attended to by the common people when the king and officers were on the tour?
What was arrangement of measuring of the land in the ancient period of Indian history?
Who were rajjuks of Jataks?
What were the main functions of rajjukas of Ashokan administration?
What is the full meaning of rajjugahaka?
What does Magasthenes tell about the system of measuring in the Mauryan period?
Were the lands transferable in the ancient period of Indian history?
What was the method of recording the transfer of land in the ancient period of Indian history?
What was the system of keeping the land records in the ancient period of Indian history?
Why are the records of the land keeping of the olden times not available to us?
How favorable was the tax structure of ancient India for her public?
What is the description of tax collection scenario and its effects in the Jatak stories?
What was the scenario in South India about the failure of the payment of the taxes by the people and the village councils?
Was there tax oppression during the reign of Rajaraja I Chola king?
What was the overall tax scenario in India? Describe in brief.
What was the advice of the books of statecraft to the ancient kings on the structure of tax?
What are the advices to the kings in ancient texts on the methods and nature of the tax collection?
What was the sanction behind the collection of the tax by the king?
What is the theoretical justification for the taxation in ancient India?
What was the justification of collection and imposing of the tax by the king?
What is the Puranic story to justify the imposition of the tax by the king?
What is the Buddhist story to justify the collection of the tax by the king?
What are the perils and incentives for the kings, on the collection of tax as per the traditional belief?
If the king failed to serve the subject and even then collect the tax, what will the perils for the kings?
If the king serve the people as he is expected to serve the people, what extra benefit will he get along with the collection of the tax as per the traditional view?
What is the property of the king as per the tradition sources of ancient India?
What is the justification of the collection of tax if the king was the owner of all the land and water over the earth?
What were the two ideas, which justifies the collection of the taxes by the king in the ancient period of Indian history?
If the king was the owner of the land and gave protection to the subjects for which he charged the tax, then what were the other implications of his situation?
Could a king evict the person from the land?
Could the king charge the fee on the time of transfer of land?
Could the take back the land on the death of the present owner?
What is the implication of the title of Adhipati as given by Manu to the king?
What does the title Adhipati suggest about the powers of the kings?
What is the version of Bhattaswamin on the question of the right of the king on the land and water of the king?
Who was Bhattaswamin and when did he exist?
What are the references in the ancient sources, from which it could be concluded that king was considered the sole owner of the land and water?
Where do we find reference to the effect that the king was not considered the owner of the land of his kingdom?
What is the name of the legendary give through whom it was being suggested in the Jatak storied that king was not the owner of the land?
Which authority had stated that the king was not the owner of the land?
Who was Nilakantha?
What was the view of Nilakantha on the right of the king over the land?
According to Nilakantha, what does a king transfer, while making the gift land?
Discuss the views of Dr. Gaushal and Dr. K P Jayaswal on the question of the ownership of land and royal ownership of land? (However, the full understanding of this topic requires the reading of Feudalism by R. S. Sharma and Asoka by Romila Thaper. A fast reading can serve the purpose. However, in case you have liking for Finanacial Administration topics then include the reading of The Agrarian System of Mughal India by Habib. It will definitely help in preparaing question of Main II paper. However, I will like to direct attention to an earlier post on the Mughal period set of questions.)
What was the position of Arthashastra on the question of ownership of land and the right of the king to evict the erring peasant?
What is the position of Arthashastra on the question of eviction of the peasants who did not cultivate their land?
What rights were given to the ancient king in case of financial crises?
List the measures permitted to the king in case of distress in the ancient period of Indian history?
Where did the kings have adopted the drastic measures in distress times in the ancient period of Indian history?
What could be considered as distress period by an ancient king?
What were the main expenditures of the ancient kings in India?
What was the level of the wealth of the ancient kings in India?
What was the policy of the ancient kings over the questions of the treasury position?
What was the effect of the accumulation of wealth policy by the ancient Kings in India?
Why were the Indian kings in the ancient India target of their enemy neighbor?
What was the cause of the destruction of the ancient India by the invasion from the outer world?

Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India Second Set

Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India:
Chapter II:
Try to answer the following questions:
Style: Book Based

Reference: Continuation of the post Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India First Set

The Duties of the State in Ancient India:

Is there any clear cut elaboration on the actual reach of the state in the ancient literature of India?(The answer to this question should be nicely understood, as number of times it has been asked in form of multiple choice question to check the understanding of the examinee on the political philosophy and culture of ancient India.)
Where do we find a historic attempt to extend the role of the state, as a welfare body for the overall development of the subjects, in ancient India?
Which are the seven limbs of the sovereignty as per the ancient literature of India?
How many elements of the sovereignty of an ancient Indian state are there, as per Arthashastra?
What was the relation of state to the society as per the Indian political philosophy?
What was the main and the only function of the state and the king?
What was the actual nature of the existence of state?
What was more important in ancient India- State or Society?
What were the main priorities of the protection function of the king in ancient India?
What were the social functions of the king under his protection function?
List the main protection function with in his empire of king in the ancient India? On the other hand, what were the main internal duties and policies of a king in ancient India?
What was the religious policy of an ancient Indian king as per the sacred laws?
How was the religious policy of an ancient Indian king was secular in nature?
Did the protection duties of an ancient Indian king limit the sphere of duties towards the public and if it is not so, then, what was he expected to do?
What were the positive functions of an ancient Indian king under his traditional role of a protection security for an Indian in ancient period?
What were the main features of an ideal king as per the Arthashastra?
Which historic king could be honoured to have touched the qualification of an ideal king of the ancient India?
What features of the Ashok’s personality can qualify him for the title of an ideal king of the ancient India?
Where are the features of the ideal king given in Arthashastra?
The Schedule of a day of an Ancient King as per Arthashastra
Question: Write the schedule of Sandrocotous as suggested in Indica.
What is the schedule of a king for a day as per Arthashastra?
How many hours had been allocated for sleep for a king in Arthashastra?
How many hours had been allocated for recreation for a king in Arthashastra?
Give the historic examples, wherein, the ancient Indian kings are shown practicing a very tight schedule for the administrative duties?
What are the main suggestions to the king, about the performance of duties, in Arthashastra?
What was the most important administrative instrument of the ancient Indian kings to reach the common people?
What could have been the obstructions for an ancient Indian king to act as an ideal king?
What had impressed the foreign traveler about the ancient Indian kings?
Name the ancient officer who looked about the luxuries of the palace of an ancient Indian king.
Name the officer who looked after the spiritual life of an ancient Indian king and his court.
Name the various professionals of the ancient India, who enjoyed the patronage of an ancient Indian king?
Discuss the development in importance of the post of Suta in ancient Indian literature in chronological order.
Which post of ancient Indian court is only mentioned in Sanskrit drama where it is shown as performing very significant role in the life of ancient courts?
What was the actual feature of a day of a life of an ancient Indian king?
What were the main functions performed by an ancient Indian king while on a tour?
What was the actual nature of the tours of an ancient Indian king?
What were the main features of the tours of Ashoka for which we have historic records also?
What cultural activities were expected of an ancient Indian king?
What were the main involvement of an ancient Indian king in his leisure time?
What was the usual bent of mind of an ancient Indian king towards the artistic activities?
Which other class joined the king in their interest towards the promotion of the artistic activities in ancient Indian period?
Were the ancient kings themselves good artists? Give examples from ancient Indian period.
What were the injunctions of the statecraft on the question of hunting by Kings?
What had helped discourage the hunting in the ancient times?
Why was the ancient king expected to avoid the pursuit of hunting?
Which of the kingly amusements were highly criticized by Arthashastra?
What was the name of harem in ancient India?
Who was the chief warden of Antahpura?
What were the main qualifications of Kanchukin?
Which was the most dominating post in Antahpura?
What was the caste of the royal family?
Was the rule of the kashtriya based royal families adhered strongly?
List the dynasties, which are not considered the kashtriya dynasties of ancient India.
Give an example of Sanskritization in case of the royal families in ancient India?
Give an example where the greater traditions were adopted to rise in caste structure by the royal dynasties?
What was mainly the gender of the ancient kings?
Which royal family of ancient India regularly transferred their throne to female successor?
Name the famous female sovereign of Kashmir.
Name the famous Kakaityian female ruler.
Name the famous Vaktak female regent.
Name the famous female Mukhari regent.
Name the famous female governor of Chalukya dynasty.
Name the famous female regent of Chola dynasty?
What was the general pattern adopted in Peninsular India concerning the involvement of royal women in the administration of the kingdom?
How were ancient queens influenced the administration of the ancient kingdoms in India?
Who was the women potentate of Kashmir?
Give a brief sketch of Didda of Kashmir. ( Questions on Rani Didda (Verman dynasty) and Zainuddin, the Akbar of Kashmir have appeared regularly in Civil services and NET)
Name the royal female warrior of Chalukya dynasty.
Name the royal female warrior of Hoysala dynasty.
Name the brother of Akkadevi of Chalukya dynasty.
Name the husband of queen Umadevi of Hoysala dynasty.
List the examples where in the women had acted as rulers of the region in ancient Indian period.
What was the general rule of succession in ancient India as per the sacred law?
What were the disqualifications for the succession in ancient India as per the sacred laws?
What was the view on a wicked son as a probable successor to throne in Arthashastra?
In which section of Arthashastra is the rule on succession elaborated?
Could the king overlook the rule of primogeniture for succession in ancient period of Indian history? Give examples.
Which rule of succession was main cause of the weakness of the empire in ancient period of Indian history?
What training was imparted to the nominated successor to the throne in ancient times in India?
What was the title of the designated king in ancient India?
Which section of rulers had adopted the rule of strict training to the Yuvaraja?
Which Indian dynasty had permitted the Yuvarajas to exercise administrative rights?
What administrative rights could a Chola Yuvaraja exercise?
How did the Saka and Pahlavas (Parthian) legalize the status of their Yuvaraja?
What feature of the Saka coins had demonstrated the importance of Yuvaraja in administration?
Could a Yuvaraja remove the king?
What was the warning to the aging king against his relatives and Yuvarajas?
What cautions were suggested to the reigning king against the Yuvaraja?
Give examples where in the Yuvaraja had removed the kings to acquire the throne?
Where in the Arthashastra were the suggestions concerning the Yuvarajas given to the reigning king?
What traditions were prevalent in ancient India to avoid the troubles from the Yuvaraja?
When did the reigning king practice the ritual suicide in ancient India?
Discuss the various examples of ritual suicides adopted by the ancient kings.
What type of ritual suicide adopted by the Chalukya kings?
What type of ritual suicide was adopted the king of Kerala.
What type of ritual did Chandragupta Maurya adopt to committing suicide?
Discuss the other tradition of succession to the throne in ancient India apart from the principle of primogeniture.
What tradition of succession was adopted by the Saka strapas in Ujjayini?
Where was the tradition of brother to brother adopted in ancient Indian history?
In which other non-Indian dynasties of other countries were the tradition of brother to brother succession adopted as a rule?
When did the tradition of matrilineal transfer of throne was adopted in the Chera dynasty of Kerala?
Was ever the tradition of succession through males was adopted in Chera dynasty?
What was the actual tradition of matrilineal transfer of throne practiced in the Chera dynasty?
What is the tradition of Marumakkattayan, which was practiced in Kerala?
What is the overall implication of Marumakkattayan in Chera society?
Which regions of Kerala had adopted the principle of Marumakkattayan?
When was the Marumakkattayan principle discontinued for some time in Kerala?
Under what influence did principle of Marumakkattayan discontinue for some time, as the principle of inheritance in Kerala?
In what other form was the matrilineal principle adopted by the royal families apart from adopting it as the principle of inheritance in case of property and the royal succession?
Was the principle of the Marumakkattayan adopted for succession in other part of India?
Who had run the administration in ancient India when the king dies without any legal heir?
How was Harsha elected to the post of the king over the Mukhari dynasty?
How was the Gopala elected as the king of Bengal?
Which dynasty did Gopala started on being elected as the king of Bengal?
Who has chosen Gopala as the king of Bengal and Bihar?
Who had chosen Harsha as the ruler of Kanauj?
Who had elected Nandivarman as the Pallav king 735 AD?
List the historic examples where in the kings in ancient India were elected?

Oligarchies and Republics
A section which has been contributing to General Studies also. Two questions had appeared in 2004

Give a definition of Feudalism based on contracts between the king and his lower ranks, which could be applicable to ancient Indian facts?
Give a definition of Feudalism based on a situation, where the power is wielded by the potentates and applicable to ancient Indian facts?
What is the non-Marxist version on the existence of feudalism in India?
When did the setup similar to the European type of Feudalism emerge in India?
What term should be used for describing the King-subordinate relation concerning the division and sharing of powers in administration in ancient Indian period?
Which was the earliest period when the lesser tributary chiefs started emerging on the political scene of ancient Indian?
Which terms, that were prevalent even in the Vedic period, do suggest the king-vassal relation in ancient Indian period?
What was the actual nature of the Maghdhan Empire on the question of state province relation?
Were there tributary kings in Mauryan reign? If so, then what was the actual nature of the Mauryan rule concerning the center-state relation in that period?
What was the general structure of the large empire in ancient India after the fall of Mauryan Empire?
What was the political importance of the status of the title of raja?
Describe in brief the possible quasi-feudal setup in ancient India?
By what time, had a setup similar to European feudal system emerged in India?
What was the usual method of emerging as a vassal in ancient India?
How was an ancient Indian vassal different from European vassal?
What was the suggestion in Arthashastra to a weak king of ancient Indian period?
What was the stand of the Epics and Samrities on the status of a defeated king?
How did the stand in Epics and Samrities lead to rise of feudal structure in India polity?
What were the implications of the principle of Dharmavijaya?
What is the meaning of Dharmavijaya?
How had Samudra Gupta of Guptan dynasty gone against the principle of Dharmavijaya?
How complete was the control of an overlord over his vassal in ancient India?
What were the obligations of a vassal towards his overlord?
What was the status of Mahasamanta in ancient India?
What is the term for a vassal in ancient India?
Describe the relation between Chalukyas and Rashtrakutas as an example of the working of relations between powerful vassal and their overlord.
Who were the vassals of Chalukyas that had emerged as independent rulers during the phase of ancient Indian history?
How long has Chalukyas remained dormant before their vassal Rashtrakutas?
Name the three dynasties, which had emerged as independent rulers after 12th century before remaining the vassals of Chalukyas?
What was the actual position of the overlord in relation to the strong vassals and vassal on the fringes of the empire?
What was the actual relation of Samudra Gupta with Shri Meghavarna of Ceylon in terms of overlord-vassal equation in ancient India?
What is the evidence that Shri Meghavarna of Ceylon in a capacity of a vassal approached Samudra Gupta?
How far were the lesser vassals powerful before the overlord?
What is the importance of the Dhudhpani inscription of South Bihar in explaining the feudalism in ancient India?
What is the time of writing of the inscription of Dhudhpani of South Bihar?
What is the story of the inscription of Dhudhpani of South Bihar?
When did the revenue grants to vassal become a practice in ancient Indian history?
What were the real implications of the revenue grants to the vassals in ancient Indian history?
Heading: Oligarchies and Republics
What form of government dominated the political scene in ancient India?
What is the meaning of Republics in context of ancient Indian history?
What is the Sanskrit word for the English word tribe?
Will it be fair to call Indian ganas as republics?
Where do we find the first reference to republic ganas?
What was the location of the ganas mentioned in the Buddhist literature?
What was the actual political status of the ganas, which were mentioned in the Buddhist literature?
What was the territorial location of the Shakya tribe?
What was the relation of Buddha with the Shakya tribe of Vaisali?
What is the term used in Pali language for the meeting place of the householders of a tribe to discuss its administrative activities and problems?
What was the actual status of Shuddhodhana, the father of Buddha?
Which was the most powerful non-monarchical state in ancient India?
Which was the leading family of Vrrijjian (Vaishali) confederacy?
What is the historic importance in political arena and Licchavi family and Vaishali confederacy in contemporary political struggles in ancient India?
How many rajas were there in Licchavi confederacy as per the Buddhist literature?
How many heads of Licchavi confederacy had been mentioned in the Jain literature?
Which other tribe had been mentioned along with Licchavi tribe that fought against Ajatshatru?
What was the model on which the constitution of the Buddhist monastic organization was based?
Who had established the Buddhist monastic organization?
What were the main features of the Buddhist monastic organization?
What factors were going against the existence of the republics during the days of Buddha?
What had happened to the existence of the Shakyas and Vrrijjis tribe after the death of Buddha?
What was the suggestion of Buddha to the ganas to save their political traditions of republic form of government?
In which region did the republican form of governments survive for a longer time?
In which region did the imperialistic monarchies develop earlier than any other region?
What is the best source to learn about the ganas of the western region of India?
What is the suggestion of Arthashastra to the ambitious rulers to reduce the ganas to the level of vassalage?
What is the method suggested by Arthashastra to reduce the ganas to the stage of vassalage?
Who was the person who had practiced the suggestion, which was given in Arthashastra which was written after his period?
What was the name of the minister of Ajatshatru who created dissension with in Vrrijji republic?
Who was Varshkara?
What was the weakness of the republican form of tribes that became the cause of the decline of the tribes?
What was the attitude of the Arthashastra, on the imprudent role of the rajas of the tribes?
What is the content of the eleventh chapter of Arthashastra?
What information is given in Mahabharta on the republican tribes?
How had republican form of tribe continued as per the Mahabharta?
What are the evidences, which corroborate the information on tribes in Mahabharta?
Which was the leading tribe of the Western India?
What was the region of influence of Yaudheya tribe?
What are the archeological evidences on the existence of Yaudheya tribe?
What messages is given on the coins of Yaudheya tribe?
What was the title of the chief of the Yaudheya tribe?
Which tribe dominated Punjab as per the records of Alexander?
What is the another name of Malava tribe, which dominated Punjab area when Alexander attacked there?
What was the direction of Malava tribe with the passage of time?
What was the name of the region occupied by the Malava tribe after migration to the Ujjain region?
What is the archeological evidence available to ascertain the movement of the Malava tribe to the Rajeshtan?
Which was the south most border of the spread of Malava tribe?
What is the content of the Nandsa inscription of Rajesthan?
Which king is mentioned in the Nandsa inscription of Rajesthan?
Who were the real owners of the Vikram calendar?
What is said about the property right of Vikram calendar?
What was the position of the western tribes during the reign of Samudra Gupta?
What could have the cause of total obliteration of the western tribes?
What could have the possible political organization of the western tribes?
heading: The Government and Semi-Government Officers
What is the advice of Arthashastra to the king on the question of availing the assistance to run the administration of the empire?
In which chapter of Arthashastra is the advice to the king to appoint councilors for assistance to run the administration of empire, given?
Which was the most important council of the advisors selected by the king for his assistance in running the administration of the kingdom?
Who were usually the members of the mantriparishad?
What was the usual number of the member of the mantriparishad?
What was the actual status of mantriparishad?
What advice had been given to the king on the method of using the services of mantriparishad?
What the administration authority was vested in Mantriparishad?
How far was mantriparishad effective in influencing the activity of the king?
What was the actual reach of the mantriparishad, on the administrative powers of the empire, in actual practice?
From which inscription do we learn about the effectiveness of mantriparishad as a decision making body?
From which inscription do we learn that the mantriparishad could overrule the decision of a king and king could be forced to act on his own only at his own expenses?
From which source do we learn that mantriparishad could dispose off a king and refuse the nomination of a successor even by a reigning king?
What was the modus-oprendi of conducting a meeting by a mantriparishad?
Whom did the mantriparishad fear the most concerning the leakage of the decisions of their meetings?
What qualification for the appointment of the members of civil service was recommended to the king in Arthashastra?
How was the appointment made to civil services by the king in the later years of ancient Indian history?
The inscription of which dynasty does suggest that the appointment to the civil services was made on the bases of hereditary?
Could the mantriparishad overtake the running of the administration even when the king was alive? Give example.
Name the head of the mantriparishad who took over the reign from Sadashiva of Vijyanagar Empire?
What was the usual title of the chief councilor of the mantriparishad?
What was the title of the chief councilor of an orthodox king?
Which Vedic literature had recommended to the ancient king to consult their purohits in privacy before implementing any important decision?
Which were the two important posts next to mahamantrin, suggested by Arthashastra?
Which post had become equally important with mahamantrin during Gupta period?
What were the main functions of the post of Sandhivigrahika?
What was the job of the post of pradvivaka?
What was the job of the post Senapati?
What was the job of the post of mahakshapatalika?
What were the traditional legislative powers of the king and his council?
What was the type of the legislative power the king really had?
What was the basic motive of the commands of the king?
What were the actual laws which an ancient king was expected to implement?
Which is the best example of the new laws issued by the king?
What was the backbone of the administration of ancient administration in India?
What was the designation of the officials of the administrative division in ancient Indian administration?
What was the method of execution of the orders of the king in the reign of the Cholas?
What was the status of the royal scribes in the courts of ancient Indian kings?
What was the title of the councilors and senior officials in the administrative setup of the ancient Indian kings?
What was the title of the high officials in the Guptan era?
What was the English translation of the Kumaramtyas?
Were there any special experts for special posts among the councilors of the ancient Indian kings?
What were the military obligations of the councilors? Were the Brahman ministers exempted from the military duties?
What were the main categories of the ministers during the ancient times?
Who were matisachiva?
Who were dhisachiva?
Who were Karmasachiva?
What was the status of a Karmasachiva?
What was the perception of Magasthenes of Mauryan society?
Which two of the seven classes of the Mauryan society, as identified by Magasthenes, was identified as government official?
What definition did Magasthenes give to the post of councilors?
Who were the overseers as per Magasthenes in ancient Indian administration?
Which post mentioned in Arthashastra can be compared to the overseers of Magasthenes?
List the different adhyakshas mentioned in Arthashastra?
List the posts, mentioned in Arthashastra, concerning the military administration.
What was the actual status of the officers looking after the military affairs during the ancient Indian period?
Name the officials concerned with the amusements in the ancient Indian period.
What were the duties of the post of dharam-mahamatras, which was created by Ashoka?
Were there posts similar to dharam-mahamatras in the latter period of the ancient Indian, and what were their functions?
What was the feature of the Mauryan administration, which resembles the welfare government of the modern times?
What was the ideal of the most of the ancient Indian administration in post Mauryan period?
Did any other ancient Indian administration resemble the Mauryan administration in its reach over the lives of the subject of the state in ancient India period?
What was the economic role of the government of ancient Indian period, in the life of their subjects?
What were the economic resources of the administration during the ancient period of India?
How did the ancient administration in India manage their economic resources under their direct control?
List the main economic property of the state in the ancient period of India.
Was there free trade situation during the period of big empires in ancient India?
What were the precautions recommended by Arthashastra in running the administration based on the adhyakshas in the ancient Indian period?
What was the main drawback in the adhyakshas based administration in ancient India?
What were the methods of checking the peculation in the ancient administration, which had been suggested by Arthashastra?
What is the recommendation of Arthashastra on the question of making payments of the salaries to the employees?
Where the recommendations for the running the administration is given in the Arthashastra?
What is the difficulty in understanding the recommendations of the Arthashastra on the question of the salaries?
What was the currency of the ancient period in which the salary to the employees was given?
What type of the level of life could the officials of the ancient Indian period lead with the type of salary paid to them?
Who were given 48000 panas as salary during the Mauryan period?
What was the lowest amount of salary during the Mauryan period?
What was the salary of the laborers during the Mauryan period?
What was the metal of the panas?
In which chapter is the schedule of the salary given in Arthashastra?

Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India First Set

Political Thoughts and Life in Ancient India:

Chapter II:

Try to answer the following questions:

Style: Book Based

Suggestion:

Use Chapter IV, The Wonder That Was India by A. L. Basham.

Additional Note:
If You like the question bank, and desire to answer it, then as given in the suggestion, get the Wonder That Was India by A. L. Basham. Open the chapter IV and start reading each paragraph slowly. After ending each paragraph try to look at the question. If you are able to answer the first set of question under the heading "The Nature of the Sources on the Political Thought in Ancient India" which corresponds to title "Sources", then you will understand the aim of this question bank. When you complete answering it, you may learn on your own that how this question bank is made.
Then get any question bank made for civil services preliminary and try to answer the related questions. Develop your own estimate about the efficacy of this question bank.

After completing this book, the questions answers will follow.
I will be obliged if you put some comment in the comment box given at the end of the postings. It will be helpful for me to articulate my posting accordingly. It will become more fruitful endeavour for all of us.

Kindly also refer to Ancient Question Bank on Religion of Vedas or click on Ancient History Question Bank One under the heading Some of the important posting from Archive on your right side of the page by pulling down the page.

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The Nature of the Sources on the Political Thought in Ancient India:

What is the main feature of the texts of political philosophy of India?
How does the political philosophy of India differ from the political philosophy of Europe?
What does the science of the administration of force call in Indian political philosophy?
What are the usual contents of the texts of the sources of the political philosophy of India?
Which are considered the earliest source of the information of the political life in India before the pre-Buddhist period?
Which of the Buddhist sources are the sources of the information on the political life in India?
Which is considered the first source in form of a book on the political philosophy of India?
Who was the author of Arthashastra?
Which reference in the Arthashastra raised the suspicion on the authenticity of Arthashastra as the work of Vishnu Gupta (Kautiliya), the teacher of Chandragupta Maurya?
What is the view of the scholars about the possibility of the knowledge about China by the Indians?
Which are the main objections on the authenticity of Arthashastra as the work of Vishnu Gupta (Kautiliya)?
What is most probable time of writing of the Arthashastra in spite of the objection of its authenticity on the question of time of composition?
What is the significance of the contents of the Arthashastra as a source on Indian history?
Which is the second best source on the philosophy of politics in India after Arthashastra?
Which book come next to Arthashastra in chronological order as the source on the political philosophy in India?
Which part of Mahabharta is more important from the point of studying the political philosophy of India?
What are the contents of the Shanti Parva, the twelfth section of Mahabharta?
When was Shanti Parva composed?
Which is the next to Mahabharta as an important source on the political philosophy of India?
In which section of Valmiki Ramayana do we find the information on the political philosophy of India?
Which is the best source on the sacred law of India?
Which is the most important section of the Smrities on the sacred law of India?
Who is the most important authority on sacred law as per the Smriti literature?
When was the Manu Smriti composed?
From which period do we get the maximum number of sources on the Indian polity and law?
Which is the most important political text of Guptan period?
Who is the writer of Nitisara?
When was Nitisara written?’
Who is the writer of Nitivakyamrita?
What was the religion of Somadeva Suri?
When did Somadeva write Nitivakyamrita?
What is the recent view on question of writer of Nitivakyamrita?
How far are the contents of Nitivakyamrita and Nitisara different from the contents of the earlier political texts of Ancient India?
How far is all the Ancient Indian literature since the Rig-Veda times useful for understanding the political and legal ideas of the Indians?
What are the other dependable archeological and historic literary sources on Indian polity, politics, and legal sphere of India?
What is the nature of the contents of the political texts of Ancient India?
Are the contents of the political texts viable?
How far did the ancient Indian kings practiced the instructions of the political texts available to them?
What were the other agencies, which gave recommendations to the ancient Indian kings, on the question of governance apart from the traditional political texts?
What were the motivating factors, which provided the background to the authors of the political texts to write instructions on the statecraft for the benefit of the kings of ancient India?
What was the reach of the instructions over the life of the subjects of an empire, as per the contents of Arthashastra?
What was the frame of reference for the Vishnu Gupta to write the instructions in Arthashastra on the question of the governance over the various aspects of the life of the subjects?
What was the type of the criminals for which the punishments were recommended in Manu Shastra (Smriti)?
Were the punishments as recommended for religious criminals ever practices in reality?
What is the actual nature of the contents of Smriti literature and other legal books of ancient India, which is considered the usual feature of intellectuals in ancient India?
Did the emperors of India try to work and plan according to the advice of the ancient Indian political tests?
How have the contents of the ancient Indian political texts effected the writing of the history of India?
Heading: The King in Ancient India:
What is the importance of Aitreya Brahman as a political treatise of ancient India?
To which Veda does Aitreya Brahman belong?
From where do we learn about the origin of the concept of kingship in ancient India?
Where do we find the earliest legend about the origin of Kinship in the ancient literature of India?
When was the Aitreya Brahman written?
What is the legend concerning the origin of the King in ancient India?
What was the need that led to the rise of the post of king among the ancient Indians?
What was the first duty of a king as per the ancient Indian political philosophy?
What is the legend concerning decision that the first duty of the king in the ancient India was to lead the subjects in the war?
Who was elected as the first king by the gods to leas them in a war against the demons?
What was the earliest need and necessity of the earliest Indians, which lead to the rise of the concept of kingship?
Which text is next in sequence as per the chronological order, on political philosophy after Aitreya Brahman?
What is the story in Taittiriya Brahman on the question of the rise of Kingship in the ancient India?
How is the story of Taittiriya Brahman different from the story of Aitreya Brahman, on the question of the rise of kingship in ancient India?
To which Veda does Taittiriya Brahman belong?
What was the solution opted by the gods in Taittiriya Brahman, when they faced the grave situation at the hands of Brahmans?
Who was the high god, who helped the gods against the attack of the demons?
Who was deputed by Prajapati to help gods against the demons?
Why did Indra was replaced by Soma in Aitreya Brahman?
What was the main duty of the king till the eighth century BC?
What was the importance of the existence of King for the tribal men?
What was the significance of the story, about the status of the king among his subjects?
What are those religious ceremonies, which establish the divine authority of the king to rule the subjects?
What is the sanction behind the appointment of the king?
Do the immortals also have the king and who is he?
What is the importance of Rajsuya yajna?
How is the king better than the ordinary mortals?
What was an average duration of the Rajsuya sacrifice?
What the merits of the king when he had performed the Rajsuya sacrifice?
What other merits does the Rajsuya sacrifice apart to the king apart from bestowing divinity to the king?
What is the difference between the person of king before the sacrifice and after the sacrifice?
What is the ceremony, which equate the king with god Vishnu?
What is the item, on which, when king takes the three steps, he is equated to Vishnu?
What is the status of the king among the gods after the consecration?
Who is the power behind the king after he is consecrated?
How is the strength of the magical powers, acquired by the king at the time of Rajsuya sacrifice, maintained for the rest of reign of the king?
What is the significance of Vajpeya yajna?
What is the significance of Ashvmedha yajna?
Which yajna is performed for the prosperity and fertility of the kingdom?
What is the significance of the brahmanical rituals concerned with consecration of the king?
What is the later form of Rajsuya yajna during the rest of the history of India?


Special Note:

The candidate must be able to differentiate between the three major Yajnas related to kingship.
The three yajnas are Rajsuya Yajna, Vajpeya Yajna and Ashvmedha Yajna.
You should also be able to write a short note on the political significance of the Yajana concerning Kingship in ancient India. While writing that note, you must emphasis that how the concept of Samrata and Chakarvartin were built around. It was the major definition of Bharatavarsha which should be derived from the reference of Vishnu Purana.

The UGC NET students must give importance to these concepts as mentioned above. The questions on these concepts have appeared again and again.

Where was the Brahmanic culture popular?
Which were the dominant tribes of the Ganga-Yammuna Doab?
What were the main political ceremonies based on Brahmanic culture, which dominated the Ganga-Yammuna political scenario?
What was the status of the kings of the Kuru and Panchala tribes in the Ganga-Yammuna Doab?
What is the basic central of the legends of Buddhist on question of the origin of kingship?
Where was the Buddhist’s concept of the origin of kingship popular?
Which other religious concept of the origin of kingship was similar to the Buddhist’s concept of kingship?
When did the concept of the origin of kingship as given by Buddhism come into prominence?
What was the author of the concept of the origin of kinship as given in Buddhism?
From which Buddhist source do we learn about the Buddhist concept of the origin of Buddhism?

Special Note:

The candidates should also differentiate between the Vedic Culture, Brahmanic culture and Vaishnav culture or hero worship culture. They should be able to identify the chronological and historic progression related these cultures. The questions have been asked again and again on these aspects.
Well, the answer which I may post on a later date may be good for 15 marks question for the civil services papers. However, it can be very useful for the UGC NET students. In case of writing a 60 marks question, I will like that there should be collective efforts among you and me. I will definitely give my presentation. However, I am not satisfied with that presentation. Being a teacher, I myself would not give more than 10 marks out of 20 for that answer. It means that at Mains level you may not get more than 30 marks for that. You must select such questions which can give you more 30 marks. For that other sections of the Mains syllabus, especially the Mauryan, Kushan, Gupta and Chola period can serve your purpose for Section A of Paper I of Mains. However, those who have some understanding of Sanskrit or can reproduce references from Ancient literature, they may perform well on above mentioned questions on Ancient political and social thought.

Where did the man live in the earlier phase of the cosmic cycle as per the Buddhist religion?
What were the main features of the life of the humankind, when it was living in the earlier phase of the cosmic cycle?
When did the humankind become earthbound as per the Buddhist cosmology?
Which needs had arisen when the humankind started living on the earth as per the Buddhist cosmology?
What change had taken place in the social structure of the humankind when it started living on the earth?
When did the humankind accept the institutions of property and family as per the Buddhist cosmology?
When did the people enter mutual agreement among themselves as per the Buddhist cosmology?
Which new institutions and need had emerged when humanity became earthbound as per the Buddhist cosmology?
When did the need for the election was felt by the humanity as per the Buddhist cosmology?
What was the aim of the human beings when they appointed a king among themselves to save them from different crimes as per the Buddhist cosmology?
What was the title of the elected king as per the Buddhist cosmology?
Why was the king also called the raja?
From where had been the word raja derived?
What is the meaning of the word raja?
What is the English translation of the word Mahasammata?
What is the story of Mahasammata as per the Buddhist literature?
Form which Buddhist literature we learn about the story of the Mahasammata?
What is the central idea of the story of Mahasammata?
Which foreign theories are similar to the theory of Buddhist theory of rise of the concept of kingship?
What is the main purpose of the establishment of government as per the Buddhist theory of the rise of the government?
What is the role of the king as per the Buddhist theory of the government?
What is the authority behind the existence of the king, as per the Buddhist theory of the rise of kingship?
Which are the two main theories in India concerning the rise of the monarchy?
Which of the theory on the origin of the kingship carried weight with the Indian monarchs and the public?
How did the Arthashastra rate the monarch?
What was the attitude of the Vishnu Gupta towards the divine origin of the kingship?
Why did Arthashastra prefer divine origin of the monarchy when he treated the king as a mere common human being?
How did Vishnu Gupta use the theory of kingship for the benefit of running the administration?
What story did Arthashastra prefer to spread about the origin of the monarchy?
Who was the first king as per the Arthashastra?
Who was Manu Vaivasvata?
Which theory did Arthashastra support?
With whom did Arthashastra compare the king?
Arthashastra had supported the contractual theory of kingship. However, which of the feature of divine origin theory had Vishnu Gupta preferred to popularize?
What would befall a person who insults the king?
What should be the attitude of the king, as per Arthashastra, when he led the soldiers to the battlefield?
What stratagems are suggested in Arthashastra for the king, before going to battle, in order to impress the common people?
What title did the Mauryan kings adopted with suggest the divine features of their status?
Did the Mauryan emperors openly claim the direct divine origin for their existence?
How was the Mauryan emperors treated by the contemporary subjects?
Special Question: Discuss the various theory of the origin of kingship in India?
Where do we find the first sign of the existence of an idea of a wide empire among the Indians?
Who had realized the idea of a wide empire in reality in India?
Who had realized the idea of the existence of Chakravartins in India?
How were the Chakravartins depicted in portraits, coins, inscriptions, and the sculptures?
What does a symbol of wheel suggest about the status of a king, if it is depicted in sculpture or a coin or in any other medium?
Which religion had fully adopted and realized the concept of Chakravartins in India?
Which religion apart from Hinduism also talks about the concept of Chakravartins?
In which text do we find the clear-cut reference to the concept of Chakravartins?
What is the position of emperors as per the cosmology of various Indian religions?
What did the emperor have common with Buddha concerning their possibility of existence?
Who are digvijayins as per the epics?
What was the knowledge of the Jains about the emperors?
Name the two Chakravartins of Ramayana?
What is the meaning of digvijayins?
How was the idea of Universal emperor considered by the ruling monarchs in practice during the ancient period of Indian history?
Which new political factor had brought the new political ideas from West to East during the ancient period of Indian history?
Who were the emperors, who had introduced new conceptions of kingships in India?
What was the attitude towards the title of kingship among the Sakas, Greeks and Kushans?
Which title of the foreign rulers had suggested their semi-divine status, which they had adopted after entering India?
Name the different titles adopted by the foreign rulers in India during the ancient period.
What was the attitude of the emperors of India towards the idea of giving the high sounding titles?
What imperial tradition had influenced the Kushan kings to adopt the high sounding titles?
What were the famous titles of the Kushan emperors?
From which Indian dynasty did the practice of adopting the high-sounding titles start?
What was the usual title of the Indian emperors to suggest their high status?
What was the usual high-ranking title for a vassal king in ancient India?
Where is the theory of the kingship India clearly mentioned?
How are the epics and the law book of Manu highly useful for understanding the Indian view of the origin of Kingship?
What was the situation, as per the Manu’s Law book, when there was fear all around?
Who had created the king as per Manu?
What are the characteristics of the king, created by the God, as per Manu?
Why should a king be respected as per Manu?
What was the status of the king, even if he was a child, as per Manu?
Who is Kuber in Indian mythology?
Which features of Brahmanic ceremonies was attach to the concept of Universal emperor by Manu?
When was the Brahmanic rites related to political importance of the emperor not given must value?
Who had revived the importance of the Brahmanic rites in political scenario of India after they had been made redundant during the time of Mauryas?
Where was the Brahmanic rites related to the political activities practices?
How was the Brahmanic rites related to political activities exploited by the various emperors of Ancient period of Indian history?
How long did the importance of Ashvameda sacrifice continues as an important political and religious rite?
Which is the last incidence of the performance of the Ashvameda sacrifice recorded in the history?
Which title of the kings continues to suggest the divine origin of the king?
What aspect of kingship was kept alive even when the use of Ashvameda discontinued?
When was the last recorded Ashvamedha yajna performed?
Who had performed the last recorded Ashvamedha yajna?
When was the last recorded Ashvamedha yajna performed?
Why was the Chola kings worshiped as the gods in the temples?
What was the political situation between the reign of Mauryas and Guptas?
What were the features of life during the period between the reign of Mauryas and Guptas?
From which direction did the invading bands keep on coming during the interregnum between the reign of Mauryas and Guptas?
What was the perception of Brahmans on the time, which extended between the reign of Guptas and Mauryas?
When did the concept of Matsyanayaya emerge in the minds of Indians?
What was the Socio-political scene which behind the emergence of the Matsyanayaya?
What is the English translation of Matsyanayaya?
How is the concept of Matsyanayaya explained Ramayana?
What is the main situation under Matsyanayaya?
What did the anarchy of the interregnum of Maurya and Guptas do to the existence and importance of the concept of kingship?
Who was considered the first man on the earth in Indian mythology?
Who are the parallel characters to Manu, as a first man, in other religions?
What is the story, given by the law writer Manu, on the issue of the rise of the concept of kingship?
Where does the story similar to the story of the law writer Manu, appear in another important ancient literature?
In which Parva (section) does the story of the emergence of Manu, as the first king, appear in Mahabharta?
Who is shown as the father of Manu, in the story, given in the twelfth Parva of Mahabharta, when he was appointed as the first king of the humanity?
Why did the people seek the help of Brahma for the appointment of a king, when they had already established contract among themselves?
What was the situation in the society at the beginning of the present cosmic cycle as per the epics?
Who is the another identity, who was also considered to be the first king of the humanity?
Who was Virajas, the other identity after Manu, who was also honoured with the position of the first king of the humanity?
What is the difference between the appointment of Manu and Virajas, as the king of humanity?
Where was the story of the appointment of Virajas as the king of humanity given?
Name the children of Manu, the first king of humanity appointed by Brahma?
Who was Ila?
Who was Ikshvaku?
How did the ruling Rajputs clans of India claim the divine origin?
Which claim of one group of rulers among Rajputs was different from the solar and lunar clans Rajputs in order to claim the divine origin?
Name the three main divine origin claims of Rajputs ruling clan of India?
Were the Indian kings absolute in the exercise of their powers over the humanity?
Did the divine origin of the kings ever permit the Indian kings totally absolute in the exercise of their kingly powers?
What was the importance of the divinity of the kings among the Indians?
Who were also considered divine apart from the kings in ancient India?
What was the process of acquiring the divinity by the householders in ancient India?
Were the Indian gods fallible of sins?
Was the king the only god on the earth in ancient India? If no, then what were its implications?
Who had totally denied the divine origin to the kings in ancient India?
Who was the courtier, who had also denied the divine origin of the kings during the ancient India period?
What justification Bana had given, for the existence of the divine origin of kings, in his writings?
Where had Bana denied the divine origin of the kings in his writings?
What was the main nature of the main function of a king in ancient India?
What were the main protections functions, that an ancient Indian king was expected to perform?
What is the phrase for the protection function of the king of ancient India?
What is varnashram-dharam? How varnashrama system is different from varnashram-dharam?
What were the perils for the king in ancient India if he overlooked the customs as given in the sacred texts?
Whom should the king have feared when he overlooked the customs as written in the sacred texts?
Could the lower order of the society also remove the king when the king overlooked the sacred laws as given in the sacred texts?
How was the kings warned against their attempt to infringe the sacred laws?
What was the fault of the king Vena?
What was the fault of the king Vena concerning the social legislation?
Suggest the historic examples, where the Brahmans removed the royal dynasties, when their rule went against the sacred laws?
What is the recommendation of Mahabharata to the public for a king who did not follow the sacred laws in his governance?
Where the various checks, as suggest in the ancient literature helped to restrain the ancient kings to go against the sacred laws on the bases of their divine origin?
Where in Mahabharta, the revolt against an impious king had been suggested?
Which is the other check on the autocracy of the ancient king apart from the Brahmans and the sacred laws?
What is the suggestion to the advisor ministers to the ancient Indian kings in the textbooks of statecraft?
Could the council of ministers remove the ancient Indian king? Give example.
What is the check by the public on the ancient Indian king as per the textbooks on statecraft?
Which were the public bodies, which were check on the activities of the king during the Vedic times?
What was the advice to the kings, in the traditional political texts of ancient India, about the public opinion of the people?
List the main checks on the power of the king to exercise his authority in ancient India.
What is the importance if the Jatak stories for the social history in ancient India?
Which area was the background for the information about the prevalent social, cultural and philosophical life in ancient India in Jatak stories?
Upto which period can we get information about the social and cultural life of North India from Jatak stories?
What do the Jataks tell about the significance of the public opinion?
Which incidence in Ramayana is considered the best example of the force of the public opinion in operation?
How was Krishna Deva Raya, a historic king of Vijayanagar Empire was checked by the public opinion?
Does Mahabharta recommend bearing with an oppressive king? Why is there such an advice?
What is the advice of Mahabharta to the common man about the importance of the right choice of a king?
In which Parva of Mahabharta is there advice to the common man about the importance of the right selection of the kings?

To be continued to the next posting....

Language and Literature in Ancient India Third Set

Reference: Language and Literature in Ancient India Second Set

Pali Literature

Why is Pali more important than Sanskrit?
What are the features of Pali Literature as compared to Sanskrit?
What is the meaning of the word Suparna?
Which is The Land Of Gold?
What is the position of Ambapali in the Buddhist Pali literature?
What was the national hero of Sinahalas as per the Mahavansa?
Whom did Dutthagamani defeat?
Which capital did Dutthagamani from Elara conquer?
What was the name of the elephant of Dutthagamani?
Prakrit Literature:
Which religion had raised voluminous literature in Prakrit?
What are the main features of Prakrit literature?
Which of the literary creation of Jains in Prakrit of more merit?
What is the content of Sutrakritanga?
What is the content of Setubandha?
What is the language of Setubandha?
Was Kalidas the writer of Setubandha?
What is variety of the poem Gaudavadha?
Who was the author of Gaudavadha?
When was Gaudavadha written?
What was the language of Gaudavadha?
Who was the hero of Gaudavadha?
Which was the capital of Yashovarman, the hero of Gaudavadha?
Who was the writer of Kapuramanjari?
Who was the heroine of Kapuramanjari?
When was Kapuramanjari written?
What was the language of Kapuramanjari?
Which is the most important literary work in Prakrit?
Who is the author of Saptashatak?
What is the English translation of the word Saptashatak?
In what metre is Saptashatak written?
When did the royal author of Saptashatak compose the work?
What was the name of the dynasty of Hala?
Which was the audience of the work like Saptashatak?
What were the main features of Saptashatak?
Who were the general characters of Saptashatak?
Which could have been the literary source, which influenced the composition of Saptashatak?

Tamil Literature:

What is the period of the earliest Tamil literature?
What could be the probable time of the composition of the Tamil Literature?
The reigning time of which dynasty helps us to fix the time of Tamil literature composition?
When did Pallava rule Kanchi?
What are the bases of the emergence of the Tamil literature?
How many assemblies were the bases of the rise of the Tamil literature?
What was the name of the assemblies where the Tamil literature emerged?
What were the participants of the first Tamil Samgam?
Where are the works of first Samgam?
Name the only surviving work of the second Samgam.
What is Ettutogai in Samgam literature?
When was Ettutogai written?
Which is the greatest of the ancient Tamil literature?
What is the actual nature of the Tolkappiyam?
When could Tolkappiyam been written?
What were the main patrons of the poets who would have written the Samgam literature?
Where was all the Samgams held?
Where is Ettutogai popular?
What is the actual language of Ettutogai?
What is the importance of Tolkappiyam for Tamil language?
What is the distinctive feature of Tamil, written as per the Tolkappiyam, which differentiate from courtly Sanskrit?
How many writers contributed to Ettutogai?
How many poems are there in Ettutogai?
List the main eight sections of Ettutogai?
What is Pattuppattu?
When was the Samgam literature was known to the world?
Which are the two main groups of Tamil poetry?
What is the aim of agam style of poetry in Tamil?
What is the aim of puram style of poetry in Tamil?
What is tinai in Tamil poetry?
How many tinai are there?
What is kurinji type of Tamil poetry?
What is palai type of poetry?
What is mullai type of poetry?
What is marudam type of poetry?
What is neydal type of poetry?
What is hill poetry called in Tamil Sangam literature?
What is dry lands poetry called in Tamil Sangam literature?
What is jungle and woodland poetry called in Tamil Sangam literature?
What is cultivated plains poetry called in Tamil Sangam literature?
What is coastal poetry called in Tamil Sangam literature?
What does hill poetry symbolize in Tamil Sangam literature?
Which are the five categories in which all the Ettutogai poetry classified?
What do five main categories of poetry in Tamil Sangam literature symbolize?
What is the unique feature of the Tamil poetry?
When did the feature of initial rhyming of Tamil poetry start dominating the Sangam poetry?
What is Tondai in Tamil?
Do we find the Aryan cultural influence on Ettutogai?
Which was the another religion apart from Aryan religion, which influenced the Tamil Ettutogai?
What is Padinenkilkanakku?
Which are the two most popular Padinenkilkanakku?
Which book is called the Bible of the Tamil Land?
What is the importance of Naladiyar section of Padinenkilkanakku?
When did the Aryan religion and culture fully prevail on Tamil land?
The gods of which religions were adorned by the kings of Tamil land after 6th century?
What major change had taken place in writing of the Tamil poetry after the influence of Sanskrit?
Which is the most important Tamil poetry written under the influence of Sanskrit?
Who was the audience of Shilappadigaram?
How did the subject of Tamil poetry differ from the Sanskrit Epics?
Who was the most traditional Tamil poet?
Who was the father of Ilangovadigal?
When did the Chola king Karikalan rule?
Which poem did Ilangovadigal write?
What is the weakness of Shilappadigaram?
What are the strong features of Shilappadigaram?
Who are the two main characters in the poem Shilappadigaram?
Which are the two literary works considered as the national poems of Tamil land?
What cultural aspect do Shilappadigaram and Kamban’s Ramayana depict?
What is the English translation of the word Shilappadigaram?
What is the place where the incidence of Shilappadigaram took place?
Who was the ruling king, when the incidence narrated in Shilappadigaram took place?
Give the story of Shilappadigaram in not more fifty words.

(Special Note: The NET students may be asked such questions in their examinations. The questions on the characters and the incidences narrated in the historic poems and folklore had been asked in Preliminary Examinations of Civil Services. The stories, which are important for competitive examinations are given in Wonder That Was India by A. L. Basham and eleven volumes of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan Series on Indian History in abundance. Some of the books of renowned historians and authorities also include such stories and references. It is advised that the students should read the contents of the stories and poems and make notes on the characters, places, incidences, and such references, which depict the culture of the society of different times. The student should understand that literature of the contemporary periods forms an important source for learning the culture of the people of their times.)

Special Note: In order to develop a good bank on Sangam literature, Nilkant Shastris book, History of South India should be consulted. However, there have appeared three question at the maximum in the paper. However, sometimes, one or two questions have also appeared in General Studies also.

Whom did royal family of Madurai consider the goddess of victory?
What were the insignia of royal family of Madurai?
Who was made the goddess of Madurai by the people of Madurai?
Who was the reigning king of Madurai as per Shilappadigaram?
To which dynasty did King Nedunjeliyan belong?
What is the name of the poem written as sequel of Shilappadigaram?
Who was the author of Manimegalai?
What is the nature of the contents of Manimegalai?
To which religion does Manimegalai belong as a literature of that religion?
Who are the main characters of Manimegalai?
What is the main nature of the contents of Manimegalai?
What is Manimegalai?
Who is the main character of Shivaga-shindamani?
What is the language of Shivaga-shindamani?
What are the main merits of the personality of Shivaga?
What is the another name of Shivaga?
Who was the author of Shivaga-shindamani?
Which religion does Shivaga adopt at the end of his life?
What are the features of the poem Shivaga-shindamani by Tiruttakkadevar?
Who was Tiruttakkadevar?
Which is the most important adaptation of North Indian literature in Tamil language?
What is the importance and merit of the Kamban Ramayana?
How had Ravana been depicted in Kamban’s Ramayana?
Which are the best Tamilian literatures?
Who is the latest important Tamil writer in History?
How do the Tamilian and Prakrit literature stands out as different from Sanskrit literature?
What is the best source on the Folk literature?
Who had translated the Sanyutta Nikaya?
What is the importance of the Fa-hsien translation of Sanyutta Nikkaya?

Note: Prepare separate list on the books and authors under separate heading. If you have to repeat it even then prepare such a list. Do it only after answering the above questions.


End of Chapter IX

The next chapter will be chapter no IV, Political Life and Thought in Ancient or The State.

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Language and Literature in Ancient India Second Set

Style: Book BasedSuggestion: Use Chapter IX, The Wonder That Was India by A. L. Basham.


Reference: Continued from Language and Literature in Ancient India

Special Note: The topic "Dravidian Languages" has been omitted. The contents of the essay is highly technical and comes under the sphere of phonetics and linguistics. One can prepare notes from the contents of the article. However, the questionnaire has been built with a policy that specific historic aspects should be emphasized. The second important guiding principle is the nature of the questions which have already appeared in Preliminary and such questions which has been asked in the Mains Paper I of History. The questions are framed in such a manner that one can prepare the objective type or MCQs as they have appeared in the papers and also prepare notes for the Mains. The section in question is good write up for Mains question. Hence it will be covered under notes types question on this blog.

Second Note: Some new heading are also formed which do not appear in the book. They are formed on the basis of the questions which have occasionally appeared in the Preliminary examination. Those questions have tried to seek knowledge of the stories and incidences mentioned in the Epics and the poems. The reference to this aspect has been made in the course of questionnaire also.

WRITING

Which is first script of India?
What is the latest date of the fall of Harrapa Civilization?
Which period of the Indian History does not have any historic of the presence of any script?
What is the main feature concerning the script in India from 1550 BC to 3rd century BC?
About the writing of which two type of literature there is reference?
About which ancient literature there is no reference to the writing of the contents of the literature but it was created when there is no reference of writing it?
What was the language of writing of the Buddhist and the Sutra literature but of which do not have any evidence?
Who could have been using the writing script in Later Vedic period?
When could have been the probable period of use of the script for writing?
Who could be the first users of the script for the writing purpose?
If the Vedas, Upanishads and the Brahmans were never written then how had survived for such a long time?
Which are the first written words of Ancient India?
What is the contribution of Ashoka to the field of using script for writing?
What were the two main scripts of the Ashokan period?
What was the language of the Ashokan inscriptions?
What changes had been brought to the scripts, which were used by Ashokan when he used them for writing his inscriptions?
Which is the most important script of the Ashokan scripts?
Where the Brahmi script is not used in writing the Ashokan inscriptions?
Which are the two main theories about the origin of the Brahmi inscriptions?
What is the theory if Sir Alexander Cunningham about the origin of the Brahmi inscription?
Do the theory of the Harrapan origin of the Brahmi inscription have the support of the Indian scholars?
Who had elaborated on the theory of the Cunningham about the origin of the Brahmi script?
What is the contribution of the S Langdon to the theory of the Harrapan origin of the Brahmi script?
Which is the most accepted theory of the origin of the Brahmi script by the Indian scholars?
What are the bases of the claiming the Harrapan origin for the Brahmi script?
How many signs of Harrapan script are identified?
Which is the second theory of the origin of the Brahmi apart the Harrapan origin of the Brahmi inscription?
How many letters are there in the Semitic alphabets?
Which is the direction of writing for the Brahmi script?
What is the direction of writing for the Semitic script?
Which out of Brahmi and Semitic language is written from left to right?
Which out of Brahmi and Semitic script is written from right to left?
What is the main content of the Ashokan inscription of Lauriya Nanadangarh?
What is the probable period of writing of the inscription of Lauriya Nanadangarh?
In which inscription of Ashoka do we find the boustrophedon way of writing?
Where is the Yerragudi inscription of Ashoka is situated?
What is the particular about the writing of the Yerragudi inscription of Ashoka?
Do we find other example of boustrophedon way of writing apart from Yerragudi inscription?
In which another language of ancient period of India has adopted the boustrophedon way of writing?
On what thing the boustrophedon way writing is found in Eran in Madhya Pardesh?
What could be the direction of writing of the Brahmi script?
Was the Harrapan script also written from right to left?
What was the basic nature of the letter of Brahmi script?
What are the main similarities among the Semitic, Brahmi and Sanskrit script?
How did the Devanagri inscription emerge?
When did those feature were brought in use which lead to the development of the Devanagri inscription?
What is the meaning of the Devanagri inscription?
Why the word Nagari is used in the declaring the Devanagri script?
Which are those languages, which are written in the Devanagri inscription?
Which are those languages, which had developed the independent script with local variation in the Devanagri script?
In which script are Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi and Prakrit written?
What is the script of Punjab, Bengal, Orissa, and Gujarat?
What is the name of the script of Tamil and present alphabets of Tamil language?
What changes did take place in the script during the 5th and the 6th century in Central India?
By what time did the scripts of the South Deccan and Ceylon acquired the rounded shape?
What is the Grantha script and where is popular?
What is peculiar about the Grantha letters?
By what time had the most 0f scripts of India had acquired their present shapes?
Form where did the Southeast Asian learn the art of writing?
Form which region of India did the Southeast Asian countries learned the art of writing?
Where the earliest Southeast Asian inscriptions are found?
What is the period the earliest of the Southeast Asian inscriptions?
What is the language of the inscriptions of the Southeast Asian countries?
The SouthEast Asian Sanskrit inscription of the 4th to 5th century of Java, Borneo and Malaya resemble the script of which of the Indian reigns?
Which script of Greater India was influenced by the script of the Pallava reign?
What is the source of the origin of the script of the Southeast Asian countries?
What is the east most front of the world where the Brahmi script of India had influenced?
What is the literal English translation of the word Kharoshti?
Which was the second script adopted by Ashoka along with Brahmi script?
What is the source of the origin of the script Kharoshti?
Where were the Aramaic alphabets popular?
What is the another term for Achamenid Persia?
What is the another name for NorthWest?
What is the direction of writing the Kharoshti script?
How was the Kharoshti script adopted to the Indian language?
Till what time did the Kharoshti language live in India?
Where did the Kharoshti script based Prakrit inscriptions are also found?
What is the source of the origin of the present script of the Tibet?
What was the material on which the writing was done in Ancient India?
How was talipot palm made useable for writing?
What was the material on which writing was done in Ancient India called?
In which region was the talapatra usually used?
What was the material used for writing in the Himalayan regions?
What was the material used for writing the important matters?
List the materials used for writing the scripts in the Ancient India?
When was the paper adopted for writing inscriptions in India?
What was the material of the ink in the Ancient India?
What was the tool of writing in Ancient India?
What was the technique of writing in South India?

Literature
VEDIC LITERATURE:

List the major Vedic literature? (Write a full-fledged note on it. Prepare a note for 15 marks question for paper I of Main examination)
How many hymns are there in Rig-Veda?
What are the hymns of Rig-Veda called?
What are the couplets of the hymns of Rig-Veda called?
What are Richa in Rig-Veda?
Who was the author of the various hymns of Rig-Veda?
When was the each Rich of rig Veda written?
What was the main merit of the writing of the Rig Vedic Hymns?
Which are the oldest of the ten mandals of the Rig-Veda?
What is the literal meaning of the mandal?
What is the other word in English, which is used for the mandals?
Who are the writers of the mandal ii and mandal vii?
Which are the latest mandals?
What is the importance of the ix mandal?
Which is the latest part of the Rig-Veda?
What social, economic and political feature the Purusha Sukta suggests?
What is the major difficulty in understanding the various Sukta of Rig-Veda?
What is the literal translation of Vritra, whom the god Indra kills?
With whom does Indra fight?
With which foreign story does the Indras’ fight with Vritra resemble?
What role does Indra perform in killing Vritra?
Who had made the thunderbolt of Indra?
What does give Indra strength to fight Vritra?
What are created when Indra kills Vritra?
Which is the another dragon, which Indra kills after Vritra?
What was the name of the mother of Vritra?
Who was Danu?
What is the prominent nature of the content of the poetry in Rig Veda? Name such two goddess on which such hymns are written which reflects deep feeling of Aryans for nature.
How many hymns are there on Ratri?
Who is the sister of the goddess Ratri?
Who is the father of Ratri?
In whose hymns does the moods of nature reflect?
In which hymn do we find the secular feature, which is also discernable in many of the Vedic hymns?
What is the actual motive of the hymn Gamester’s Lament?
To whom is the hymn Gamester’s Lament addressed?
What is Vibhidaka?
What did the gamester lose in the gambling?
Which is the goddess, which is being prayed in the Gamester’s Lament?
Which is the major hymn addressed to Savitri?
Where is the Gyatri Mantra found in Rig-Veda?
Which mountain is the abode of Soma?
Which god lives on the Mount Mujavant?
Was there any money during the Rig Vedic period?
Where is the Gamester’s Lamented recorded?
What is the nature of the contents of the Atharva Veda?
To which category does the Atharva Veda belong?
What is the nature of the contents of Brahmans of Yajur Veda?
What is mainly the contents and nature of the topics of the Later Vedic Literature?
In which Brahman is there a story concerning Pururavas and Urvashi?
What is the motive of the story of Pururavas and Urvashi, as told in Shatapatha Brahman?
What is the method of becoming Gandharva as per the Shatapatha Brahman?
Which poet of Guptan era of Ancient India had made the story of Pururvas and Urvashi as the main plot of his drama?
Who is the father of Pururavas in the story of Shatapatha Brahman?
What is the place of the happening of the story of Shatapatha Brahman?
What is the main importance of Upanishad literature as source of history?
New Heading: Epic Literature:
Which are the two main secular literature on the history as a source?
What changes had taken place on the nature of epics over the period of time?
What was actual nature of the contents of the epics before the interpolation in the contents of the epics?
What is the first importance of the epics as the religious literature?
How had the priests treated the contents of the martial stories in the epics?
Which is more important among Mahabharta and Ramayana?
Which is the longest poem in the world of literature?
How many stanzas are there in Mahabharta?
What is the meter of the stanzas of Mahabharta?
Who is considered the author of Mahabharta?
Who was the first person to learn about the story of Mahabharta from Vyas?
Where did Vaishampayana narrate the contents of Mahabharta for the first time?
Who was the king Janamejaya?
What was the occasion when Vaishampayana recited Mahabharta before the king Janamejaya?
What is the central theme of the Mahabharta in its secular form?
Where did the incidence of Mahabharta take place?
Between whom was Mahabharta fought?
Which place was the capital of Kurus?

Questions based on the story of Mahabharta

(Special Note: Such questions has been asked repeatedly. They have even appeared in General Studies Preliminary Examination also. On the same lines, the questions have been asked about the characters of the poems of Tamil literature. Therefore, it will be useful to remember these stories and read every poem seriously. You do not have to remember the whole poem but you remember the characters mentioned, events referred to and the period to which those poems belonged. No doubt, in The Wonder That Was India, the book under consideration, there are many such poems. You may find similar poems from different ancient literature (Sangam and Sanskrit, Prakrit and Pali Literature)(in this book a thesis has been presented that north Indian languages found literary expression only during Medieval Period.) in many other authoritative books. You will not find similar questions in banks of MCQs. There can be upto ten questions which require understanding based on the perspective as being written here. So give some attention to this suggestion. You may be able to answer nearly ten questions and one to three questions in General Studies Preliminary Examination.)

Who was the actual heir to the throne of Hastinapur?
Why was Dhritarashtra disqualified to ascend the throne of Hastinapur?
Who had ascended the throne on the disqualification of Dhritarashtra?
Why was Pandu made to abandon the throne after ascension?
How many wives did Pandu have?
How many sons did Pandu have?
Name the five sons of Pandu?
How were the sons of Pandu treated after the death of Pandu?
How many sons did Dhritarashtra have?
Who was declared as the heir apparent to Dhritarashtra?
Who was opposed to the appointment of Yudhishthira as the heir apparent?
Why were the Pandu brothers forced to leave Hastinapur?
How did the Pandu brothers live in exile?
Where and how did Arjuna won the Princes Draupadi as his wife?
To which region did Draupadi belong?
What was the status of Draupadi among the Pandu brothers after the marriage?
In what form of marriage was Draupadi married to Arjuna?
Where did the Pandu meet Krishna?
Who was Krishna?
What did Dhritarashtra do after the marriage of Pandu with Draupadi?
What was the name of the new capital of Pandyas?
What was the role of Krishna among the Pandyas?
What was the attitude of Duryodhana towards the new arrangement?
How did Duryodhana tackle the new arrangement?
Who was the helper of Duryodhana in his ploy of game of dice?
To which region did Shakuni belong?
What did Yudhishthira lose in the game of gambling?
What comprise was reached at when Pandyas lost every thing in the game of dice?
What was the condition for the last year of secret banishment of the Pandyas?
What was the response of Duryodhana when the Pandyas demanded their share in the empire after they had successfully completed conditions?
What was the response of Pandyas when they did not receive any response from Duryodhana for their claim?
Who were the friends of both the families who brought their armies to the battlegrounds?
Where did the Kurus and Pandyas bring their army to fight a war?
How long did the battle of Kurukshetra continue?
What was the result of Kurukshetra battle?
Who was crowned as the king after the battle of Kurukshetra?
In whose favour did Yudhishhira renounce the throne?
Who was Parikshit, who had ascended the throne after Yudhishhira?
Where was the city of gods situated as per the Mahabharta?
Where did the Pandya brothers go after abandoning the throne?
What was the main style of writing Mahabharta?
Which is the longest section in Mahabharata?
What are the contents of Shanti Parvan?
Who is the author of Shanti Parvan?
Who was Bhishma?
When did Bhishma narrate the views on Statecraft and Ethics, which are the subject contents of Shanti Parvan?
Which is the another most important section of Mahabharta?
Who is the author of Bhagvat Gita?
Who is the listener in Bhagvat Gita?
Which are the popular stories narrated in Mahabharta?
Which is the longest narrative episode of Mahabharta?
Who was the listener of the story of Nala and Damayanti?
What is the central idea of the episode of Nala and Damayanti?
Who were four main suitors of Damayanti apart from Nala?

The Ramayana:

How many sections are there in Ramayana?
Which sections are latter additions in the original Ramayana?
What is the quality of the language of the original Ramayana?
Which was written first- Ramayana or the Mahabharata?
How could the author of Mahabharta include the story of Rama in Mahabharta?
Who was the main author of Ramayana?
Why is the story of Rama, as given by Rishi Valmiki, considered more authentic?
What is the literary form of Ramayana?
Which of the two out of the seven chapter of Rishi Valmiki Ramayana are later additions?
When would the first and second chapter have been added to the Rishi Valmiki Ramayana?
Which is place of main action in Ramayana?
Which was the capital of King of Kosala?
In which direction could the event of Ramayana have taken place in relation to Mahabharta?

The story of Rama

Who was the king of Kosala?
Identify the Ancient region of Kosala on an outline of India.
How many wives did the king Dasharatha of Kosala have?
Name the three wives of Dasharatha?
How many sons did Dashartha have?
Name the four sons of Dasharatha?
Who was the mother of Rama?
Who was the mother of Bharata?
Who was Sita?
How did Rama marry Sita?
Who was the daughter of Janak?
Who was the king of Videha?
Identify the Ancient region of Videha on an outline of India.
How had been Rama shown in the first chapter of Rishi Valmiki Ramayana?
What does it shows about the time when Rama is shown as Avatar of Vishnu?
Who was declared as the heir of Kosala by Dasharatha?
What had persuaded Dasharatha to reverse his decision on the question of making Rama as the heir apparent?
Who had sought the banishment of Rama?
Which are the two boons, which queen Kaikeyi asked from Dasharatha?
What was the attitude of Rama towards his banishment?
Who had accompanied Rama to forests?
In what capacity had Bharata reigned on the death of Dasharatha?
What was the longest hermitage of Rama, Lakshmana, and Sita?
What was the main problem in Dandaka (n.Md) ?
How did Rama solve the problems at Dandaka?
Who was Ravana?
What was the grudge of Ravana against Rama?
How did Ravana avenge his grudge against Rama?
How did Ravana carry Sita to Lanka?
Whose help did Rama seek in tracing Sita?
Who was Sugriva?
Who was Hanumant?
Who was able to learn about the whereabouts of Sita?
What efforts did Hanumant make to trace Sita?
Where did Hanumant locate Sita?
How did Rama reach Sita?
Who had helped Rama to make a bridge on the sea to Lanka?
How did Rama rescue Sita?
How had Ravana treated Sita during her captivity?
How had Sita responded during her captivity?
What did the sacred laws enjoin upon Rama in matter of treatment to Sita on her return from the captivity?
How did Sita acquire absolution for herself to make her eligible for being taken as wife by Rama as per the requirement of sacred law?
How was the innocence of Sita established?
How did Bharata treat Rama and Sita on their return to Ayodhya?
In which chapter, is the sequel to the return of Rama to Ayodhya narrated?
What are the views of the scholars on the last chapter of the Rishi Valmiki Ramayana?
What is the view of the scholars on the status of the last chapter in Rishi Valmiki Ramayana?
Who had raised the question on the purity of Sita in Ayodhya?
What was the main objection of the people of Ayodhya on the legal status of Sita?
What was the response of Rama towards the objection of the people of Ayodhya?
Where did Sita take refuge after she was banished by Rama to placate the objection of the people of Ayodhya?
How many children were born to Sita?
Where were children born to Sita?
Name the children of Rama and Sita?
What was the political basis of banishing Sita?
How did Sita establish her innocence after giving birth to her children?
What is the meaning of the word Sita?
What divine role does Sita play in order to justify her name?
What was the actual theory about the origin of existence of Sita in human form?
Was Sita really a daughter of King Janak of Videha?
What aspect of real life concerning the role of a tribal chief is depicted in the theory of origin of Sita?
What did Rama do when Sita gave away her corporal existence?
What form Rama had acquired on his return to heavens?
In which literary work is a happy ending depicted to the story of Rama and Sita?
How is Bhavabhuti’s Uttaramacharita different from Rishi Valmiki Ramayana?
Who is the author of Uttaramacharita?
When did Bhavabhuti write Uttaramacharita?
Where do we find reference to the story of Rama in Buddhist literature?
What part of the story of Rama as told by Rishi Valmiki, is not given in Jataka literature of Theravada School of Buddhism?
How is Rama shown in the Jataka literature?
What is the view of the scholars on the plots of banishment of Rama and the conquest of Ceylon by Rama?
Which two traditions had Rishi Valmiki conflated in Ramayana?
Which part of the story of Shri Rama is not historic in nature?
What maximum could the army of monkey suggests on rational grounds?
What is the style of the writing of Ramayana as compared to Mahabharta?
Which out of Ramayana and Mahabharta, is grammatically more perfect?
What are the normal grammatical errors in Mahabharta?
What are the main literary features of writing which differentiate with Mahabharta?
Who had revealed the secret of life to Ravana to Ram?
What was the power behind the arrows of Rama, which took the life of Ravana?
Which was the main feature of the didactic literature of the ancient time?

Classical Sanskrit Poetry

Which is the earliest Classic Sanskrit Poetical work?
Who was the author of Buddhacharita?
When had Ashvaghosha written the Buddhacharita?
What was the religion of Ashvaghosha?
Which the best example of the earliest courtly Classic Sanskrit?
When was the Girnar inscription written?
To which king does the Sanskrit inscription of Girnar, belong?
By what time had Sanskrit acquired the position of the courtly language?
What was the position of the popularity of Sanskrit language in court of the monarchs of West?
Which is the best example of the Sanskrit literature?
What is the main objection against the Sanskrit literature?
Which was the main audience of the Sanskrit literature?
What was the influence of the society on the production of Sanskrit literature?
What was the main mode of the Indian literature in Sanskrit?
What were the main subjects of the Sanskrit literary work?
Which feature of the Sanskrit literature was not very prominent in case of the courtly works?
How is the subject of the religion treated in the Sanskrit language?
Who is considered the best writer on religion in Sanskrit language?
What type of love was mainly depicted in the Sanskrit literature?
How had the writers in Sanskrit treated nature in the language?
Which aspect of the Kalidas Sanskrit work made it popular in the west?
Which type of the Sanskrit literature is more useful for history as sources?
Which element of literature is prominent in the Classic Sanskrit writing?
Which is the most popular practice of Kalidas while writing?
Which alankaras is used the most in the Sanskrit literature?
Which type of Sanskrit literature was highly popular?
What was the main purpose of writing Sanskrit poetry?
Which are the basic eight rasas in Sanskrit poetry?
Which is the most important element of the Sanskrit poetic theory?
How was the element of dhvani used in Sanskrit poetry?
Name the main literary theorists of Sanskrit literature?
Who had written Kavyadarsha?
Note: Here are some additional questions which can not be answered with the help of A. L. Basham.
When did Dandin write Kavyadarsha?
Who had written Kavyalankara?
When did Bhamaha write Kavyalankara?
Who had written Dhvanyaloka?
When did Anandavarshan write Dhvanyaloka?
Who had written Kavyaprakasha?
When did Mammata write Kavyaprakasha?
Who had written Sahityadarpana?
When did Vishvanatha write Sahityadarpana?
What is the meaning of alankara?
Which element of Sanskrit writing in poetry is the most important?
Which are the main aspects of alankara?
What was the influence of use of alankara on the quality of the Sanskrit poetry?
What was the main unit of Sanskrit poetry?
What was the main method of writing mahakavya?
Which type of Sanskrit poetry writing was very popular?
Which type of collection of Sanskrit poetry is still surviving?
What is the normal size of the stanza in the Sanskrit poetry?
How many syllables could be there for each stanza?
What does the metre used in the Classic Sanskrit call?
What is the general length of the Shaloka?
Which aspect of the Sanskrit poetry is highly appreciated?
Who is considered as the greatest poet of Sanskrit?
Who were the main patrons of Kalidas?
Why are the accounts of Kalidas considered of high importance by the student of history?
What are the merits of the Kalidas’s works for studying the culture of the contemporary period?
With which other art works are the Kalidas’s works compared?
What are the main personality traits of Kalidas?
Which are three main dramas of Kalidas?
Which are the two main poems of Kalidas?
Which are the two short poems of Kalidas?
What is the English translation of Meghaduta?
How many versed are there in Cloud Messenger?
Which is the most popular Sanskrit Poem of Kalidas?
Which is the most popular poem in Sanskrit literature?
Which poem in Sanskrit literature had been copied in Sanskrit and vernacular poetry?
Which is main feature of Meghaduta as a poem of par excellence?
Name the main character of the Meghaduta?
Where did the Yaksha of Meghaduta reside?
Who was the master of Yaksha?
Where was Yaksha banished?
What is the main plot of Meghaduta?
What is the main agony of Yaksha?
What is the main content of the poem Meghaduta?
What is the first message of Yaksha to the clouds?
Which are the geographical features explained by Kalidas through the message of Yaksha?
Which river had been described in Meghaduta?
Which city had been mentioned by Kalidas in Meghaduta?
Which river was situated near Ujjain as explained by Kalidas in Meghaduta?
How had Kalidas explained the beauty and culture of Ujjain?
What is the English word for the Kumarasambhava?
What is the actual motive of the poem Kumarasambhava?
Who are the characters of Kumarasambhava?
Which mountain is explained in the poem Kumarasambhava?
How was the mountain described in Kalidasa Kumarasambhava?
What is the main story of the poem Kumarasambhava by Kalidasa?
Who is the villain in Kumarasambhava?
What is the main idea in Raghuvansha?
What is the main idea in Ritusanhara?
Which is most unimpressive work among the works of Kalidasa?
How many seasons does a Hindu year include as per the Ritusanhara?
Who was the writer of Janaki-harana?
Who was the writer of Kiratarjuniya?
Who is Kirata?
What is the main content of Kiratarjuniya?
What is the main content of Bhattikavya?
Who was the author of Bhattikavya?
In which century was Bhatti writing Bhattikavya?
Who was the author of Shishupala-vadha?
When did Magha write Shishupala-vadha?
What is the content of Shishupala-vadha?
What is content of the poem Raghuvansha by Kalidas?
In which of the poem of Kalidas is the story of Rama given?
Is the poem Raghuvansha a complete poem?
Which of the poem of Kalidas is not complete?
What is the English translation of the word Ritusanhara?
What is Dvyashraya Kavya?
Which is the best example of Dvyashraya Kavya?
What is the category of Ramacharita of Sandhyakara of 12th century?
Who was the patron king of Sandhyakara?
Who are the two heroes of the Ramacharita of Sandhyakara?
Which is the most popular and useful category of poetry for the history as source?
Who is considered the best poet of one stanza poetry of the ancient India?
How many poems had Bhartihari written?
When did Bhartihari was live?
What are the contents of the poems of the poet Bhartihari?
What is the language used by Bhartihari?
What are the two main passions of the Bhartihari poetry?
What had dominated his latter poetry?
What are the five main elements in Hindu physics?
Who was the mot erotic poet of the Ancient India?
When did Amru live?
What are the main good points of the Amru’s poetry?
Name the famous poet of Harsha period?
Name the poetic work of Bana?
Name the most famous poet of Kashmir from 11th and 12th century?
Name the work of Bilhana?
What is the English translation of Chaurupanchashika?
What is the content of the poem of Bilhana?
What is the identification of the poem of Bilhana?
Who was the writer of Gita Govinda?
When did Jayadeva write Gita Govinda?
What was the motive of writing Gita Govinda?
Who are the main characters in Gita Govinda?
What is the main theme of Gita Govinda?
Among whom is Gita Govinda still popular?
What is the beginning of Gita Govinda?
What is the tone of Gita Govinda?
What is the peculiar feature of Jayadeva Gita Govinda as a Sanskrit poem?
Where is the name of the poet mentioned in Gita Govinda?
From which direction does the Love-god come as per Gita Govinda?
What is the usual ornament of Krishna in Gita Govinda?
What is the category of Brihatkatha?
What is the nature of the contents of Brihatkatha?
What is the most famous Brihatkatha of Ancient India period?
Who is the writer of Katha-sarit-sagara?
When was Katha-sarit-sagara written?
Which are the two main feelings depicted in Katha-sarit-sagara?
Which is most popular narrative poetry form of Ancient India period?
Name the popular narrative poetry of Harsha Vardhan period of Ancient India?
Who is the writer of Vikramkadevacharita?
Who is the hero of Vikramkadevacharita?
What is the category of Ramacharita by Bilhana?
Who is the writer of Hammira-mahakavya?
When was the king Hammira killed?
Where did the king Hammira rule?
Who was the enemy of Hammira?
How was the Sultan Allauddin Khilji mentioned in the Hammira-mahakavya?
What was the religion of Nayachandra Suri, the writer of Hammira-mahakavya?
Who was the court dancer of Hammira?
What was the dynasty of Hammira?
Who killed the dancer Radhadevi of the court of Hammira of Ranthambor?
What is the another name of Ranthambor?

The Drama

Since when are the Aryans acquainted with the drama as the performing art?
With which other school of drama does the Indian drama of Ancient period resembles?
What are the bases of claiming resemblance of Indian and Greek drama in the ancient period of Indian history?
What does the curtain at the back of the stage call in the Indian drama?
What is the Sanskrit translation of Little Clay Cart drama?
Discuss the possibility of the influence of the Greek drama on Indian drama?
What is the usual size of Indian drama in Sanskrit?
Who were usually the actors in Dramas in Ancient India?
Did the royal families also act in the dramas?
Where do we find the stage for dramas, which had been used in Ancient Indian period?
Where were the dramas mostly performed in the Ancient Indian period?
What was the word for stage in Sanskrit?
From where do the actors make their entry on ranga?
What purpose does yavanika perform on ranga?
What is the back of the ranga called in Sanskrit?
How was the absence of the backdrop scenery covered up in the Sanskrit drama?
How was body used to perform as the stage language in Sanskrit drama?
What was the qualification of the audience in enjoying the Sanskrit drama?
What was the dress code of the actors to signify various characters in a Sanskrit drama?
What is the usual way of starting the drama in Sanskrit literature?
What is the role of the sutrashara in Sanskrit Drama?
What was form of narration of the course of drama in Sanskrit literature?
Were there songs in Sanskrit drama?
What was the role of the praveshaka in Sanskrit drama?
How was the Sanskrit drama different from European drama tradition?
What aspect of drama, quite practiced in European tradition, is intently avoided in Sanskrit drama tradition?
What was the general ending of a Sanskrit drama?
Which were those two moods, which an ancient drama lover enjoyed in the Sanskrit drama?
Which is considered the first dramatist of Sanskrit?
What are the common plots in the Sanskrit literature?
Which were the main sources for the Sanskrit plays?
Which were the usual heroes of the Sanskrit plays?
What were the main criteria of the classifications of the Sanskrit plays?
What are the words for the hero, heroine and villain in Sanskrit plays?
What was the role of a vidushaka?
What was the caste of a vidushaka?
What is the vita in a Sanskrit play?
Which is the earliest surviving play in Sanskrit?
From was the Ashvaghosa manuscript located?
Which are the oldest complete plays in Sanskrit literature?
How many plays of Bhasa are available?
Name any two perfect plays of Bhasa.
What are the sources of the plot of the short dramas of Bhasa?
What are the distinctive points of plays of Bhasa?
In what way had Bhasa broken away from transition in writing the plots of the play?
What was the another qualification of a playwright in Sanskrit?
What is the nature of the play Malvikagnimitram of Kalidas?
What is the time period of the Malvikagnimitram?
Which of the three plays of Kalidas had survived?
What is the plot of the Vikramirvashi?
Which is considered the masterpiece of Kalidas?
What time is depicted in Abhijnanshakuntalam play?

What is the name of the king in the drama Abhijnanshakuntalam?
How many acts are there in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Who is the main heroine of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Where did Shakuntala live when Dushyanta saw her?
What was the name of the mother of Shakuntala?
What is the main plot of the first act of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What is the main plot of the second act of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What is the plot of the third act of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Who were the two confidants of Shakuntala in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What was the suggestion of the confidants of Shakuntala to her in the third act of the Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What did Dushyanta give to Shakuntala as the sign of the desire to marry her in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What type of marriage did Shakuntala and Dushyanta perform to unite Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What is the main plot of the fourth act of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What is the nature of the hermit Durvasas?
What was the curse of Durvasas to Shakuntala in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What was the attitude of Kanva towards Shakuntala in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What did Kanva decide for the expecting Shakuntala in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Who had accompanied Shakuntala to the court of Dushyanta in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What is the main plot of the act fifth in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Name the two hermits who accompanied Shakuntala to Dushyanta in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What was the name of the pet of Shakuntala about whom she mentioned to the king in the act fifth of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What was the name of the tribe of Dushyanta in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What was the advice of the chief priest to the king in the act fifth of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Who took away Shakuntala when she was going with the chief priest of Dushyanta in the act fifth of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
What is the plot of the sixth act of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Who brought the message of Indra to Dushyanta?
Who was the charioteer of Indra?
What is the plot of the seventh, the last act of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Where did Dushyanta find Bharta?
What is the tribe of Bharta?
What were the two main determinant factors for the course of the life of the characters of the story of Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Which aspects of the life were appreciated by the audience of the Guptan era, which Kalidas had used in his plays especially in Abhijnanshakuntalam?
Name the only surviving one act play of Shudraka?
Who was writer of Mrichchakatika?
What is the plot of Mrichchakatika?
Name the two main characters of Mrichchakatika?
Who was the reigning king in the one act play Mrichchakatika of Shudraka?
What is the nature of the life style of the characters of Mrichchakatika of Shudraka?
Which of the Indian one act play in Sanskrit was most appreciated by the Western audience of its translation?
Who was the contemporary playwright of Shudraka?
To which century does Vishakhadatta belong?
Which is the complete surviving play of Vishakhadatta?
What is the story of the play Mudrarakshasa?
What type of plays did Vishakhadatta write?
What is the story of the Devichandragupta written by Vishakhadatta?
Who was the villain in Mudrarakshasa?
Name the three major plays of King Harsha of Vardhan dynasty?
Who is the heroine of the play Ratnavali written by king Harsha?
Who is the heroine of the play Priyadarshika written by king Harsha?
Who is the hero in the play Nagananda written by Harsha?
What is the nature of the play Nagananda written by Harsha?
What are the place of happening in the plays Ratnavali and Priyadarshika written by king Harsha?
Who was the contemporary royal dignitary of Harsha, who was also famous for writing the plays?
Who was the author of Mattavilasa?
What was the English translation of Mattavilasa?
What is the story of the play Mattavilasa written by the Pallava King Mahendravikramvarman?
Who were the characters of the play Mattavilasa of Mahendravikramvarman?
Who is the best playwright next only to Kalidas, from the Ancient history of India?
Where did Bhavabhuti live?
To which century did Bhavabhuti belong?
Name the three surviving plays of Bhavabhuti?
What is the central story of the play Malati and Madhava?
Who is the central character of Mahaviracharita?
Who is the central character of Uttararamcharita?
What are the distinctive features of the plays of Bhavabhuti?
When did the Sanskrit playwright Bhatta Narayana exist?
When did the Sanskrit playwright Murari exist?
When did the Sanskrit playwright Rajashekhara exist?
When did the Sanskrit playwright Krishnamisra exist?

Sanskrit Prose Literature

Which is the earliest example of Sanskrit prose?
Which are earliest two examples of Sanskrit prose?
When did the elaborate style of prose develop in the Ancient India?
What was the prose work in Guptan period called?
Name the chief prose writers of the Guptan period?
What is the period of existence of Dandin, Subandhu, and Bana?
Name the most famous work of Dandin.
What are the literary merits of Dashakumaracharita of Dandin?
What is the literary form of Dashakumaracharita of Dandin?
To which period does the Dashakumaracharita of Dandin belong?
What is the nature of the contents of Dashakumaracharita of Dandin?
What is the importance of the Dashakumaracharita of Dandin as a source on social history of ancient history period of India?
What is the theme of the story collection in Dashakumaracharita of Dandin?
Which is the only extant work of Subandhu?
Who is the heroine of the prose work Vasavadatta of Subandhu?
Who was the love of the heroine of Vasavadatta written by Subandhu?
What are the weaknesses of the writing skills of Subandhu?
What are the important features of the skills of Subandhu as a writer?
Which are the two important styles of writing prose in Sanskrit?
What was the style of writing prose of Subandhu?
What was the style of writing prose of Kalidas and Dandin?
Who had adopted the Gauda style of writing prose during ancient period of Indian history?
Who had adopted the Vaidharbha style of writing prose during the ancient period of Indian history?
What is the another name of Vaidharbha style of writing?
What is the main feature of Gauda style of prose writing?
What is the main style of Vaidharbha or Berar style of writing prose during the ancient period of Indian history?
What was the style of writing prose of Bana?
With whom did the style of Bana in writing prose resembles?
What are the main features of writing prose of Bana?
Which are the two main works of Bana?
Which is the best autobiography in Sanskrit literature?
What was the background of Bana?
What does the list of the friends of Bana suggest about the caste rules in the eighth century?
What was the first experience of Bana in his first meeting with the king Harsha?
How was Bana appointed in the court of Harsha?
What was bent of mind of Bana?
What was the main character of Bana?
What are the main features of the writing of Bana?
What was the attitude of Bana towards the ruling form of government and the public?
What is the content of Harshcharita of Bana?
What is the negative feature of the contents of Harshcharita of Bana?
What is the content of Kadambari?
What is the second author of Kadambari along with Bana?
What is the form of Pali Jatakas?
Who are the characters in Jatakas?
In which other literature do we find stories similar to the Jatak stories?
Which of the literature of India had influenced the literature of West?
Which of the Indian literary work was translated into Pahlavi?
What is Pahlavi literature?
When was Panchtantra translated into Persian language?
When was Panchtantra translated into Arabic?
What was the source of translating Panchtantra in to Arabic?
Which were the languages, through which Panchtantra entered Europe?
What is the name of the first English translation of Panchtantra?
Who was the translator of Panchtantra?
What is The Morall Philosophie of Doni?
Why did Sir Thomas North adopt the peculiar title for the translation of Panchtantra?
When did The Morall Philosophie of Doni appeared in English print?
Which of the Indian work was first to be published in English language in 1570?
Which is the another literary product that had been source of borrowing by the Europe?
What is the general nature of the contents of Panchtantra?
Who was considered the main readers of Panchtantra?
How were the stories in Panchtantra told?
Which is the most popular version of Panchtantra?
Who is the writer of Hitopadesha?
Where was Hitopadesha composed?
Where was Hitopadesha composed?
What is the general use of Hitopadesha as a work of Sanskrit?
What are the distinctive features of Hitopadesha?