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Answer: Visiting Professor
ICCR establishes Visiting Professor/Chair positions in foreign universities to teach Indian languages, philosophy, and culture. This soft diplomacy initiative strengthens global understanding of India's heritage.
Answer: Khmer
Pallava Grantha script spread to Southeast Asia via trade and cultural exchange, influencing Khmer (Cambodia), Mon (Myanmar), and early Thai scripts. This demonstrates India's soft power in ancient Asian literacy traditions.
Answer: Gambhari Devi
Gambhari Devi, a Chhau dancer from Purulia (West Bengal), received Padma Shri in 2021 for preserving and promoting this martial dance form. She trains young artists and performs internationally, sustaining cultural heritage.
Answer: Tamil
Tamil-Brahmi script (c. 3rd century BCE-3rd century CE) is the earliest writing system for Tamil, found on cave inscriptions, pottery, and coins in Tamil Nadu and Sri Lanka. It adapted Brahmi to Tamil phonetics.
Answer: Asia-Pacific
UNESCO Asia-Pacific Awards (since 2000) honor excellence in heritage conservation across 48 countries. Indian recipients include projects like Humayun's Tomb restoration and Jaipur's walled city conservation.
Answer: regional scripts like Brahmi/Nagari
Copper plate grants (c. 3rd century BCE onwards) recorded land donations, privileges, and genealogies. Inscribed in regional scripts (Brahmi, Nagari, Grantha) and languages (Sanskrit, Prakrit, Tamil), they are vital historical sources.
Answer: 40
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (Sangeet Natak Akademi) honors artists under 40 for outstanding achievement in performing arts. Named after the shehnai maestro, it encourages emerging talent and preserves traditional arts.
Answer: animals/trees
Punch-marked coins, India's earliest coinage, featured symbols punched onto silver bars: sun, moon, animals, trees, and geometric motifs. Absence of legends makes attribution to specific rulers challenging for numismatists.
Answer: plastic arts
Kalidas Samman (1980) honors artists in four categories: classical music, dance, theatre, and plastic arts (visual arts). Named after poet Kalidasa, it includes a cash award, citation, and shawl, promoting classical traditions.
Answer: Devanagari
Modi script, a cursive variant of Devanagari, was used for Marathi administration under Marathas and British. Post-independence, Devanagari was standardized for Marathi in 1950 for wider literacy and printing convenience.
Answer: Parvathy Baul
Parvathy Baul, a prominent female Baul singer and practitioner, received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 2010. She promotes Baul philosophy through performances and workshops, preserving this intangible cultural heritage.
Answer: Sanskrit
Allahabad Pillar inscription (c. 350 CE) by poet Harisena eulogizes Gupta emperor Samudragupta in classical Sanskrit using Brahmi script. It is a key source for Gupta political history and literary culture.
Answer: Ram V. Sutar
Ram V. Sutar, renowned sculptor of the Statue of Unity (Sardar Patel), received Padma Vibhushan in 2014. His works include statues of national leaders and historical figures, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern aesthetics.
Answer: James Prinsep
James Prinsep, an Asiatic Society scholar, deciphered Brahmi script in 1837 by comparing Ashokan edicts with Greek-Aramaic bilingual inscriptions. This breakthrough unlocked ancient Indian history and epigraphy.
Answer: 22
Saraswati Samman recognizes literary excellence in any of the 22 scheduled languages. Conferred by KK Birla Foundation, it includes a citation, plaque, and cash prize. First recipient was Harivansh Rai Bachchan (Hindi) in 1991.
Answer: Telugu-Kannada
Grantha script (c. 6th century CE) was developed to write Sanskrit in Tamil regions. It influenced the evolution of modern South Indian scripts: Tamil, Malayalam, Telugu, and Kannada, adapting to regional phonetic needs.
Answer: Akademi Ratna
Akademi Ratna (Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship) is the highest honor conferred by India's national academy for music, dance, and drama. Limited to 40 living recipients, it recognizes lifetime achievement in performing arts.
Answer: Kharosthi
Ashokan edicts used Brahmi script in most regions, but Kharosthi (derived from Aramaic) was used in northwestern areas (modern Pakistan/Afghanistan). Some edicts also featured Greek and Aramaic for multilingual communication.
Answer: Kathputli
Kathputli is Rajasthan's traditional string puppetry, featuring brightly colored wooden puppets with elaborate costumes. Performers narrate folk tales, ballads, and social themes accompanied by folk music. Recognized for preserving oral traditions.
Answer: Ghan (solid)
Indian music classifies instruments as: Tat (stringed: sitar, veena), Sushir (wind: bansuri, shehnai), Avanaddh (percussion: tabla, mridangam), and Ghan (solid/idiophones: jalra, manjira). This system originates from Natya Shastra.