Hard Level – GK Questions

Chanhudaro (Sindh, Pakistan) was a Harappan craft production center (c. 2000 BCE) specializing in bead-making, shell bangles, and copper/bronze work. Unlike Harappa/Mohenjo-daro, it lacked citadels or fortifications, suggesting a peaceful craft town.

National Mission for Manuscripts (2003) under Ministry of Culture surveys, conserves, and digitizes India's estimated 10 million manuscripts. It establishes Manuscript Resource Centres and promotes scholarly access to ancient knowledge systems.

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.

South India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh) has extensive megalithic sites (1000 BCE-300 CE) featuring dolmens, cists, and menhirs. These iron-age burials provide insights into early social organization and metallurgy.

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.

Scholars have identified approximately 400-600 distinct signs in the Indus script (c. 2600-1900 BCE). Despite extensive research, the script remains undeciphered due to lack of bilingual texts and uncertain language affiliation.

Sahitya Akademi (National Academy of Letters), established in 1954, promotes Indian literature in 24 languages. It confers annual awards, publishes journals (Indian Literature), and organizes literary festivals nationwide.

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.

Alha-Khand is a medieval Hindi epic (12th century) narrating the exploits of warriors Alha and Udal serving Chandela king Paramardi. Composed in Bundeli dialect, it is performed as folk ballads in North India, preserving oral history.

Indian miniature painting uses natural pigments (minerals, plants) bound with gum arabic, applied in fine layers on wasli (handmade paper). Techniques include meticulous brushwork, gold leaf application, and detailed narratives.

The Ancient Monuments Preservation Act was first enacted in 1904 under Lord Curzon. It was replaced by the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act in 1958, amended in 2010 for stricter heritage protection.

Bharatanatyam was among the first dance forms recognized as classical by Sangeet Natak Akademi in the 1950s, alongside Kathak and Kathakali. This recognition revived temple dance traditions and established institutional training.

Kirana Gharana, founded by Abdul Karim Khan, emphasizes swara shuddhi (precise intonation), meend (glides), and bhava (emotion). Exponents include Bhimsen Joshi, Gangubai Hangal, and Sawai Gandharva.

Arthashastra, attributed to Chanakya (Kautilya, 4th century BCE), is a comprehensive Sanskrit text on politics, economics, and military strategy. Rediscovered in 1905, it provides insights into Mauryan administration and ancient Indian polity.

Melakarta ragas in Carnatic music are 72 parent scales classified by permutations of seven swaras (Sa, Ri, Ga, Ma, Pa, Dha, Ni). Each melakarta generates janya (derived) ragas, forming the theoretical foundation of Carnatic system.

Saqi Mustaid Khan authored Futuhat-i-Alamgiri, documenting Aurangzeb's military campaigns and administration. Written in Persian, it is a key primary source for late Mughal history, though biased towards imperial perspective.

Miraj (Maharashtra) is a hub for Hindustani musical instruments. The Rikhab Ram family and other artisans craft tanpuras, sitars, and sarods using traditional techniques. Miraj instruments received GI tag in 2015.

Kishangarh school (Rajasthan) is renowned for idealized Radha-Krishna paintings with elongated features, arched eyebrows, and serene expressions. Patronized by Savant Singh (Nagari Das), it blends Mughal finesse with devotional themes.

Bidriware from Bidar, Karnataka, uses a unique technique: casting zinc-copper alloy, engraving designs, inlaying silver/gold, then blackening with ammonium chloride and soil. The contrast highlights intricate motifs. GI tagged in 2006.

Tarana is a Hindustani vocal composition using rhythmic syllables (ter, na, nom) instead of lyrics. Developed by Amir Khusrau, it showcases vocal agility, layakari (rhythmic play), and is often performed in fast tempo.