History – GK Questions

Rajaraja Chola I (985-1014 CE) built the magnificent Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur, a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing Dravidian architecture and Chola artistic excellence. [[30]]

Tirukkural, a classic Tamil text on ethics, politics, and love, was composed by Thiruvalluvar during the Sangam period (c. 1st-4th century CE). It consists of 1,330 couplets. [[1]]

According to Tamil tradition, three Sangams were held: First at Madurai (mythical), Second at Kapadapuram, and Third at Madurai. Thanjavur was not a Sangam venue but later became a Chola capital. [[30]]

After attaining enlightenment at Bodh Gaya, Buddha delivered his first sermon (Dhammachakkappavattana Sutta) at Sarnath near Varanasi, setting in motion the Wheel of Dharma. [[1]]

Mahayana Buddhism emphasizes the Bodhisattva ideal – enlightened beings who postpone their own Nirvana to help others achieve liberation. This contrasts with Hinayana's focus on individual salvation. [[30]]

Mahavira, the 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, attained Nirvana at Pavapuri (near Rajgir) in 527 BCE. The Jal Mandir temple now stands at this sacred site. [[1]]

The Fourth Buddhist Council (c. 72 CE) was held at Kundalavana in Kashmir under Kushana emperor Kanishka. It was presided by Vasumitra and led to the division of Buddhism into Mahayana and Hinayana sects. [[30]]

According to Jain tradition, Rishabhanatha (Adinatha) was the first Tirthankara. Mahavira was the 24th and last Tirthankara who reorganized and propagated Jainism in its current form. [[1]]

The Swadeshi Movement (1905-1908) promoted indigenous goods and boycotted British products in protest against Bengal's partition. It marked the beginning of mass participation in India's freedom struggle. [[30]]

Annie Besant founded the Home Rule League in Madras (September 1916), and Bal Gangadhar Tilak founded another in Poona (April 1916). Both demanded self-government for India within the British Empire. [[1]]

The partition of Bengal (1905) sparked the Swadeshi Movement. Due to widespread protests, Lord Hardinge annulled the partition in 1911 and shifted the capital from Calcutta to Delhi. [[30]]

The Indian National Congress was founded in December 1885 in Bombay by A.O. Hume, with W.C. Banerjee as its first president. It initially sought reforms within the British framework. [[1]]

Dadabhai Naoroji was elected as a Liberal Party MP from Finsbury Central (London) in 1892. He used this platform to highlight India's economic exploitation under British rule. [[30]]

Though there were earlier tribal and peasant uprisings, the Revolt of 1857 was the first large-scale, coordinated armed resistance involving sepoys, peasants, and rulers across North and Central India. [[1]]

Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal emperor, was proclaimed the symbolic leader of the revolt in Delhi. After the British recaptured Delhi, he was exiled to Rangoon where he died in 1862. [[30]]

Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi led her forces against the British during the 1857 Revolt. She became a symbol of resistance and patriotism, famously declaring 'Main apni Jhansi nahi doongi' (I will not give up my Jhansi). [[1]]

Mangal Pandey, a sepoy of the 34th Bengal Native Infantry, attacked British officers in Barrackpore on March 29, 1857, protesting the new cartridges. He was hanged on April 8, 1857, becoming a martyr of the revolt. [[30]]

The Revolt of 1857 began in Meerut on May 10, 1857, when Indian sepoys refused to use the new Enfield rifle cartridges. It quickly spread to Delhi, Kanpur, Lucknow, and other parts of North India. [[1]]

While railways facilitated movement of people and goods, their primary purpose was to transport raw materials to ports for export to Britain and move troops quickly to suppress rebellions. [[30]]

The Famine Commission (1880) under Richard Strachey was appointed after the devastating famines of 1876-78. It recommended measures for famine relief and prevention, though implementation was inadequate. [[1]]