True/False – GK Questions

Pichwai (meaning 'behind the curtain') paintings adorn the sanctum of Shrinathji Temple in Nathdwara, Rajasthan. Created with natural colors on cloth, they depict Krishna's leelas and change with seasons/festivals.

F.W. Stevens designed CST (1887) blending Victorian Gothic Revival with Indian architectural elements like domes, turrets, and traditional motifs. It symbolizes Mumbai's colonial heritage and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Amrita Sher-Gil blended Post-Impressionism with Indian miniature traditions and Ajanta frescoes. Her works like 'Three Girls' and 'Bride's Toilet' depict Indian rural life with emotional depth, not pure Impressionism.

Yoga was inscribed by UNESCO in 2016, recognizing its holistic approach to physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. India proposed the nomination, highlighting yoga's ancient roots and global practice.

Indo-Saracenic architecture does blend Indian, Islamic, and Gothic styles, but Victoria Memorial Hall is in Kolkata, not Chennai. Chennai's example is the Madras High Court. The style was popularized by British architects like Robert Fellowes Chisholm.

Sangam poetry (300 BCE-300 CE) is categorized into Aham (personal, love, intimacy) and Puram (public, war, ethics). This classification reflects ancient Tamil literary aesthetics and social values.

Ragam Thanam Pallavi is the centerpiece of Carnatic vocal concerts, showcasing a musician's mastery. It involves elaborate raga alapana (melodic exploration), thanam (rhythmic improvisation), and pallavi (thematic composition).

Makar Sankranti (January 14) marks the sun's transition into Capricorn. In Gujarat and Rajasthan, it is celebrated as Uttarayan with massive kite festivals, symbolizing the arrival of spring.

Emperor Jahangir (r. 1605-1627) encouraged naturalism and European influences in Mughal art. Artists adopted linear perspective, chiaroscuro, and realistic portraiture, seen in works like 'Jahangir Preferring a Sufi Shaikh to Kings'.

Jataka tales, part of the Khuddaka Nikaya in Pali Canon, narrate Buddha's previous lives as bodhisattva. Over 500 stories teaching moral lessons, influential in Buddhist art and literature across Asia.

Saint Tyagaraja (1767-1847), one of the Carnatic Trinity, composed over 700 kritis primarily in Telugu, with some in Sanskrit. His works emphasize devotion to Lord Rama and are central to Carnatic repertoire.

Ajanta Caves (Maharashtra), dating from 2nd century BCE to 6th century CE, are 30 rock-cut Buddhist cave monuments. Renowned for ancient paintings depicting Jataka tales and exquisite sculptures of Buddha.

Bankura horses from West Bengal are traditional terracotta figurines made by Kumhar potters. Symbolic of rural Bengal, they are used in rituals and as decorative items. Received GI tag in 2018.

Losar marks the Tibetan New Year, celebrated with prayers, cham dances, and feasts in Buddhist communities of Ladakh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh. Dates follow the Tibetan lunar calendar.

Tamasha is a vibrant folk theatre form of Maharashtra combining dance, music, and drama. Known for Lavani songs, witty dialogue, and social commentary. Recognized for preserving Marathi folk culture.

'West Meets East' (1967) was a groundbreaking collaboration between sitar maestro Pandit Ravi Shankar and violinist Yehudi Menuhin. It won a Grammy and introduced Indian classical music to global audiences.

Rabindranath Tagore won the 1913 Nobel Prize in Literature for Gitanjali (Song Offerings), becoming the first non-European laureate. His works profoundly influenced Indian literature and nationalism.

Chhau dance, with martial, folk, and classical elements, is performed in Jharkhand, Odisha, and West Bengal. Three styles: Seraikella, Mayurbhanj, Purulia. UNESCO Intangible Heritage since 2010.

Chand Baori in Abhaneri, Rajasthan, is a 9th-century stepwell with 3,500 narrow steps arranged in perfect symmetry. Built by King Chanda of the Nikumbha dynasty for water conservation.

Company School (late 18th-19th century) refers to paintings produced by Indian artists for British patrons. They combined Mughal/Rajput techniques with European realism, perspective, and watercolor medium.