Short Questions: Buildings, Paintings & Books | NCERT Summary: UPSC PDF Download

Q1: Describe in brief about the Iron Pillar at Mehrauli, near towering Qutub Minar, in Delhi.
Ans: The Iron pillar at Mehrauli (near towering Qutub Minar), in Delhi, is remarkable example of the skill of crafts persons. It is made of iron, 7.2 M high, and weighs over 3 tonnes. This pillar was made nearly 1500 years ago. We know the date because there is an inscription on the pillar mentioning a ruler named Chandra, who probably belonged to the Gupta dynasty. This iron pillar is a great proof of advancement of metal work in India because it has not rusted in all these years.

Q2: Discuss the features of the Ajanta Painting.
Ans: Ajanta is a place where several caves were hollowed out over centuries. Most of these were monasteries for Buddhist monks, and some of them were decorated with paintings. Most of the Ajanta paintings were done in the light of torches. The colours, which are vivid even after 1500 years, are made of plants and minerals. The artists who created these splendid works of art in caves of Ajanta remained unknown.

Q3: How were stupas built in ancient India?
Ans: There were several stages in building a stupa. Generally, rulers or their wives decided to build stupas. They probably spent money from their treasury to support those who worked to build these splendid structures. Then, good quality stone (or baked bricks) had to be found, quarried, and transported to the place that was usually carefully chosen for the new building. Skilled labourers and artisans were called at the place of construction. The rough blocks of stone had to be shaped and carved. And then these had to be placed in precisely the right position.
Whenever devotees came to visit the stupas, they often brought gifts, which were used to decorate the building. For instance, an association of ivory workers paid for one of the beautiful gateways at Sanchi. Others who were paid for decorations included merchants, farmers, garland makers, perfumers, smiths, and hundreds of men and women who are known only by their names.

Q4: What are Puranas? 
Ans: Puranas are Sanskrit texts that contain stories about goddesses and gods, as well as details on how goddesses and gods were to be worshipped and descriptions of the world's creation and monarchs.

Q5: What do you mean by ilango Adigal?
Ans: Ilango Adigal was a Chera dynasty prince. This dynasty ruled in what is now Kerala. Kerala is a state in India's south.

Q6: Explain about the temples of Mahabalipuram.
Ans: Mahabalipuram's temples are monolithic structures. These temples were cut from a single gigantic, massive block of stone.

Q7: What are Grabhagrihas?
Ans: Garbhagriha refers to a temple's sanctum sanctorum. The primary deity's idol is installed in this little section of the temple, which is located in the temple's centre. Shikhara is the most obvious and visible section of a Hindu temple in North India, where the presiding deity is enshrined. It is known as 'vimana' in South India.

Q8: What are some important features of Stupa?
Ans: The Buddhist and Mauryan arts are best represented by the stupas. Stupas are made of a circular foundation that supports a large solid dome. The entire Stupa is ringed by a path known as Pradakshina Patha. This route is encircled by railings. A massive entrance gate stands in front of the route leading to the Stupa. There are four entrances to Sachi Stupa.

Q9: Give an insight of Meghaduta.
Ans: Kalidasa is the author of Meghaduta. Kalidasa has explained love in meghaduta. Clouds are figuratively described as messengers in a poem by Meghduta Kalidasa.

Q10: Give an example of Mauryan arts.
Ans: The Mauryans were known for their art and architecture. The Sarnath pillar, which was constructed by Muryan monarch Ashoka, is a well-known Varanasi landmark.

Q11: What were the contributions of Aryabhata to science?
Ans: In the reign of Samudragupta, Aryabhatta was a mathematician. Even though it appears that the sun rises and sets every day, Aryabhata claimed that day and night were created by the earth's rotation on its axis. He hired a scientist to come up with a scientific explanation for eclipses and devised a method for calculating the diameter of a circle.

Q12: Why Dussehera is celebrated in India?
Ans: Ravana was the ruler of Lanka. Ravana drew Sita out of the bush. To free his wife from Ravana, Rama started a fight against him. Rama defeated Ravana and his empire in battle. This war is commemorated throughout India as the victory of Dharma over evil, and it is known as Dussehra.

Q13: What are the uses of paper?
Ans: Paper is used for a variety of purposes, including writing, wrapping and packaging products, wiping away dirt and other contaminants, and drying and cleaning hands. Paper can also be used to build attractive decorations, a technique known as origami. Paper is also used to manufacture paper clay, which is used to construct dolls. Paper mache is a type of clay made from paper.