Medieval History: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Sufism is the mystical branch of Islam that emphasizes inner spiritual development, seeking a direct connection with God through meditation, poetry, and devotion. Sufis are often part of "orders" called tariqa, which are congregations centered around a grand master wali. These orders trace their teachings through a lineage of successive teachers, ultimately connecting back to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Khwaja Muin-ud-din Chisti, founder of the Chishti Sufi order in India, emphasized the use of sama (devotional music) as a means of spiritual connection with God. He believed that music, when performed with pure devotion, could elevate the soul and foster closeness to the divine. This practice became central to Chishti gatherings, inspiring spiritual ecstasy. While Baba Farid and Sayyid Muhammad Gesudaraz focused more on spiritual teachings and community service, the tradition of sama continues today at Muin-ud-din Chisti’s dargah in Ajmer.

Explanation

Mughal paintings blended indigenous Indian, Persian, and Islamic styles, creating a unique and distinct art form.

Option (c) is correct: Mughal painting reached its zenith during the reign of Emperor Jahangir (1605-1627). His reign is regarded as a period of flourishing artistic achievements, particularly in miniature painting. Under his patronage, Mughal painting became more sophisticated, with detailed depictions of portraits, court scenes, hunting scenes, religious themes, and landscapes. He employed Ustad Mansur to achieve unparalleled sophistication in Mughal art and showcased a great fascination for nature and portraiture.

Explanation

The Mansabdari system was a significant administrative framework introduced by Emperor Akbar in the 16th century. The system was a hierarchical structure that catered to both military and civil administration.

Option (d) is correct: The Mansabdari system provided a centralized structure with clear ranks and responsibilities, ensuring smooth administration. This system ensured the recruitment of competent and loyal soldiers, with each Mansabdar responsible for a specific number of soldiers, fostering discipline and efficiency. Mansabdars managed tax collection and land revenue, contributing to the imperial treasury, reducing corruption, and ensuring fair resource distribution.

Explanation

The word "Apabhramsa" literally means "corruption" or "degeneration." In a linguistic context, it was used to describe a deviation or transformation from classical Sanskrit that led to the emergence of regional languages, which later evolved into modern Indian languages. Apabhramsa emerged during the medieval period (from the 6th to 13th centuries). It was a transitionary stage between Prakrits (the vernacular languages of ancient India) and the modern Indo-Aryan languages such as Hindi, Gujarati, Marathi, Bengali, and others. It was a mixture of regional dialects influenced by the local vernaculars, and its forms were quite diverse across different regions.

Explanation

The Gurus of Sikhism were the spiritual leaders who guided the development of the Sikh faith over approximately two and a half centuries, starting with Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism. There were ten human Gurus in total, each contributing to the growth and teachings of the religion. After the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, the holy scripture, Guru Granth Sahib, became the eternal Guru, revered as the living Guru by Sikh followers. Pair (a) is incorrectly matched: The concept of Miri and Piri was introduced by Guru Hargobind. In Sikhism, it represents the balance between spiritual and non-spiritual aspects of life. Pair (b) is correctly matched: Guru Arjun Dev, the fifth Sikh Guru, played a pivotal role in Sikh history by compiling the Adi Granth, the foundational scripture of Sikhism. The Adi Granth is the first version of the Guru Granth Sahib, incorporating hymns of Sikh Gurus and other saints. Pair (c) is incorrectly matched: Dal-Khalsa refers to the first historical military alliance of 11 Sikh misls that operated in the Punjab region during the 18th century (1748-1799). It was formed by Guru Gobind Singh. Pair (d) is incorrectly matched: Manji or manja literally means a cot, which is taken as the seat of authority in Sikhism Manji’s are started by Guru Amar Das

Explanation

Raskhan’s Prem Vatika stands out as an exquisite devotional work on Krishna, blending intense love (prem) with devotion (bhakti). Raskhan, originally a Muslim by birth, became a devoted follower of Krishna and is known for his devotional poetry. Some of his important works are: Sujana Raskhana, Danalila, Astayama, and a collection of Padas. Bihari, a 17th Century poet, authored the Satsai, being a brilliant poet of classical Hindi literature, his works do not specifically focus on Krishna’s life. Surdas was a prominent saint of the Krishna Bhakti tradition. He is known for his work Sur Sagar, a collection of poems celebrating Krishna’s childhood (bal leela) and divine play (raas leela). However, Prem Vatika is not attributed to him. Kabir, a Nirguna Bhakti professed worshiping a formless divine (nirakar). His works like Sakhi and Bijak focus on spiritual truths and unity, not Krishna-centric themes. v v v