The composite culture that developed in India at the beginning of 13th century in India is known by which name?
- Indo-Persian Culture
- Indo-Iranian Culture
- Indo-Islamic Culture
- Indo-Turkish Culture
Answer
Indo-Islamic Culture
Reason — The interaction of the Turks with the Indians, resulted in the development of a new composite culture, called the Indo-Islamic culture.
The Bhakti movement originated as a reaction against
- Turkish invasion
- Islamic culture
- Caste division and ritualism
- Sufi movement
Answer
Caste division and ritualism
Reason — The Bhakti movement arose as a protest against the caste divisions and ritualism prevalent in Indian society.
The Bhakti movement mainly stressed which of the following?
- Ritual sacrifices
- Devotion to God
- Religious rites
- Devotion to Holy books
Answer
Devotion to God
Reason — The word 'Bhakti' itself means devotion to God.
Which of the following was not preached by the Sufi movement?
- Religious tolerance
- Brotherhood and Equality
- Oneness of God
- Importance of rituals
Answer
Importance of rituals
Reason — The Sufis preached religious tolerance, brotherhood, equality and the oneness of God, but held that God is reached through personal devotion and not through empty rituals.
Which of the following are the principles of the Bhakti cult?
- God is one
- Bhakti leads to salvation
- All are equal before God
- All of the above
Answer
All of the above
Reason — The principles of the Bhakti cult include that God is one and must be worshipped with love and devotion, that following the path of true devotion (Bhakti) leads to salvation, and that all are equal before God.
Which of the following musical instruments were introduced in India by the Turks?
- Rabab and Sarangi
- Rabab and Tanpura
- Sarangi and Veena
- Sarangi and Tanpura
Answer
Rabab and Sarangi
Reason — When the Turks came to India, they brought with them new musical instruments like the rabab and sarangi along with new musical modes.
One major impact of the Sufi movement in India was the
- spread of Persian language only
- promotion of communal harmony
- growth of discrimination between people
- decline of music and art
Answer
promotion of communal harmony
Reason — The Sufi movement fostered feelings of Hindu-Muslim unity and promoted tolerance, so that people irrespective of their religion began to understand and appreciate others' faith.
Ajmer Sharief is the holy shrine of which sufi saint?
- Ali Moinuddin Chishti
- Khwajah Khan Aulia
- Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti
- Ali Shah Suhrawardi
Answer
Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti
Reason — The dargah at Ajmer Sharief houses the tomb of Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti, who introduced the Chishti order in India.
Which language was originally known as 'Zaban-e-Hindvi'?
- Hindi
- Urdu
- Sanskrit
- Persian
Answer
Urdu
Reason — Urdu, a mixture of Persian, Arabic, Hindi and other regional languages, was originally known as 'Zaban-e-Hindvi' because its grammatical structure is similar to that of Hindi.
Which of the following is not correct about the impact of Christian Missionaries in India?
- They brought out grammars and dictionaries
- They taught Western music dance and instrumental music in Church schools in India.
- They provided information about India through their letters
- They started Anglo-Sanskrit schools in India.
Answer
They started Anglo-Sanskrit schools in India.
Reason — There is no record of their starting Anglo-Sanskrit schools, so this statement is not correct.
(A) The Indo-Islamic culture influenced all aspects of life such as culture, art, architecture and literature.
(R) The interaction of the Turks with the Indians led to the development of a new composite culture, called Indo-Islamic culture.
- (R) contradicts (A)
- (R) is the reason for (A)
- (A) is true but (R) is false.
- (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Answer
(R) is the reason for (A)
Explanation — The interaction of the Turks with the Indians led to the development of a new composite culture, called Indo-Islamic culture. This new culture, influenced all aspects of life such as culture, art, architecture, and literature.
(A) Kabir was born of a Brahmin widow and brought up by a Muslim weaver, Neeru and his wife Neema.
(R) He wanted to transform society by promoting peace and harmony among different communities.
- (R) contradicts (A)
- (R) is the reason for (A)
- (A) is true but (R) is false.
- (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Answer
(A) and (R) are independent of each other
Explanation — Both statements are true. Kabir was born of a Brahmin widow and brought up by a Muslim weaver, Neeru, and his wife Neema, and he also wanted to transform society by promoting peace and harmony among different communities. However, (R) does not explain the fact of his birth and upbringing stated in (A); the two statements are independent of each other.
(A) The dargah or shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is located in New Delhi.
(R) The dargah is revered not only by Muslims but also by people of other faiths.
- (R) contradicts (A)
- (R) is the reason for (A)
- (R) is true but (A) is false.
- (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Answer
(R) is true but (A) is false.
Explanation — The dargah or shrine of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti is located at Ajmer in Rajasthan.
(A) The Turks brought with them a number of new musical instruments like the rabab and sarangi.
(R) The fusion of Indian and Islamic cultures is best seen in the field of music.
- (R) contradicts (A)
- (R) is the reason for (A)
- (A) is true but (R) is false.
- (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Answer
(R) is the reason for (A)
Explanation — The fusion of Indian and Islamic cultures in music was due to introduction of new instruments and impact of Turks.
(A) Bhakti movement originated in India as a reaction against caste divisions and ritualism.
(R) Bhakti saints preached personal devotion to God as a means to reach God.
- (R) contradicts (A)
- (R) is the reason for (A)
- (A) is true but (R) is false.
- (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Answer
(R) is the reason for (A)
Explanation — Bhakti movement indeed originated in India as a reaction against caste divisions and ritualism. Bhakti saints preached personal devotion to God as a means to reach God rather than the costly and complex rituals.
(A) The Bhakti movement brought in significant social changes in society.
(R) The Bhakti saints tried to evolve a new social order based on equality and devoid of caste distinctions.
- (R) contradicts (A)
- (R) is the reason for (A)
- (A) is true but (R) is false.
- (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Answer
(R) is the reason for (A)
Explanation — Bhakti movement originated in India as a reaction against caste divisions and ritualism. Therefore, Bhakti saints tried to evolve a new social order based on equality and devoid of caste distinctions bringing in significant social changes.
(A) The sufi saints, who settled in India, belonged to Chishti and Suhrawardi orders.
(R) The sufi saints believed in fundamental unity of all religions.
- (R) contradicts (A)
- (R) is the reason for (A)
- (A) is true but (R) is false.
- (A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Answer
(A) and (R) are independent of each other.
Explanation — The orders to which the Sufi saints who settled in India belonged, were the Chishti and Suhrawadi orders. The fundamental unity of all religions was the belief held by them.
What is meant by the term composite culture?
Answer
The term composite culture refers to the culture that developed due to the interaction of the Turks and the Indians. This culture was neither purely Persian nor entirely Indian, but a fusion of the best elements of the two. This culture is also known as Indo-Islamic culture.
Mention any two factors which promoted composite culture during the Mughal Age.
Answer
Two factors which promoted composite culture during the Mughal Age are:
- The immense wealth and the unlimited power in the hands of the Mughal emperors enabled them to continue their patronage of fine arts and literature. They used their wealth to build palaces, forts and monuments.
- The glorious and rich culture heritage of the Mughals on the one hand and Indians on other hand, created a unique atmosphere for the brilliant output of letters and fine arts.
What is Bijak? Name any two sections into which Bijak is divided.
Answer
The Bijak is the compilation of the verses of Kabir. Kabir was an oral poet, whose works were written by others. The Bijak is preserved by the Kabirpanthis (the followers of Kabir) in Varanasi and elsewhere in Uttar Pradesh.
Two sections into which Bijak is divided are:
- Sakhi — composed in Doha or couplet form.
- Ramaini — written in the form of chaupai and is usually based on musical raga.
Enumerate any two teachings of Kabir.
Answer
Two teachings of Kabir are:
- There is only one God. He may be worshipped under many names.
- Devotion to God and good actions are only means of salvation.
Which Sufi Saint's tomb is enshrined in the Ajmer Sharief Dargah? What was his main belief?
Answer
Ajmer Sharief is the holy shrine of the sufi saint, Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti.
The main beliefs of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti were achieving oneness with God, devotion to the Divine, leading a pure life, showing compassion and charity for the helpless and poor.
Mention any two doctrines of the Bhakti cult.
Answer
Two doctrines of the Bhakti cult are:
- God is one. He must be worshipped with love and devotion.
- Guru, an enlightened teacher, is indispensable for realising God.
What is meant by Sufism? Name one Sufi saint.
Answer
Sufism was a movement by Islamic sect that preached religious tolerance, brotherhood and oneness of God. The word 'Sufi comes from arabic word Suf meaning wool and was used for the mystics who used to wear only a coarse woollen garment.
Khwajah Moinuddin Chishti was one of the Sufi saints.
Mention any two doctrines of Sufism.
Answer
The two doctrines of Sufism are:
- Individual soul is the manifestation of the supreme God and human soul will finally merge with it.
- Fundamental unity of all religions.
Write a short note on the life of St. Francis Xavier.
Answer
Born in Spain in 1506, St. Francis Xavier became a priest in 1537 and arrived in Goa, India, in 1541 to begin his missionary work. For ten years, he relentlessly preached Christianity and cared for the sick until his death in 1552 during a voyage to China. His remarkably well-preserved, incorrupt body was brought back to India a year later and remains permanently enshrined in the Basilica of Bom Jesus in Goa.
Summarise the impact of the Bhakti movement with regard to:
(a) Equality of all human beings.
(b) Fostering unity and harmony between different communities.
(c) Promoting regional languages and devotional literature.
Answer
(a) Equality of all human beings — Bhakti saints reformed Indian society by preaching universal brotherhood, enforcing the absolute equality of all men, and fiercely denouncing caste distinctions. By exposing the futility of empty rituals, the teachings of leaders like Kabir, Guru Nanak, and Ravidas dismantled the dominant authority of the priestly class to establish a more inclusive social order.
(b) Fostering unity and harmony between different communities — The Bhakti movement emphasised the essential unity of Islam and Hinduism, and laid stress on a religion based on love and devotion rather than one based on rituals. Thus, they created an atmosphere in Which liberal sentiments and views could grow and religious narrowness was shunned. They preached that the God is one and only the ways of worshipping him are different. The God must be worshipped with love and devotion.
(c) Promoting regional languages and devotional literature — The Bhakti movement played an important role in promoting regional languages and devotional literature. The Bhakti saints preached in the language of people. Languages like Hindi, Bhojpuri, Maithili and Oriya became popular. Among important literary works of this period were Ramcharit Manas by Tulsidas, Gurmukhi literature of the Sikh Gurus and the Vaishnava literature in Bengal. The local languages became even more popular by Bhakti saints like Mira Bai and Sant Janeshwar.
Sufism was a liberal reform movement within Islam. With reference to Sufism, write short notes on the following:
(a) Devotion to God
(b) Caste distinctions
(c) Unity of all religions
Answer
(a) Devotion to God — Sufi saints like Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti and Hazrat Nizamuddin, stressed love and good actions as means of realising God. According to Sufism one can reach God through personal devotion and not through empty rituals. The Doctrines of Sufism include that individual soul is manifestation of the Supreme God and human soul would finally merge with it. Also inner purity and self-discipline are essential for gaining the knowledge of God.
(b) Caste distinctions — Sufism was a liberal reform movement which created an atmosphere on which liberal sentiments and views could grow and narrowness of cast and religion was shunned. Equality and brotherhood of all human beings irrespective of caste, colour, creed was emphasised. Sufism basically freed people from the holds of age old rigid caste system.
(c) Unity of all religions — Sufism believed in fundamental unity of all religions. It insisted that the God is one and only he is worshipped under different names. They shunned all the rituals of different religions as according to them one can reach the God through personal devotion and not through empty rituals. Sufism fostered the feelings of Hindu-Muslim unity.
With reference to the influence of Christianity during the Mughal period, answer the following question:
(a) Explain the role played by St. Francis Xavier in spreading Christianity in India.
(b) How did the missionaries bring Europeans closer to Indians?
(c) Explain the role of Christian missionaries in promoting language, literature and art in India.
Answer
(a) Arriving in India in 1542, St. Francis Xavier spent his first five months preaching and caring for the sick, famously gathering children in the streets with a small bell to teach them Christian beliefs at local churches. Over the next decade, he worked relentlessly to spread the essentials of Christianity across India. Assisted by newly arrived Jesuit missionaries, he strategically expanded his network by stationing them at the principal mission centers he had established.
(b) To better connect with the Indian people, Christian missionaries published dictionaries and grammars of local languages and introduced Western music, dance, and arts in church schools. They became active patrons of painting, carving, and sculpture, introducing European architectural ideas through Portuguese churches and directly influencing Mughal art, as evidenced by Akbar and Jahangir's documented interest in Christian artwork. Ultimately, through their educational patronage and descriptive letters sent back home, the missionaries served as primary cultural interpreters who brought Indians and Europeans closer together.
(c) To establish effective communication, Christian missionaries compiled local grammars and dictionaries, highlighted by St. Francis Xavier's Malabar vocabulary, Thomas Stephens's Konkani grammar, and Diogo Ribeiro's texts. Beyond linguistics, church schools introduced Western performing arts while patronizing paintings and sculptures that directly influenced Mughal art. Crucially, the Portuguese Church provided India's earliest introduction to European architecture, debuting distinctive two-story structures featuring high-pitched roofs, balconies, and verandas.
How did the teachings of Kabir and Guru Nanak Dev promote the feelings of peace and harmony among different communities and thereby, strengthened the composite culture of India?
Answer
The teachings of Kabir and Guru Nanak Dev promoted the feelings of peace and harmony among different communities. Their teachings advocated the unity of God and unity of mankind. They preached that the God can be worshipped under different names but there is only one God. They emphasised that good actions, meditation and devotion are only means of salvation. They were against the ritualism. Kabir had renounced idol worship, empty rituals, meaningless ceremonies etc. Guru Nanak believed that personal devotion to God could lead to salvation regardless of caste, creed or sect. Their teachings brought people of different religions closer. The people felt that they are free from obligations of religion and ritualism. Thus, the teachings of Kabir and Guru Nanak promoted the feelings of peace and harmony among different communities and thereby, strengthened the composite culture of India.
Suppose you have recently shifted to a big housing colony where people belonging to different regions professing different religions, cultures and views live. As the Secretary of the Students Wing of the RWA of your society, which measures you would initiate to strengthen the composite culture of India?
Answer
As the Secretary of the Students Wing of the RWA of my society, I would initiate following measures to strengthen the composite culture of India:
- I would arrange for celebration of all festivals like Holi, Eid, Christmas, Diwali etc, together where people of all religions will get involved in celebration. Festivals are great way of strengthening bonds between the people.
- I would make sure that no one is ignored or sidelined on any basis. Participation of all without any discrimination is important for strengthened composite culture of India.
- National festivals can be celebrated in society with cultural programmes. Plays or programmes may be staged, teaching empathy & compassion, tolerance and acceptance.