Assignment Code: BTMG-171/2021-22

Course Code: BTMG-171

Assignment Name: Culture in Indian Subcontinent - I

Year: 2021-2022

Verification Status: Verified by Professor

Assignment A

Answer the following in about 500 words each.

Q1) Elaborate the contributions made by the Gupta period to our cultural tradition. 20

Ans) The final period of ancient Indian history begins in the early fourth century A.D. and ends around the eighth century A.D. The Guptas established a strong and powerful kingdom, and cultural activities grew dramatically because of their political unity and state patronage.

On one side of the coin, a portrait of the king was displayed, while on the other, an appropriate goddess with her associated symbols was displayed. The king is depicted in a variety of poses, including shooting a tiger or lion, playing a musical instrument while seated on a high-backed couch, and so on. On the other side was Lakshmi, the goddess of wealth, and Saraswati, the goddess of knowledge and the arts in some cases. Aside from coins, Gupta art was well-represented in monuments and sculptures. Through various art forms, skilled artists of this era used their tools and skills to express the ideals and philosophical traditions of India.

They placed statues of gods and goddesses in niches and corners of religious buildings. The gods' images were interpreted as symbols for attributes associated with the gods. As a result, even though they were depicted in human forms, the gods were shown with four or eight arms, each carrying a symbol or an ayudha (weapon). The abodes of gods and goddesses were built out of stone, terracotta, and other materials. The dashavatara temple in Deogarh and the cave temples in the Udaigiri hills are both examples of Gupta art. The most well-known examples of Gupta art that have survived are the numerous seated and standing Buddha images from Sarnath.

Architecture

The architecture of the Guptas has survived in a few shrines, rock-cut caves (Ajanta) and temples, such as the Dashavatara temple in Deogarh, as well as in other places. The majority of these structures were constructed of stone and brick. Kalidasa's works contain references to Gupta architecture, which we can see in some of his works.

Painting

During the Gupta era, painting as an art form reached a high level of refinement and perfection. This is demonstrated by the wall frescoes at the Ajanta caves (Aurangabad) and the Bagh caves (near Gwalior), both of which are located in the state of Maharashtra. Although the Ajanta paintings date from the first to the seventh centuries AD, the majority of them were created during the reign of the Gupta dynasty in northern India. This collection of paintings depicts scenes from the Buddha's life in various settings. Human, animal, and plant figures have been drawn with such skill that it demonstrates the refined and sensitive nature of Gupta art, which is displayed throughout the painting.

The conception of beauty was a defining characteristic of Gupta art and architecture. The importance of artistic expression was recognised because it was considered to be a means of achieving spiritual joy and happiness. The Gupta period is frequently referred to as the pinnacle of Indian culture because it represents the pinnacle of Indian culture. According to this statement, there is some truth to it in terms of literary and philosophical accomplishments. In the fields of Indian astronomy, astrology, and mathematics, significant advancements were made during this time period.

Q2) Write an essay on “The tradition of plays in India”. 20

Ans) According to Bharat's Natyashastra, Brahma created a fifth Natya Veda by borrowing text (pathya) from Rig Veda, song from Sam Veda, acting (abhinaya) from Yajur Veda, and rasa from Atharva Veda. It is unclear when the Indian tradition of playwriting began, but Bharat mentions several plays in his Natyashastra.

Sanskrit Plays

The play was considered poetry in Sanskrit. Shravya (audio) and drishya (text) (video). Audio poetry (drishya kavya) includes poems, stories, and music (shravya kavya). In Indian culture, play is referred to as Roopak (metaphor). In Sanskrit dramas, Prastavna, Vishambhak, and Praveshak are vital characters. Bhas is the first known Sanskrit playwright (2nd-3rd century). Swapna Vasavadatta is the most important Indian Theatre.

After Bhas, Kalidas (circa 5th century) is the most notable playwright. Malvikagnimiyram, Vikramorvashiyam, and Abhigyan Shakuntalam are available. His plays have happy endings and beautifully depict life's diversity and conflicts. Many modern actors have attempted to stage Sanskrit plays. Aome performed some in Sanskrit and others in Western theatre. Some playwrights have tried presenting them in folk style. Sanskrit plays, Natya Shastra and ancient staging techniques have undeniably shaped Indian theatre.

Post Sanskrit Plays

Following Sanskrit, some plays were written in Pali and Prakrit, focusing on the lives of Buddha and Mahavir. Some say the arrival of the Muslims halted the writing and staging of plays. But this is false. Plays were not staged after the 8th century, but the tradition of folk plays continued. The attitude of the heads of the Brahmin, Buddhist, and Jain religions may have contributed to the decline in playwriting. These elites despised the art of playwriting. These songs are based on religious stories and God and goddess ballads. They both religiously and entertainmently catered to the people. The kathputli, Bhan, and Khyal were more worldly. These folk forms are vital in that they bridge the thousand-year gap between ancient Sanskrit plays and modern plays. They portrayed their times through religious and secular tales.

Modern Plays

Playwriting had matured considerably by the 1940s. This was reflected in a move away from idealism and towards realism. The plays now reflected Ibsen's problem-solving plays. As a result, social and personal issues became intertwined in plays. Instead of just events, the plays began to focus on the characters' internal conflicts and dilemmas. As a result, everyday issues became important themes in the plays. It also influenced the staging of the plays. The earlier plays, while literary gems, were difficult to stage. However, few commercial Parsi plays met the literary standards. The gap between literary and staged plays had begun to close.

Post-Independence Plays

Post-independence Indian plays changed in style and content. The Second World War and the sub-partition continent's shaped Indian society. After independence, the widely held hope for a better tomorrow was dispelled. The common people's suffering increased, while a powerful class arose that pursued opportunism at the expense of the freedom movement's values. The rapid changes brought about by science and industrialization influenced people's values. These changes were bound to manifest in Indian plays in various ways.

Assignment B

Answer the following questions in about 250 words each.

Q3) What do you mean by tribal identity? 10

Ans) Tribal identity is a focus of ethnic identity. This means that ethnic homogeneity, along with other factors, characterises a tribe.

A synthesis of those ideas and factors that define tribal identity:

1. First, it refers to the physical and territorial aspect of tribal identity, which is commonly known as Jal-Jungle-Zamin symbiosis (water-forestland). Jal, Jungle, and Zamin are tribal symbols.

2. Second, tribal social organisation is characterised by egalitarianism. The sahiyaro and madait concept still governs tribal villages. It means ‘friends' and ‘help'. The villagers are pals. They share their joys and sorrows with the entire village.

3. Third, economic organisation: the tribals' economic organisation is unlike any other communities. Tribals have a sense of social responsibility and cooperation rather than individualism. They value sharing over hoarding.

4. Fourth, tribal history is characterised by welcoming strangers. Tribal identity is incomplete without collective memories of origin, struggles, joy, and glory.

5. Fifth, tribal governance is characterised by self-rule and decentralisation of power. Decisions are made by consensus, not by election or majority-minority votes.

6. Sixth, tribal religion is characterised by natural harmony. In all their agricultural activities, hunting expeditions, and rites and rituals, the tribals have a symbiotic relationship with nature.

7. Seventh, Adivasi worldview: Like other cultural and religious groups, tribals have their own unique way of life. Their values and ethos differ. They have their own conception of the universe and human origins.

8. Eighth, art and literature: even when things do not go as planned, tribals celebrate life. Literature, art, and music are collective artistic expressions of life.

9. Ninth, language is one of the main markers of identity. Language is not only a means of communication, but also an important aspect of culture and identity.

10. Tenth, constitutional recognition: the tribals are constitutionally recognised as ‘Scheduled tribes' under Article 342 of the Constitution.

The above points attempted to list and define some of the factors that make up tribal identity.

Q4) Discuss various types of marriages practiced by the tribal’s. 10

Ans) The institution of marriage is one on which tribal peoples around the world differ. The institution of marriage differs from many mainstream societies. Indian tribes, like tribes around the world, use various marriage forms for convenience and social acclimatisation. Marriage patterns vary by community. They are known to have three types of marriages: monogamy, polygamy, and polyandry.

The Himalayas had polyandry and polygamy in places like Spiti, Jaunsar Bawar, Nagaland. In some tribes, the wife belongs to all the brothers in the family, and all offspring to the family. Anthropologists call this type of marriage fraternal polyandry. Extreme economic hardship, infant mortality, and the need to keep small landholdings together explain this custom. Fraternal polyandry kept property undivided. Polyandry has been discouraged for decades and is now being replaced by monogamy.

Most Naga marriages are unions of love. The young choose their partners and then marry through an elderly lady. A girl is free to choose her life partner and is rarely pressed in this regard. Exogamy is the law of the Nagas (Tangkhuls). Incest and clan marriage are serious offences. The Tangkhuls rarely marry children. A bachelor or a spinster is also rare. Tangkhuls rarely divorce. Separation can be agreed upon or requested by the village council. Divorce can be caused by infertility, adultery, etc.

Tharus used to capture and sell wives. There are currently three types of marriages among them: Dola or Brahma (conventional Hindu marriages; most Tharus prefer this type), Badala (exchange), and Urahan (by capture). The Tharus are now influenced by rural Hindu customs in marriage.

The Gonds forbid brother-sister marriages. Unmarried boys and girls gather in Gotulgarh to choose partners. Capture marriage and widow remarriage are legal.

The Lodhas are fond of paying bride price during marriage. Santhals and Bhils do not marry in their father's sept or paris. They also cannot marry in his mother's khunt or sub-sept. Among the Khonds, the bride and her entourage go to the groom's.

Q5) Discuss Persian influence on Indian Languages. 10

Ans) The Mughal rulers in India were a strong link between Iran and India. This period saw a completely new style of poetry and prose in Indian literature, influenced by Iranian culture and language. Bengali, or western Bengali, is an official Indian language influenced by Persian. Bengal was conquered by Ikhtiyaruddin bin Mohammad Bakhtiar Khilji in the early 13th century. Bengalis have adopted a new culture since the turn of the century.

Tahir Ali claims Bengalis are trying to learn a new language (Persian). Sufi Muslims who arrived in Bengal centuries before Muslim rule played a direct and indirect role in the growth of the literary and Bengali language, he added. Indeed, it was Bengali Muslim Sufi preaching that introduced Persian mystical elements, words, and ideas into Bengali. Hundreds of Persian words can be seen in Bengali poems, even after Muslim rules were developed. Famous Persian poets and writers like Laila and Majnu, Hafiz Shirazi (a famous Iranian poet), Yusuf and Zulaikha have been translated into Bengali. Urdu, one of India's official languages, has many Persian words and phrases and idioms. Urdu evolved from Persian, Hindi, and Arabic.

According to Bahri the most important influence of Persian on Hindi was the growth and development of Urdu language and literature. Urdu is traditionally derived from the Turkish word used during the Mughal era in India. According to Bahri Urdu literature, the Persian language and literature influenced Urdu in shape and conception, as well as feeling and local colouring. Many Persian books, including Leila and Majnu, Shirin and Farhad, Yusuf and Zulaikha, are translated into Urdu. When discussing the relationship between the two languages, particularly in poetry, Urdu has adopted Iranian poetry (Persian poetry as one of the richest poetries in the world and it always bless the literature of human being in the during history of mankind).

Assignment C

Answer the following questions in about 100 words each.

Q6) What is rituals? 6

Ans) A ritual is a series of activities involving gestures, words, actions, or objects that are performed in a specific order and according to a predetermined sequence. Rituals may be prescribed by a community's traditions, which may include the traditions of a religious community. Formalism, traditionalism, invariance, rule-governance, sacral symbolism, and performance are all characteristics of rituals, but they are not the same thing. In all known human societies, rituals are an important part of daily life. In addition to the worship rites and sacraments of organised religions and cults, they include rites of passage, atonement and purification rituals, oaths of allegiance, dedication ceremonies, coronations and presidential inaugurations, marriages, funerals, and other similar ceremonies and rituals. Even seemingly innocuous actions such as shaking hands and saying "hello" can be considered rituals.

Q7) What is Marg and Desi Music? 6

Ans) The word "Marg" comes from the word "Margi" meaning "road". Deva Brahma created Margi sangeet. Then Acharya Bharatmuni performed it before Lord Shiva. According to Sangeet Parijat, there are two types of sangeet: Margi and Deshi.

Desi Music

"Deshi" comes from the word "Dish", which means "Somewhere". So, the Deshi sangeet was actually common. It was music made by, for, and by the people. It had no strict rules or regulations. It was sociable music.

Main Points

1. Margi sangeet and Deshi sangeet came from the word "Marg".

2. Both Margi and Deshi sangeet are related to God.

3. The Deva Brahma created Margi sangeet and the people created Deshi sangeet.

4. Margi sangeet had strict rules and regulations while Deshi sangeet was only for common people and was not bound by them.

5. The main purpose of Margi sangeet was to please God, while Deshi sangeet was intended to entertain the masses.

Q8) What is Stupa. 6

Ans) The practise of burying a notable's ashes under a mound of earth is not new. The Buddhists called the structure built over such a site a stupa. The Buddha's relics were divided into eight parts and placed under the stupas. Asoka dug them up and redistributed them, leading to the construction of other stupas, Buddhist holy places. Stupas were worshipped, so they got ornamented and a special type of architecture developed. The stupas resembled upside-down bowls. Its flat top used to be its harmika, or God's abode. Urns containing the remains of Buddha, or another religious figure were placed here in a gold or silver casket. A wooden rod was inserted into its centre and fixed to the stupa's top.

Q9) Briefly describe the features of colonial architecture. 6

Ans) Churches and public works were the main builders in British India. Indian architecture was influenced by the Portuguese. However, in some cases, the Indian style was used. The Syrians brought Western Asian church architecture conventions. The region's liturgy and rituals were adopted, and soon Kerala developed its own style of church architecture. The ornamented gable facade at the nave, whitened with lime, was topped by a cross. Prior to the church, a porch or hall called shah was built to accommodate extra worshippers during festivals when pilgrims or faithful from other parishes visited.

Cochin has the oldest surviving European style church in India. Dissatisfied with the dominance of classical and mediaeval styles in Europe, English design reformers created the so-called Free style hybrid architecture. However, the hybrid evolved for Bombay was away from a narrow cultural chauvinism towards Indian traditions. That was reformative. However, the Anglo-Indian synthesis added a whole new dimension to British architecture in India.

Q10) What is provincial architecture? 6

Ans) With the fall and dissolution of the Delhi Sultanate, new independent provincial kingdoms arose, with liberal patronage of art and literature. These provinces developed their own architectural styles, each with its own distinct personality, and they were dubbed "Provincial style of architecture." Buildings of this type are strikingly beautiful and possess unique characteristics, differing from one another based on location, climatic conditions, raw material availability, and so on. The architecture of the provinces can be divided into several categories. (a) The Delhi style of architecture, which is prevalent in the provincial kingdoms of Jaunpur, Nagpur, and Malwa; (b) Provincial architecture in Kashmir, Gujrat, and Bengal, with a Hindu influence; (c) The Deccan style of architecture.