Indian Culture MCQs

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Bishandas was a 17th-century portrait painter at the court of the Mughal emperor Jahangir. Jahangir praised him as “unrivalled in the art of portraiture”. Though little is known of Bishandas’ life, his name can indicate that he was a Hindu. In 1613 he was sent on a diplomatic mission to Persia, to paint the Shah’s portrait. Here he was so successful that he remained until 1620, when he returned with the gift of an elephant.

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Dr M Balmuralikrishna was a famous Carnatic vocalist. He belongs to Tamil Nadu. He died in 2016.

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The correct answer is Pune. In 1956, a Farm Radio was established in Pune as a joint venture between All India Radio and UNESCO. This initiative aimed to disseminate agricultural knowledge and practices to farmers, enhancing rural development. Pune was chosen due to its proximity to agricultural research institutions, making it an ideal location for such educational broadcasts.

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As of October 2024, India recognizes eleven classical languages: Tamil (2004), Sanskrit (2005), Kannada (2008), Telugu (2008), Malayalam (2013), Odia (2014), and, more recently, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, and Bengali (all in 2024). These languages are esteemed for their antiquity, rich literary heritage, and significant cultural contributions. The designation aims to preserve and promote India’s diverse linguistic legacy.

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My Dear Kuttichathan is a 1984 Malayalam-language film directed by Jijo Punnoose and produced by his father Navodaya Appachan. It was the first Indian film to be filmed in 3D format.

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Gandhara art, style of Buddhist visual art that developed in what is now northwestern Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan between the 1st century bce and the 7th century bce. It is a combination of Indian style and Kushan style.

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Carpet making was first introduced in India in Kashmir in the 15th Century. Sultan Zain ul-Abadin is believed to have brought carpet weavers from Persia and Central Asia to train local weavers.

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Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of ten Gurus of the Sikh religion. Tegh Bahadur continued in the spirit of the first guru, Nanak; his 116 poetic hymns are registered in Guru Granth Sahib. He was successor of Sikh Guru Har Krishan.

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Madhuri Dixit, also known by her married name Madhuri Dixit Nene, is an Indian actress, producer, and television personality. She is associated with Kathak dance.

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• Ab’ul Hasan Yamin ud-Din Khusrau is better known as Amir Khusrow Dehlavi. He was a Sufi musician, poet and scholar from India.
• Kabir was a 15th-century Indian mystic poet and saint, whose writings, according to some scholars, influenced Hinduism’s Bhakti movement.
• Shaikh Abu al-Fazal ibn Mubarak is also known as Abul Fazal. It was the Grand vizier of the Mughal emperor Akbar and author of the Akbarnama.
• Tukaram is also referred to as Sant Tukaram. He was a 17th-century Hindu poet and sant of the Bhakti movement in Maharashtra.