Statement I : Towards the beginning of the 20th century, a new hybrid architectural style developed which combined the Indian with the European. Statement II : By integrating Indian and European styles in public architecture, the British wanted to prove that they were legitimate rulers of India.
- A.Both the statements are individually true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
- B.Both the statements are individually true but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
- C.Statement I is true but Statement II is false
- D.Statement I is false but Statement II is true
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, both statements are true and Statement II explains Statement I. The British blended Indian and European forms to present themselves as the rightful rulers of India.
Towards the beginning of the twentieth century a mixed style called Indo-Saracenic took shape in colonial cities. It joined European building plans with Indian and Indo-Islamic features such as domes, chhatris, jalis and arches. By borrowing the look of earlier Indian rulers, especially the Mughals, the British wanted to show that they were the legitimate and even natural successors to India's past rulers. The Gateway of India in Bombay, built to mark the 1911 visit of King George V, and the Madras High Court are well-known examples, along with many railway stations, courts and universities.
B is wrong: the wish to appear legitimate rulers is exactly why the hybrid style was adopted, so Statement II does explain Statement I.
C is wrong: Statement II is true.
D is wrong: Statement I is true; the hybrid style did develop at that time.
Exam tip: Colonial styles: neo-classical (Town Hall, Bombay), neo-Gothic (CST station, Bombay), Indo-Saracenic (Gateway of India).
Practice Questions
View allWho among the following was one of the founders of the Indian Society of Oriental Art?
- A.Rabindranath Tagore
- B.Abanindranath Tagore
- C.Dwarakanath Tagore
- D.Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya
Show answer
He founded the Indian Society of Oriental Art in Calcutta in 1907 together with his brother Gaganendranath Tagore and E.B.
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1. Shantiniketan
2. Rani-ki-Vav
3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya
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- A.Only one
- B.Only two
- C.Only three
- D.All four
Show answer
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1. Most of the Tyagaraja Kritis are devotional songs in praise of Lord Krishna.
2. Tyagaraja created several new ragas.
3. Annamacharya and Tyagaraja are contemporaries.
4. Annamacharya kirtanas are devotional songs in praise of Lord Venkateshwara.
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- B.2 and 4 only
- C.1, 2 and 3
- D.2, 3 and 4
Show answer
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Read the full explanation →At which one of the following places is the Vitthala temple located?
- A.Elephanta
- B.Chidambaram
- C.Hampi
- D.Nagarjunakonda
Show answer
The Vitthala temple stands in Hampi, the ruined capital of the Vijayanagara Empire in present-day Karnataka. The temple is dedicated to Vitthala, a form of Vishnu, and was built mainly in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, with major additions under Krishnadevaraya.
Read the full explanation →Which one of the following is the correct description of Kandaria Mahadeo?
- A.A Shiva temple at Elephanta
- B.The title of a work by Bhatti
- C.The capital of Chandella kings
- D.A temple at Khajuraho
Show answer
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