The ruins of Hampi were brought to light by which of the following British officers of the East India Company ?
- A.Colonel Colin Mackenzie
- B.James Prinsep
- C.William Jones
- D.James Rennell
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is A, Colonel Colin Mackenzie. In 1800 Colin Mackenzie, an engineer and surveyor of the East India Company, prepared the first survey map of the ruins of Hampi.
Hampi, on the Tungabhadra in Karnataka, was the site of Vijayanagara, the capital of the Vijayanagara empire, which was sacked after the battle of Talikota in 1565. Mackenzie, who later became the first Surveyor General of India, collected much of his early information from the priests of the Virupaksha temple and the shrine of Pampadevi. His vast collection of manuscripts, inscriptions and drawings is still a major source for south Indian history. Hampi became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.
B is wrong because James Prinsep is known for deciphering the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts and reading the edicts of Ashoka in 1837. C is wrong because William Jones founded the Asiatic Society of Bengal in 1784. D is wrong because James Rennell drew the first accurate map of India and is called the father of Indian geography.
Exam tip: Mackenzie mapped Hampi in 1800; Prinsep read Brahmi in 1837; Jones founded the Asiatic Society in 1784.
Practice Questions
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- B.2 only
- C.1 and 2 only
- D.1, 2 and 3
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