Which one of the following statements with regard to the Moidams, built by the Tai-Ahom kingdom and inscribed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, is/are correct ? 1. They acted as army fortresses. 2. They were recreation centres of the Royals and Nobles. 3. They were burial grounds of the Royals and Nobles. 4. They were battle drill centres of the Royals and Nobles. Select the answer using the code given below :
- A.1 only
- B.1 and 3
- C.3 only
- D.2 and 4
Correct answer
Explanation
The correct answer is C, 3 only. The Moidams are the mound-burials of the Ahom royal family and nobles at Charaideo in Assam.
The Tai-Ahoms, who ruled the Brahmaputra valley for about six centuries from the 13th century, buried their kings, queens and nobles in vaulted chambers covered by large earthen mounds. Each mound, or moidam, has a brick or stone vault inside, an octagonal wall around it and a small shrine called a chow chali on top. Charaideo, the first Ahom capital founded by Sukaphaa, holds the most important group. In 2024 the "Moidams: the Mound-Burial System of the Ahom Dynasty" became India's first cultural World Heritage Site from the North-east.
A is wrong: the Moidams were tombs, not forts; statement 1 is false.
B is wrong: they were never places of recreation, and statement 4 is also false.
D is wrong: statements 2 and 4 are both false, since the mounds were not drill grounds.
Exam tip: Moidams = Ahom royal burial mounds at Charaideo, Assam; UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2024.
Practice Questions
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- A.1 only
- B.1 and 3 only
- C.2 and 4 only
- D.3 only
Show answer
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Show answer
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