Music and Paintings of Mughal Period

Total Questions: 25

1. Who among the following Mughal Emperors shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portrait ? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (c) Jahangir
Solution:Jahangir particularly encouraged paintings depicting events of his own life, individual portraits, and studies of birds flowers and animals.

Jahangir had less interest in politics and more in the arts, painting, gardens, and flowers. Cultural patronage and a strong emphasis on justice within the Mughal Empire marked Jahangir's contributions

Literature: Jahangir supported writers and poets who crafted
remarkable works in Persian and other languages. As a poet himself, he wrote under the name "Nuruddin Muhammad Jahangir" and authored his memoir, "Tuzuk-i-Jahangiri." Architecture: Jahangir built Shalimar Gardens in Lahore. The mausoleum of Akbar in Sikandra, near Agra, begun by Akbar and finished by Jahangir, incorporates elements of Buddhist architecture.

Additionally, Jahangir's construction of the tomb of Itimad-ud- Daula, Nur Jahan's father, marked the first Mughal structure entirely made of white marble.

Painting: Akbar established the Mughal miniature style, which his son Jahangir elevated. Jahangir, an art enthusiast from a young age, employed renowned Iranian painter Aqa Riza and his son Abul Hasan to enhance the sophistication of Mughal art. Under Jahangir's patronage, the popularity of Muraqas-albums of individually mounted paintings-grew. He shifted emphasis from illustrated manuscripts to album and individual portraits

2. The 'Pahari School, Rajput School, Mughal School and 'Kangra School' represent different styles in the art of : [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1994]

Correct Answer: (b) Painting
Solution:The 'Pahari School, 'Rajput School', 'Mughal School' and "Kangra School' are different styles of medieval painting. The paintings in different hill states of the north-western Himalayan region are said to be the hill paintings. It comprises the area of Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and area of Tehri Garhwal and Paudi Garhwal of Uttarakhand.

3. 'Kishan Garh' School is famous for - [Chhattisgarh P.C.S. (Pre) 2014]

Correct Answer: (b) Painting
Solution:"Kishan Garh' school is famous for painting. It is a part of Rajasthan. Its style of painting is known for the beautiful depiction of a courtesan known as Bani Thani. Sawant Singh, a great scholar and patron of art and learning who ascended to the throne in 1748 A.D., was the real inspiration behind the famous Kishan Garh school of painting.

4. Which one of the following musical instruments was mastered by Aurangzeb ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2010, U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2007]

Correct Answer: (c) Veena
Solution:Aurangzeb banned music in India as he found it anti-Islamic. But it is also the fact that during his tenure, maximum books on Indian classical music were written in the Persian language. Being anti-music, he was a great instrumentalist who used to play the Indian instrument called "Veena".

5. The Raga which is sung early in the morning is - [I.A.S. (Pre) 2000]

Correct Answer: (a) Todi
Solution:"Todi' Raga is used to sung in the morning. Todi is a Hindustani classical Raga which gave its name to the Todi throat, one of the ten modes of the Hindustani classical music It was sung by the minstrel in the emperor's court.

6. Musicians like Tansen, Baiju Bawra and Gopal Nayak had received training from the master Swami Haridas. How many music worship centres have been set up by the followers of Swami Haridas ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2009]

Correct Answer: (a) 5
Solution:Swami Haridas was a spiritual poet and classical musician credited with a large body of devotional compositions, especially in the Dhrupad style. He was also the founder of Haridasi school of mysticism, still found today in North India. His followers built 5 worship training centres (ashrams). These are- Sri Banke Bihariji, Nidhivan, Temple of Gorelal, Sri Rasik Bihari and Thatti Khana.

7. With reference to Mian Tansen, which one of the following statements is not correct ? [I.A.S. (Pre) 2019]

Correct Answer: (a) Tansen was the title given to him by Emperor Akbar.
Solution:The title of "Tansen' was given by Raja Vikramjit Singh of Gwalior. Akbar gave the title of 'Mian'. About Tansen-Tansen also referred to as Tan Sen or Raritanu was a prominent figure of Hindustan classical music. He was born in a Hindu family. He began his career and spent most of his adult life in the court and patronage of the Hindu King of Rewa, Raja Ramchandra Singh, where Tansen musical abilities & studios gained widespread fame. Thus, his fame got the attentin of the Mughal Emperor Akbar, who sent messengers to Raja Ramchandra Singh, requesting Tansen to join the musicians at Mughal court. He was a Vaishnava musician.

8. The Dhrupad singers included in the reign of Akbar was/were [U.P.P.S.C. (GIC) 2010]

1. Tansen

2. Haridas

3. Surdas

4. Vilas Khan

Select the correct answer from the codes given below :

Code :

Correct Answer: (a) 1 and 2
Solution:Tansen and Swami Haridas were the leading Dhrupad singers during Akbar's reign. Vilas Khan was the main singer during the reign of Jahangir.

9. Where is Tansen's tomb located ? [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2018, U.P. P.C.S. (Pre) 1999, M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 1991]

Correct Answer: (b) Gwalior
Solution:Tansen is considered as one of the greatest composer- musicians in Indian classical music. He lived during the period of the great Mughal Indian king Akbar. He was one of the nine jewels of his court. He first served as a court musician of the King Ramchandra of Rewa (Bhata Region) and then Emperor Akbar respectively. His tomb is located in Gwalior near the tomb of Saint Hazrat Ghaus whose teachings influenced him to convert into Islam.

10. The original name of Tansen was : [M.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2013]

Correct Answer: (b) Ramtanu Pandey
Solution:The original name of Tansen was Ramtanu Pandey. He was a prominent Hindustani classical music composer and musician. He was among the Navaratnas (nine jewels) at the court of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Akbar gave him the title 'Miyan." His contribution to the world of music is priceless and is still worshipped by leading singers and composers of the world. Akbar gave the title of 'Kanthabharanvanivilas' to Tansen.