5. The well-known painting “Bani Thani” belongs to the:
(a) Bundi School
(b) Jaipur School
(c) Kangra School
(d) Kishangarh School
Correct Answer!
Incorrect Answer!
Bani Thani is a famous painting from the Kishangarh School of Rajasthani miniature painting, originating in the 18th century in Kishangarh, Rajasthan. Painted by artist Nihal Chand, it depicts a woman with stylized features, such as elongated eyes and a serene expression, often considered an idealized portrayal of Radha or a court lady. The painting is renowned for its delicate artistry and romantic aesthetic, characteristic of the Kishangarh style.
Option (a) Bundi School: Known for vibrant colors and detailed narratives, but not associated with Bani Thani.
Option (b) Jaipur School: Focuses on courtly themes and bold colors, distinct from the Kishangarh style.
Option (c) Kangra School: A Pahari school from Himachal Pradesh, known for soft colors and Krishna-Radha themes, but not the origin of Bani Thani.
Thus, (d) correctly identifies the Kishangarh School as the source of the Bani Thani painting.
| Folk Painting | Origin / Region | Medium & Materials | Themes & Subjects | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Madhubani | Mithila, Bihar | Mud walls, handmade paper, cloth, canvas; natural dyes | Hindu Gods, mythology, weddings, social life | No empty spaces, 2D style, bold colors, double borders, symbolic elements (e.g., fish for luck); GI tag; recognized officially in 1970 by Indian President |
| Pattachitra | Odisha | Cotton cloth, palm leaves, chalk-gum canvas, lacquer | Hindu mythology, Jagannath cult, Vaishnavism | Fine detailing, natural colors, no pencil, heated finish, family-involved production; includes Tala Pattachitra |
| Kalighat | West Bengal (Kolkata) | Paper; hand-colored lithographic prints | Hindu deities, mythology, social commentary | Watercolors, simplified bold lines, inspired Jamini Roy |
| Warli | Maharashtra-Gujarat border | Wall surfaces with cow dung & mud; rice paste for white pigment | Rituals, farming, daily life, tribal ceremonies | Geometric figures, sacred motifs, “chaukat” square, prehistoric resemblance |
| Paitkar | Jharkhand (Santhal tribe) | Paper or cloth scrolls; natural colors | Afterlife, Ma Mansa, soul’s journey | Used in live storytelling; scroll format; sacred and ritual use |
| Patna Kalam | Patna, Bihar | Paper, ivory, mica; brush painting | Commoners, festivals, rulers, daily life | No background; British era influence; “Kajli Seahi” technique |
| Kohvar & Sohrai | Jharkhand | Wall painting with fingers or combs | Kohvar (weddings); Sohrai (harvest) | Practiced by married women; matrilineal transmission |
| Kalamkari | Andhra Pradesh | Cloth painting; bamboo pen and vegetable dyes | Mythology, temple decoration | Block printing (Masulipatnam), hand painting (Sri-Kalahasti); Persian influence |
| Phad | Rajasthan | Long scrolls (15–30 ft); vegetable dyes | Folk deities (Pabuji, Devnarayan) | Portable storytelling; bold, flat compositions in segments |
| Manjusha | Bhagalpur, Bihar | Jute/paper boxes or scrolls | Bihula-Bishari folklore | Snake motifs; step-by-step storytelling; Hindu-Muslim cultural link |
| Thangka | Sikkim, Himachal, Ladakh | Cotton or silk; natural/mineral dyes | Buddhist deities, mandalas, stories of Buddha | Scroll format, gold detailing, used for meditation; stored rolled-up |
| Patua | West Bengal | Paper scrolls backed with cloth | Mythology, social commentary | Sung narratives, Muslim artist community, sequential art format |
| Pithora | Gujarat & MP | Wall murals on sacred surfaces | Marriage, harvest, prosperity | Colorful horses, ritualistic purpose, tribal tradition |
| Pichhwai | Rajasthan (Nathdwara) | Painted cloth backdrops for temples | Krishna (Shreenathji) devotion | Highly detailed, devotional, sub-style of Nathdwara art |
| Cheriyal Scroll | Telangana | Handmade scrolls with natural colors | Mythological stories, local ballads | Comic-strip like format, red backgrounds, GI tag |
| Kalamezhuthu | Kerala | Natural powders drawn on the floor | Worship of deities (Kali, Ayyappa) | Drawn by hand and erased after rituals; oil lamp illumination |
| Saura | Odisha (Saura tribe) | Wall murals; red/yellow background, white paint | Worship of Idital deity | Geometric tribal figures; used in fashion & modern art |
| Chittara | Karnataka | Mud walls/floors; rice paste & natural colors | Rituals, daily life | Women painters; complex geometry; bamboo brushes |
| Thanjavur (Tanjore) | Tamil Nadu | Wood panels, gold foil, gesso relief work | Hindu gods and saints | Rich 3D gold decoration; vibrant and devotional |
Famous Folk painting of India
| State/UT | Folk Painting | Art Form Type | Key Features | Cultural Significance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ladakh | Thangka Painting, Moral Art | Religious Scroll Painting | Depicts Buddhist deities, mandalas, vivid colors | Used for meditation and rituals in monasteries |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Basholi Painting | Miniature Painting | Bold colors, geometric patterns, mythological themes | Originated in Basohli town; influenced Pahari art |
| Himachal Pradesh | Kangra Painting | Miniature Painting | Romantic themes, delicate brushwork | Flourished under Rajput patronage |
| Punjab | Mud Work | Wall & Floor Art | 3D patterns using mud, mirrors, and paint | Decorative and auspicious during festivals |
| Haryana | Sculpture | Terracotta/Folk Sculpture | Mythical and rural figures in clay | Used in rituals and village deities |
| Uttarakhand | Aipan | Floor Art | White rice paste motifs on red surface | Drawn during festivals and religious ceremonies |
| Uttar Pradesh | Sanjhi | Stencil Art | Intricate paper cuttings with Krishna themes | Linked with Radha-Krishna devotional practices |
| Rajasthan | Phad Painting | Scroll Painting | Depicts stories of local deities on cloth scrolls | Used by Bhopas (folk narrators) in performances |
| Bihar | Madhubani, Patna Kalam, Manjusha | Wall and Paper Art | Geometric patterns, mythological and daily themes | Madhubani: Women-centric; Kalam: Mughal influence |
| Jharkhand | Sohrai & Khobar | Wall Art | Earthy colors, animal and fertility motifs | Used in harvest and marriage rituals |
| West Bengal | Kalighat Painting | Parchment Painting | Satirical, bold outlines, folk themes | Originated near Kalighat Temple, urban folk art |
| Gujarat | Pithora Painting | Wall Art | Tribal deity motifs, horses, vibrant colors | Performed by Rathwa and Bhil tribes |
| Madhya Pradesh | Gond Painting | Tribal Art | Dots, lines, natural elements, folklore | Used to tell tribal myths and daily life |
| Chhattisgarh | Godna Painting | Tattoo-inspired Wall Art | Geometrical patterns and motifs | Drawn by tribal women; symbolic of identity |
| Odisha | Pattachitra | Cloth Scroll Painting | Mythological stories, fine detailing, natural dyes | Linked to Jagannath Temple traditions |
| Telangana | Cheriyal Scroll Painting | Narrative Scroll Art | Red background, bold figures, folk tales | Used by storytellers in village performances |
| Maharashtra | Warli Painting | Tribal Wall Art | White motifs on mud background, human & nature forms | Created by Warli tribe; symbolizes harmony with nature |
| Goa | Folk Paintings | Mixed Media | Religious and cultural motifs | Reflects Indo-Portuguese influence |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kalamkari | Hand-painted/Block-printed Textile | Mythological themes, natural dyes | Used in temples and clothing |
| Karnataka | Chittara | Wall Art | White patterns on red mud walls | Practiced by Deewaru community women |
| Kerala | Kalamezhuthu | Ritual Floor Drawing | Powder art depicting deities, elaborate designs | Used in temples during religious ceremonies |
| Tamil Nadu | Tanjore Painting | Gold-leaf Panel Painting | Mythological figures, embellished with stones & gold | Temple art with devotional significance |
| Sikkim | Thangka Painting | Buddhist Scroll Painting | Mandalas, deities, spiritual themes | Practiced in monasteries, for rituals |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Thangka Painting | Buddhist Scroll Art | Detailed depictions of tantric Buddhism | Spiritual education and meditation |
| Assam | Assamese Scroll Painting | Traditional Scroll Art | Vaishnavite themes, narrative structure | Linked to Sattriya culture |
| Nagaland | Cloth Painting | Tribal Textile Art | Geometric tribal motifs on fabrics | Part of traditional attire and rituals |
| Manipur | Block Painting | Textile Art | Floral and mythological designs | Used in traditional dress materials |
| Mizoram | Textile Painting | Fabric Art | Tribal symbolism and colors | Woven in everyday and festive wear |
| Tripura | Bamboo Work (Artistic) | Craft with Folk Art | Hand-painted motifs on bamboo items | Used in homes and tribal rituals |
2. Consider the following properties included in the World Heritage List released by UNESCO:
1. Shantiniketan
2. Rani-ki-Vav
3. Sacred Ensembles of the Hoysalas
4. Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodhgaya
How many of the above properties were included in 2023?
(a) Only one
(b) Only two
(c) Only three
(d) All four
Correct Answer!
Incorrect Answer!
The correct answer is (b) Only two
Shantiniketan: Added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2023 for its cultural and educational significance, founded by Rabindranath Tagore in West Bengal, India.
Cultural World Heritage Sites (35)
| Site Name | State | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Ajanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| Ellora Caves | Maharashtra | 1983 |
| Agra Fort | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
| Taj Mahal | Uttar Pradesh | 1983 |
| Sun Temple, Konârak | Odisha | 1984 |
| Group of Monuments at Mahabalipuram | Tamil Nadu | 1984 |
| Churches and Convents of Goa | Goa | 1986 |
| Khajuraho Group of Monuments | Madhya Pradesh | 1986 |
| Group of Monuments at Hampi | Karnataka | 1986 |
| Fatehpur Sikri | Uttar Pradesh | 1986 |
| Group of Monuments at Pattadakal | Karnataka | 1987 |
| Elephanta Caves | Maharashtra | 1987 |
| Great Living Chola Temples | Tamil Nadu | 1987 |
| Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi | Madhya Pradesh | 1989 |
| Humayun’s Tomb | Delhi | 1993 |
| Qutb Minar and its Monuments | Delhi | 1993 |
| Mountain Railways of India | Multiple | 1999 |
| Mahabodhi Temple Complex | Bihar | 2002 |
| Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka | Madhya Pradesh | 2003 |
| Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus | Maharashtra | 2004 |
| Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park | Gujarat | 2004 |
| Red Fort Complex | Delhi | 2007 |
| The Jantar Mantar | Rajasthan | 2010 |
| Hill Forts of Rajasthan | Rajasthan | 2013 |
| Rani-ki-Vav | Gujarat | 2014 |
| Nalanda Mahavihara | Bihar | 2016 |
| Work of Le Corbusier | Chandigarh | 2016 |
| Historic City of Ahmedabad | Gujarat | 2017 |
| Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles | Mumbai | 2018 |
| Jaipur City | Rajasthan | 2019 |
| Kakatiya Rudreshwara Temple | Telangana | 2021 |
| Dholavira | Gujarat | 2021 |
| Santiniketan | West Bengal | 2023 |
| Sacred Ensembles of Hoysalas | Karnataka | 2023 |
| Moidams of Ahom Dynasty | Assam | 2024 |
Natural World Heritage Sites (7)
| Site Name | State | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Kaziranga National Park | Assam | 1985 |
| Manas Wildlife Sanctuary | Assam | 1985 |
| Keoladeo National Park | Rajasthan | 1985 |
| Sundarbans National Park | West Bengal | 1987 |
| Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers | Uttarakhand | 1988 |
| Western Ghats | Multiple | 2012 |
| Great Himalayan National Park | Himachal Pradesh | 2014 |
Mixed World Heritage Site (1)
| Site Name | State | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Khangchendzonga National Park | Sikkim | 2016 |