Upsc mains 2022 gs paper 1

UPSC MAINS MODEL ANSWER GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 1 GENERAL STUDIES PAPER – 1 Q1 How will you explain that medieval Indian temple sculptures represent the social life of those days? (Answer in 150 words) Symbolic representations of the various social and cultural activities can be found in Temple Sculptures. Sculptures in Vijay Vitthala Temple- Vijayanagar Empire- Rang Mandapa show, music, and dance were important aspects of life. Examples • Temples acted as educational centers. Sculptures at Khajuraho represent the Grihastha Life: Mithun sculptures, showing couples. • Sur Sundari (female figures): shows more idealistic nature of the artists at the time than realism. • Represented social evils: Ranga Mancha • Devdasiyan-Small kids, sacrificing their whole life for temples, used to perform lifelong in the temples. • Social Beliefs of the time: Movable sculptures show the event of once-a-year God visiting outside the temple- so untouchables could access Gods as they weren’t allowed inside the temples. • Religious Beliefs of the time: Sculpture representing the god Shiva and his wife Parvati represents the union of male and female and marital fidelity. • Through the temples, the wealth generated from farms was circulated among weavers, garland makers, dancers, and musicians, who contributed to the many rites, rituals, and festivals of the temple. 2. Why did the armies of the British East India Company mostly composed of Indian soldiers win consistently against the more nume...