Explanations:Harshvardhana, also known as Harsha, was a significant ruler in ancient India who reigned from 606 to 647 CE. He was the ruler of the Vardhana dynasty and is known for his military conquests and cultural achievements. One of his notable conquests was in the eastern part of his empire, where he successfully conquered both Magadha and Bengal. This conquest is well-documented in historical records and is a significant part of Indian history. Therefore, statement 1 is true.
Statement 2, however, is incorrect. Bangladesh was never called Ceylon. The name "Ceylon" was historically associated with Sri Lanka, which was given by the British colonial rulers. The name "Ceylon" was officially changed to "Sri Lanka" in 1972. Therefore, this statement is false and should not be included in the correct answer.
Statement 3 is true and relates to the linguistic evolution in India. Prakrit was a group of Middle Indo-Aryan languages that evolved from Sanskrit and was widely spoken in ancient India. Over time, Prakrit evolved into several modern Indian languages, including Hindi, Urdu, and Bengali. This linguistic development is a well-documented process in the history of Indian languages and is an important aspect of understanding the linguistic diversity in India.
Therefore, the correct answer is option D, which includes statements 1 and 3 as true. Statement 2 is false and should not be included in the correct answer. Understanding the historical conquests of Harshvardhana and the linguistic evolution of Prakrit into modern Indian languages is crucial for comprehending the historical and cultural context of ancient India.