📚 Part of: Indian Traditions And Governance Mcqs

Consider the following Statements: The world's largest sundial is located in India Muhammad bin Tughlaq's empire was larger than Akbar's. The verses from Quran were inscribed on buildings in straight script Which of the following statement(s) is/are true?

Category: Miscellaneous Indian Gk

Correct Answer: A) Only 1, 2.

Exam Relevance: UPSC Civil Services, SSC CGL, State PSC Exams

Difficulty: Moderate

Concept notes:

This question tests knowledge of Indian geography, Mughal history, and Islamic architecture. The world's largest sundial is located in India, Muhammad bin Tughlaq's empire was larger than Akbar's, and Quranic inscriptions were often in straight script.

Common Mistakes:
  • Confusing the size of Muhammad bin Tughlaq's empire with Akbar's.
  • Misunderstanding the script used for Quranic inscriptions.
  • Not knowing the location of the world's largest sundial.
Explanation:

To understand the statements in this question, we need to delve into the specifics of Indian geography, Mughal history, and Islamic architecture.

1. **The World's Largest Sundial**: The world's largest sundial is located in Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India. Jantar Mantar is an astronomical observatory built by Maharaja Jai Singh II of Jaipur in the early 18th century. The sundial, known as the Samrat Yantra, is a massive structure that can tell the time to an accuracy of about two seconds. This statement is true.

2. **Muhammad bin Tughlaq's Empire vs. Akbar's Empire**: Muhammad bin Tughlaq, who ruled the Delhi Sultanate from 1325 to 1351, had an empire that was larger in terms of geographical extent compared to Akbar's Mughal Empire. Akbar, who ruled from 1556 to 1605, had a more consolidated and centralized empire, but the territory under Muhammad bin Tughlaq's control was more expansive. This statement is true.

3. **Quranic Inscriptions**: Quranic inscriptions on buildings were often written in decorative scripts, particularly the Kufic script. Kufic is a style of calligraphy that is angular and geometric, often used for decorative purposes. The statement that Quranic inscriptions were in straight script is incorrect. Straight script, or a more linear and less decorative form, was not typically used for Quranic inscriptions in Islamic architecture.

In summary, the correct answer is (A) Only 1, 2. The first two statements are true, while the third statement is false. Understanding the historical context and architectural details is crucial for correctly identifying the true statements.

Option Analysis:
  • Option A: This option is correct. The world's largest sundial is located in Jantar Mantar, Jaipur, India. Muhammad bin Tughlaq's empire was indeed larger than Akbar's. However, the third statement about Quranic inscriptions being in straight script is incorrect. Quranic inscriptions were often in a decorative script known as Kufic, not straight script.
  • Option B: This option is incorrect. While the first statement about the world's largest sundial is true, the third statement about Quranic inscriptions being in straight script is false. Quranic inscriptions were typically in decorative scripts like Kufic, not straight script.
  • Option C: This option is incorrect. The first two statements are true, but the third statement about Quranic inscriptions being in straight script is false. Quranic inscriptions were often in decorative scripts like Kufic, not straight script.
  • Option D: This option is incorrect. The second statement about Muhammad bin Tughlaq's empire being larger than Akbar's is true, but the third statement about Quranic inscriptions being in straight script is false. Quranic inscriptions were typically in decorative scripts like Kufic, not straight script.

Mnemonic: SMA: Sundial, Muhammad Akbar, Straight

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