UPSC Prelims 1995 · General Studies
Question 2: History and Culture
The word ‘Hindu’ as reference to the people of Hind (India) was first used by
AnswerThe answer is (d).
Arab writers called the land beyond the Indus al-Hind and its people Hindu, taking the name from the river Sindhu. The word began as a geographical term for the people of the Indus country and only later became a religious label. Old Persian had already used the name for the Sindhu region, but among the options the Arabs are the ones who applied it to the people of India. The Greeks said Indoi and India instead. Remember: Sindhu to Hindu to al-Hind.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) The Greeks called the Indus Indos and its people Indoi, giving 'India', not 'Hindu'.
- (b) Roman writers took their Indian names from Greek usage and did not originate 'Hindu'.
- (c) Chinese sources used other names for India, such as Shendu; they did not coin 'Hindu'.
- (d) Right: Arab writers used al-Hind for the land and Hindu for its people.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 1995, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.