2001 General Studies, all questions
UPSC Prelims 2001 · General Studies
Question 17: History and Culture
Who amongst the following Englishmen first translated the Bhagavad-Gita into English?
aWilliam Jones
bCharles Wilkins
cAlexander Cunningham
dJohn Marshall
AnswerThe answer is (b).
Charles Wilkins, a servant of the East India Company and an orientalist, published the first English translation of the Bhagavad Gita in 1785, with an introduction by Warren Hastings. Remember William Jones for founding the Asiatic Society in 1784 and for his translations of Shakuntala and the Manusmriti, and Cunningham for archaeology rather than translation.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Jones founded the Asiatic Society and translated Shakuntala and Manu, not the Gita first.
- (b) Right: Wilkins's translation appeared in 1785.
- (c) Cunningham was the first head of the Archaeological Survey of India.
- (d) John Marshall directed the Archaeological Survey and the Indus Valley excavations.
Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2001, General Studies. UPSC's own paper isn't online; the words are from a published compilation. The paper on upsc.gov.in.