UPSC Prelims 2014 · GS Paper I
Question 83: History and Culture
With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements :
- 1.Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama.
- 2.It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam.
- 3.It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).
Sattriya is a classical dance form of Assam that combines music, dance and drama, and it is a centuries-old living tradition of the Vaishnava monasteries called sattras, begun by Sankaradeva in the 15th and 16th centuries. Its music rests on devotional songs such as the Borgeets composed by Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva, not on those of Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai. So statements 1 and 2 are correct.
- 1. Sattriya combines music, dance and drama.
- 2. It is a living tradition of the Vaishnava sattras of Assam.
- 3. Its songs are the Borgeets of Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva.
How you could have got this
- If you were sure statement 2 is correct, (a) goes: it leaves 2 out.
What you needed to know: It is a living tradition of the Vaishnava sattras of Assam.
- Then, if you were sure statement 3 is not correct, (c) and (d) go: each of them includes 3.
What you needed to know: Its songs are the Borgeets of Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva.
Only (b) is left. You didn’t need statement 1.
Which options go is worked out from UPSC’s key and the options, not by a model.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Wrong. Statement 2 is also true.
- (b) Right. Sattriya combines music, dance and drama and is a living Vaishnava tradition.
- (c) Wrong. Statement 3 is false because the songs are by Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva.
- (d) Wrong. Statement 3 is false.
Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.
Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2014, General Studies Paper I, Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.