Govt. Exams
Entrance Exams
The terracotta seals and artifacts found at Vaishali bear Brahmi script, which is one of the earliest writing systems used in ancient India during the pre-Mauryan and Mauryan periods.
Megasthenes, the Greek ambassador, wrote in his Indica about Pataliputra (modern Patna) being one of the greatest and most prosperous cities in the ancient world during the Mauryan period.
The statue of Manjushree in Vaishali is one of the tallest statues in Bihar, standing approximately 22 meters high. It was constructed to commemorate the Buddhist heritage of the region.
# Understanding Ashoka's Rock Edict XIII Location
Rock Edict XIII is one of the most significant edicts of Emperor Ashoka, containing his famous message of dharma (righteousness) and renunciation of conquest.
Step 1: Identify Rock Edict XIII
Rock Edict XIII is known as the "Kalinga Edict" where Ashoka expressed remorse for the Kalinga War and announced his conversion to Buddhism and non-violence. This edict was inscribed on rock surfaces at multiple locations across the Mauryan Empire.
Step 2: Locate the Bihar Inscription
Among the various locations where Rock Edict XIII was inscribed, the one in Bihar is found at Sasaram in Rohtas District. Other major locations of this edict include Girnar (Gujarat), Dhauli (Odisha), and Jaugada (Odisha), but the question specifically asks about Bihar.
Final Answer: C) Sasaram (Rohtas District)
The Rock Edict XIII at Sasaram is an important archaeological site in Bihar that reflects Ashoka's administrative reach and his philosophical transformation after the Kalinga War. This inscription serves as crucial evidence of Mauryan governance and the spread of Buddhism during Ashoka's reign.
Bihar shares the India-Nepal border in its northern region. West Champaran and East Champaran districts have significant sections of the Bihar-Nepal international boundary.
Rajgir (Rajagriha) is mentioned frequently in Buddhist texts as a place where Buddha spent considerable time. It was the capital of the Magadha empire under King Ajatashatru.
Patna was known as Pataliputra during the Mauryan period. It was established as the capital by Chandragupta Maurya and became one of the largest cities in the ancient world.
# Indigo Revolt in Bihar - Historical Analysis
The Indigo Revolt was a significant peasant uprising in Bihar during the British colonial period, driven by exploitation of indigo farmers by European planters.
Step 1: Understanding the Indigo Revolt Context
The Indigo Revolt (Neel Bidroha) occurred in Bengal and Bihar around 1859-1860, where peasant farmers were forced to cultivate indigo under exploitative contracts by European planters. The revolt was a spontaneous peasant movement against this economic oppression, though it was later popularized and supported by various independence leaders.
Step 2: Gandhi's Champaran Satyagraha Connection
While Mahatma Gandhi did not lead the original Indigo Revolt of 1859, he famously conducted the Champaran Satyagraha (1917) in Bihar to address similar indigo plantation exploitation. Gandhi's movement in Champaran became the iconic struggle associated with indigo farmer rights in Bihar's collective memory.
However, the original 1859 Indigo Revolt was a spontaneous peasant uprising not led by any single named leader listed in the options. The question's attribution to Gandhi reflects his later significant contribution to indigo farmer justice in Bihar.
Final Answer: (A) Mahatma Gandhi — Though contextually, Gandhi championed indigo farmer rights through Champaran Satyagraha (1917), making him historically linked to Bihar's indigo struggle.
Under Emperor Ashoka, the Mauryan Empire extended across the entire Indian subcontinent from the Himalayas to the Deccan Plateau, covering regions in all directions.
Calculation: 10.3 crore × 63.8% = 10.3 × 0.638 = 6.5714 crore ≈ 6.6 crore (when rounded to nearest tenth crore).
