Art and Culture is one of the varied topics that
UPSC prescribes for the Preliminary Examination. It’s a
topic where lot of uncertainty is involved. The number of questions asked
differed every year from the previous year. So, one should have a holistic
strategy to prepare this topic. Here’s a post on Art and Culture that will be
helpful in your UPSC prelims preparation. This post is brought to your by Oliveboard, an online exam preparation platform
for government, banking and MBA exams.
Syllabus covered under this topic
1. Religion and philosophy
2. Architecture and sculptures
3. Indian Paintings
4. Indian Music
5. Indian Dances
6. Indian Theatre
7. Indian Cinema
8. Indian language and literature
9. Arts and crafts
10. Indo Islamic culture
Strategy
Before starting preparation, one should keep in
mind that the questions asked will not require in depth study but a surface
level study. The entire syllabus should be completed as UPSC always pays
attention to the unasked part of the syllabus.
To know the pattern and type of questions asked,
first and foremost thing is to look at previous questions from all the prelims
question papers. After getting an overview of questions asked previously you
will have a preformed way of study and can concentrate on the points that are
required for the examination.
Religion and Philosophy
The schools of philosophy must be divided into two
parts classical (6) and heterodox schools (3).
The classical philosophies (where they believe
cycle of karma and rebirth) should all be bunched together and find
similarities and differences among them. If possible just make table format so
that it can be revised quickly before exam.
Heterodox Philosophies are very important, and
questions are asked every year either from Jainism Buddhism or Charvaka.Here
too understand the differences and similarities. Many previous questions are
also available in this topic.
Architecture
It’s a very important topic and it takes time to
complete this part. One should study thistopic chronologically so that one can
remember scientifically. Find how art evolved from prehistoric rock cut caves
to Chola Pandya temples.
·
Hindu
temple architecture and its styles
·
Divide
the topics into NAGARA DRAVIDA and VESARA.
·
Memorize
different parts of the temple architecture like MANDAPA, VIHARA etc.
Indus valley Civilization
The buildings and their scientific nature. The
usage of materials and seals. The geography and its relevance. Also study their
faiths.
Jain and Buddhist Architecture
Different universities and Temples are to be
studied here. Also, different sects in Buddhism and their respective faiths and
architectures belonging to them.
Indo Islamic Architecture
Different styles like imperial style, decani style
etc and their influences on Indian Art and Architecture should be studied.
Every topic under this part can be found with exact
points in NCERT FINE ARTS Book. It’s a bible for this topic. Make a
chronological chart and write different types of architecture prevailed in
those times.
Indian Paintings
This is a small topic and different genres of
Indian paintings like cave, Mughal, miniature, Rajput are to be studied. Also,
Mural paintings need to be stressed. Don’t go deep but find important elements
and why such prominence is attributed to each painting.
CCRT Website is an importance source to this topic.
Indian Music
·
Types
of Indian music like Hindustani and Carnatic. Different parts and their meaning
like Bhajan in Hindustani and Tanam –Pallavi in Carnatic Music.
·
Different
Instruments used and their uses.
·
Also,
important personalities need to be studied.
·
For
this again, CCRT website is a source. Also Facets if Indian culture is an
important book.
·
Don’t
go into details just find differences and remember the meaning.
Indian Dances
8 Classical dances and some folk dances.
Classical dances are to be read with comparing each
other. Find their origins and evolution too. Different parts of dances and
their meaning. The dresses used, makeup styles and any peculiar thing related
to a dance forms. Famous personalities are also to be studied.
Folk dances like bhangra and any news related
topics are to be studied.
Indian Theatre
Not many questions are asked lately but cannot be
left keeping in view of UPSC unpredictable nature. See previous papers so that
the level of study required can be known. Puppetry, Jatra, koodiyatam, Bhavai
are some of the important topics and study with regional importance. Find what
each theatre form is associated with and what stories they tell.
CCRT website is a source here too.
CCRT website is a source here too.
Indian Cinema
The origin and important personalities of Indian
cinema. The evolution of sound and dialogues is very important in this topic.
The Facets of Indian culture is a source on can refer too. Not many questions
are asked in the recent times.
Indian Language and Literature
Find the news items if any author is rewarded for
any of his work in classical languages. Also know all the classical language
names.
Hindi literature and English literature and the ideas of novel and series borrowed from different modern literatures are to be studied.
Hindi literature and English literature and the ideas of novel and series borrowed from different modern literatures are to be studied.
Famous literatures and personalities like Tagore,
Vikram Seth, Anita desai and their works need to be given special importance,Personalities
from different languages are to be memorized.
CCRT website is a source
Arts and Crafts
Here the culture of India reflects in the crafts.
The history and design should be studied.
Various types like kalamkari have been asked in
UPSC and this part with regional importance should be studied.
Best source is the NCERT book Crafts.
Indo Islamic Culture
This involves mostly the previously read above
topics but with special attention to Islamic culture. The architecture of tombs
and styles, their evolution and the regional differences, Kings who patronized.
The materials used, different forts in India, Minars, Masjids etc. need to be
given importance. Islamic Music, Sufi and Sufi saints are also to be
studied.
NCERT fine arts book again is an important
resource.
Summary
Previous questions, textbooks, mock test, revision
should summarize the strategy in short.
All the best!
