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Q86 (CDS-I/2008) History & Culture › Art & Architecture › Indian sculpture traditions Answer Verified

Consider the following statements 1. The Gandhara art of the Peshawar Valley is known for some of the finest sculptures made in dark grey schist. 2. The Kushanas were the first Indian kings to have portraits of themselves made in their shrines. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

Result
Your answer: —  Â·  Correct: C
Explanation

Statement 1 is correct as the Gandhara school of art, centered in the Peshawar Valley and northwestern Pakistan, is renowned for its unique sculptures primarily carved from dark grey or bluish-grey schist stone [t1][t3][t4]. This material was used to depict the Buddha in a spiritual state, blending Greco-Roman techniques with Indian iconography [c1][c4]. Statement 2 is also correct; the Kushanas were pioneers in royal portraiture in India. They established 'devakulas' or royal shrines where colossal statues of kings, such as the famous headless statue of Kanishka found at Mat (Mathura), were installed to project their divine status [c3][t7]. This practice of placing portraits of themselves in shrines was a distinct feature of Kushana political and religious art, setting them apart from earlier Indian dynasties. Therefore, both statements accurately reflect the artistic and cultural contributions of the Kushana period.

Sources

  1. [1] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 6: Polity and Society in Post-Mauryan Period > Art and Literature > p. 82
  2. [2] THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART I, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 2: Kings, Farmers and Towns > In praise of Samudragupta > p. 37
  3. [3] Exploring Society:India and Beyond ,Social Science-Class VII . NCERT(Revised ed 2025) > Chapter 6: The Age of Reorganisation > LET'S EXPLORE > p. 137
  4. [4] https://ignca.gov.in/Asi_data/41658.pdf
  5. [5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandhara
  6. [6] https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/sites/default/files/knowledge-bank-article/vol_II%20silk%20road_kushan%20art%20BIS.pdf
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