CDS 2021 (II)

Medieval Engineering and Archeology

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The painted illustration of the moving of the Ashoka Pillar at Topra is found in:

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept Firuz Shah Tughlaq was fascinated by India's ancient relics, leading him to transport two massive Ashokan pillars from Topra and Meerut to his new capital, Firozabad (Delhi).

Explanation The manuscript Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi contains detailed painted illustrations showing the engineering marvel of how the massive pillar was wrapped in silk, lowered onto a 42-wheeled carriage, and transported to Delhi.

Logical Breakup

Logic 1: Option C is correct. The text is a primary record of the Sultan's reign, focusing on his architectural and social achievements.

Logic 2: While Ziauddin Barani's *Tarikh-i-Firuz Shahi* covers the era, the specific technical illustrations of the pillar movement are unique to the *Sirat-i-Firuz Shahi*.

Active Recall

Question

Where are the Ashokan pillars located in Delhi today?

Answer

One is located at Feroz Shah Kotla and the other at the Delhi Ridge near the University of Delhi.

Core Insight

The transport of these pillars in the 14th century highlights the advanced mechanical engineering and state-sponsored interest in 'antiquities' during the Tughlaq period.

The painted illustration of the moving of the Ashoka Pillar at Topra is found in:

Solution & Analysis

Active Recall

Core Insight

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