Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Examine these two statements carefully and select the correct answer using the codes given below: **Statement I:** For early societies, historians retrieve information about elite families mostly from inscriptions. **Statement II:** Satavahana inscriptions generally end with the term Putra, a Prakrit word meaning 'son'.
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
Epigraphy serves as a vital tool for reconstructing the social and political history of early Indian dynasties, revealing genealogical links and elite affiliations.Explanation
According to NCERT and standard historical texts, inscriptions are the primary source for identifying the names, titles, and lineage of ruling elites. While Satavahana inscriptions do frequently use the term 'Putra' (e.g., Gautamiputra), this specific term is a Sanskrit word meaning 'son', rather than a Prakrit one.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Statement I is correct as elite families often commissioned inscriptions to record land grants, religious donations, or military conquests, making them rich repositories of family history.
Logic 2: Statement II is incorrect because 'Putra' is the standard Sanskrit term for son. While the Satavahanas patronized Prakrit as a court language, the term used in this specific context is linguistically Sanskrit.