U.P. Lower Sub. (Spl) (Pre) 2004

Cultural Contributions of India

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

The game of 'Chess' is said to have originated in-

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept Ancient Indian games often mirrored the strategic complexities of warfare and statecraft, leading to the development of globally popular board games.

Explanation Chess originated in India in the 6th century CE, where it was known as Chaturanga. The name refers to the 'four divisions' of the ancient Indian army: infantry, cavalry, elephants, and chariots.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: The four divisions of Chaturanga evolved into the modern pawn, knight, bishop, and rook.
Logic 2: The game spread to Persia as *Chatrang* and then to the Arab world as *Shatranj* before reaching Europe.
Logic 3: While other regions like China had their own board games, the lineage of modern international chess is traced back to India.

Active Recall

Question

What does the Sanskrit word 'Chaturanga' mean?

Answer

It means 'having four limbs' or 'four divisions', representing the four components of the traditional Indian military.

Core Insight

The evolution of Chaturanga into Chess illustrates the soft power of ancient Indian culture as it moved through the Silk Road to the West.