[Solved] Social History in Kalhana's Rajatarangini | Concept & Explanation

Consider the following statements from Kalhana's Rajatarangini:
1. The common people ate rice and Utpalasaka (a wild vegetable of bitter taste).
2. Harsha introduced into Kashmir a general dress befitting a king which included a long coat.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?

[CDS 2014 (I)]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Kalhana's Rajatarangini is unique because it includes details about common people's lives—their food, dress, and economic hardships—alongside royal genealogies.

Authentic Source Evidence

In Book VII, Kalhana documents the reign of King Harsha of Kashmir (1089–1101). He mentions the poverty that forced people to eat wild vegetables and the King's interest in southern-style fashion.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Statement 1 is correct; Kalhana notes that the masses ate rice mixed with bitter Utpalasaka gathered from forests during times of oppression.

Logic 2: Statement 2 is correct; Harsha of Kashmir was known for his eccentricities and introduced a 'long coat' (reaching the ankles) and specific turbans as a royal dress code.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Who was King Harsha of Kashmir?"

He was an 11th-century ruler noted for his initial brilliance followed by tyranny, cultural patronage, and introduction of southern fashions.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"Kalhana’s attention to the 'dress befitting a king' shows how fashion was used as a tool of royal identity and status in medieval Kashmir."

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Consider the following statements from Kalhana's Rajatarangini:1. The common people ate rice and Utpalasaka (a wild vegetable of bitter taste).2. Harsha introduced into Kashmir a general dress befitting a king which included a long coat. Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?