UPSC Prelims 2009 Q13: Art & Culture – Cultural Institutions & Awards
Match List I with List II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List I (Famous person)
A. Mandakini Amte
B. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry
C. Romila Thapar
D. Vanashree Rao
List II (Well - known for)
1. Theatre direction
2. Social service and community leadership
3. Dance
4. History writing
- (a) A - 2 B - 1 C - 4 D - 3
- (b) A - 2 B - 4 C - 1 D - 3
- (c) A - 3 B - 1 C - 4 D - 2
- (d) A - 3 B - 4 C - 1 D - 2
Answer: (a) A - 2 B - 1 C - 4 D - 3
Explanation
Matching famous persons to their fields
Four notable Indian figures are matched here to what they're well-known for.
| Person | Known for |
|---|---|
| A. Mandakini Amte | 2. Social service and community leadership |
| B. Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry | 1. Theatre direction |
| C. Romila Thapar | 4. History writing |
| D. Vanashree Rao | 3. Dance |
Why this matching is correct:
| Point | Detail |
|---|---|
| Mandakini Amte | Associated with Baba Amte's social work legacy |
| Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry | A celebrated theatre director |
| Romila Thapar | A renowned historian |
| Vanashree Rao | Known for her contributions to dance |
Answer: (a) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. A-2 (social service), B-1 (theatre), C-4 (history), D-3 (dance) is the accurate matching.
- (b) Incorrect. This swaps B and C's correct fields.
- (c) Incorrect. This misassigns A and D, swapping their correct fields.
- (d) Incorrect. This misassigns multiple pairs, reversing the correct fields.
Key point
Mandakini Amte-social service/community leadership, Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry-theatre direction, Romila Thapar-history writing, Vanashree Rao-dance — the correct matching.
Remember
Famous-person matching: Amte-social service, Chowdhry-theatre direction, Thapar-history, Rao-dance.
Common mistakes
- Confusing similarly accomplished women leaders' specific fields of recognition.
- Not knowing Romila Thapar's specific standing as a historian.
- Mixing up theatre direction and dance as fields for different individuals.
Exam tip
Amte=social service, Chowdhry=theatre, Thapar=history, Rao=dance. Four distinct fields, four distinct names.
Sources
- Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation — Prakash and Mandakini Amte, Magsaysay Awardees 2008
- Sangeet Natak Akademi — Akademi Awards: Neelam Mansingh Chowdhry (theatre)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Romila Thapar