UPSC Prelims 2023 Q81: Art & Culture – Cultural Institutions & Awards
- (a) archaeological excavations
- (b) establishment of English Press in Colonial India
- (c) establishment of Churches in Princely States
- (d) construction of railways in Colonial India
Answer: (a) archaeological excavations
Explanation
Alexander Rea, A.H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess, Walter Elliot — Association
All five were associated with archaeological excavations in India during the colonial period:
| Scholar | Contribution |
|---|---|
| Alexander Rea | ASI Superintending Archaeologist, excavated Amaravati, Nagarjunakonda, and other South Indian Buddhist sites |
| A.H. Longhurst | ASI archaeologist, excavated Nagarjunakonda Buddhist complex |
| Robert Sewell | Authored 'A Forgotten Empire' — comprehensive study of Vijayanagara; compiled epigraphic records |
| James Burgess | Director General of ASI (1885–1889); documented architectural monuments; co-authored with Fergusson |
| Walter Elliot | ICS officer, collected sculptures and inscriptions from South India; contributed to Amaravati stupa discovery |
All five were Indologists and archaeologists who contributed to documenting India's ancient heritage during British rule.
Answer: (a) archaeological excavations.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. All five individuals were associated with archaeological excavations and heritage documentation in India during the colonial period.
- (b) Incorrect. Establishment of English Press — this was done by entrepreneurs and administrators like James Hicky (Bengal Gazette, 1780), not these archaeologists.
- (c) Incorrect. Establishment of churches — these were work of missionaries and colonial administrators, not Indologist-archaeologists.
- (d) Incorrect. Construction of railways — this was engineering work by firms and PWD officers, not by archaeologists.
Key point
All five (Rea, Longhurst, Sewell, Burgess, Elliot) = colonial-era archaeologists/Indologists who excavated and documented India's ancient monuments and heritage sites. Robert Sewell wrote the definitive account of Vijayanagara Empire.
Remember
Alexander Rea, A.H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess, and Walter Elliot were all associated with archaeological excavations and heritage documentation in colonial India — particularly South Indian Buddhist and medieval sites.
Common mistakes
- Not recognising colonial Indologists as archaeologists — many British civil servants doubled as scholars who excavated and documented Indian heritage.
- Confusing Robert Sewell with administrative history writers — his 'A Forgotten Empire' is specifically about archaeological and historical documentation of Vijayanagara.
- Thinking railway builders = the connection — none of these names are associated with Indian railway construction.
Exam tip
Colonial-era archaeologists in India: Cunningham (ASI founder), Marshall (Harappan discovery), Rea/Longhurst/Burgess (South Indian Buddhist sites), Mortimer Wheeler (Harappa/Mohenjo-daro). These names appear in culture/history questions paired with their excavation contributions.
Sources
- Archaeological Survey of India — History of ASI
- NCERT Class 12 History — Archaeologists and Indian Heritage