With reference to the famous Sattriya dance, consider the following statements : 1. Sattriya is a combination of music, dance and drama. 2. It is a centuries-old living tradition of Vaishnavites of Assam. 3. It is based on classical Ragas and Talas of devotional songs composed by Tulsidas, Kabir and Mirabai. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- (a) 1 only
- (b) 1 and 2 only ✓ UPSC's answer
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
Why the answer is (b)
• Sattriya, recognised as a classical dance in 2000, combines music, dance and drama (statement 1) and has been a living tradition of the Vaishnava sattras (monasteries) of Assam since Srimanta Sankardeva introduced it in the 15th century (statement 2).
• Statement 3 is wrong: its music is based on Sankardeva's and Madhavdeva's borgeets and ankiya nat, not on Tulsidas, Kabir or Mirabai.
• Hence 1 and 2 only, option (b).
Why the other options are wrong
- (a) 1 only
- Statement 2 on Assamese Vaishnava tradition is also correct.
- (c) 2 and 3 only
- Statement 3 is wrong: the songs are Sankardeva's, not Tulsidas's.
- (d) 1, 2 and 3
- Statement 3 is wrong.
Asked in the GS Paper I of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2014, held on 24 August 2014. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.