INDIAN CULTURE & HERITAGE

1. Performing Arts

• Aimed at spiritual/moral growth, expression, unity.

• Dance: Rigveda, Harappan roots; Classical (8 forms), Folk (Bihu, Garba, etc.).

• Music: Samaveda origin; Hindustani (Amir Khusro), Carnatic (Purandara Dasa); regional & modern music.

• Drama: Natyashastra; classical (Kalidasa), folk (Yakshagana), modern (Karnad, Tendulkar).

• Puppetry: String, Shadow, Rod, Glove types with regional diversity.

2. Art and Architecture

• Harappan (town-planning, granaries, Great Bath).

• Mauryan (Ashokan pillars, Sanchi Stupa).

• Post-Mauryan (Gandhara-Mathura-Amaravati schools).

• Gupta (golden age): rock-cut caves, free-standing temples.

• Pallava/Chola: structural temples, Nataraja bronzes.

• Delhi Sultanate: Indo-Islamic style.

• Mughal: blend of Indian-Persian (Taj Mahal, Fatehpur Sikri).

• Vijayanagara: Hampi, gopurams.

• Colonial: Neo-Gothic, Indo-Saracenic (Victoria Memorial).

3. Painting

• Prehistoric: Bhimbetka.

• Ancient: Bagh, Sittanavasal, Ajanta.

• Medieval: Mughal (Akbar), Rajput, Pahari, Deccan.

• Modern: Bengal School (Abanindranath), Kalighat, Warli, Madhubani, Kalamkari.

4. Sculpture & Bronze Art

• Harappan (Dancing Girl), Mauryan (Yaksha-Yakshi).

• Gupta (elegant stone/bronze forms).

• Chola bronzes (Nataraja), Jain/Buddha images.

5. Languages and Literature

• Vedic texts: Rig, Sama, Yajur, Atharva.

• Sangam literature (Tamil).

• Classical languages: Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, etc.

• Medieval: Bhakti/Sufi poetry.

• Modern: Tagore, Premchand, Sri Aurobindo.

6. Philosophy & Religion

• Vedanta (Upanishads), Charvaka, Ajivika.

• Buddhism (Ashoka, Dhamma, SE Asia spread).

• Jainism (Ahimsa, Syadvada).

• Bhakti movement (Kabir, Mirabai, Chaitanya).

• Sufism (Chishti, Suhrawardi).

7. Miscellaneous

• Ancient Universities: Nalanda, Takshashila, Vikramshila.

• Pilgrimage Sites: Jyotirlingas, Sun Temples.

• Preservation Efforts: ASI, UNESCO Sites.