ART & CULTURE With the increasing unpredictability of the types of questions being asked in the UPSC IAS examination, it becomes very important for IAS aspirants to begin and continue to practice answer writing. This will prove to be very helpful and fruitful while preparing for the most coveted civil services. The workbooks are designed in a way that enables the students to understand their weak areas and improve upon them.

The workbook is a novel concept brought to you by GS SCORE for aiding your preparation and helping you achieve ‘the IAS dream’. The workbooks contain sets of questions along with their model answers to help students practice at their convenience. Each question in the workbook covers a topic relevant to the UPSC examination. Thus, it will help aspirants to complete their syllabus holistically through questions and answers.

There are 12 booklets available to all students for the preparation of the Mains examination.

They will be categorized subject-wise for the benefit and convenience of the students. �

This categorization will also help the students practice the topics they are studying without having to �search for them from a huge compilation of uncategorized notes.

What is the significance of the practicing answer writing for the Mains "Examination?

The Workbooks will help students assess themselves and their preparation while aiding them by providing quality questions for practicing answer writing, which is a very important component of the UPSC Civil Services Examination. Answer writing practice will provide aspirants clarity and coherency in their answers. Along with that, the flow of thought and expressions is also important for writing answers in the UPSC Mains examination, which can only be developed with practice and persistence. With the GS SCORE Workbook for Art and Culture aspirants will easily be able to cover the entire syllabus along with improving the quality of their answer writing skills.

How will the workbook help serious aspirants? "

The Workbooks have been designed in a way that follows the trends of the UPSC IAS Mains examination giving the aspirants only valuable and holistic practice of answer writing. Each set of the Workbook covers significant portions of the subject in 10-11 questions.

The GS SCORE Art and Culture workbook consists of questions from the following topics:

Art and Culture (6 sets)

Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.

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ART & CULTUREWORKBOOK

SET - 1Question & Answer

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Is Sangeet Natak Academi, the sole custodian for the promotion of the performing Q1. arts in India, functioning in sync with its objectives? Critically analyze. (200 words)(L1)

Globalization has not only affected the economy and the society but also it has Q2. emerged as a challenge for the performing arts in India. Discuss. (250 words)(L2)

Religion has such a deep imprint on Indian art, that often entire Indian art is Q3. dismissed as religious only; however, there is no dearth of secular art. Elaborate. (200 words)(L1)

Elaborate the contribution of following in development of Indian Music. (200 Q4. words)(L1)

(a) Tabla, b.) Thyagaraja, c) Purandara Dasa, d) Allauddin Khan, e) Amir Khusro

What is the difference between classical and folk music? (200 words)(L1)Q5.

Is there a parallel between Indian classical music and western classical music? Q6. (200 words)(L1)

Most of the classical dances trace their origin in temples and themed around Q7. religious scriptures’. Elaborate (200 words)(L2)

What are the unique features of Kuchipudi dance? What are the similarities and Q8. differences between Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam? (200 words)(L1)

Rukmini Devi Arundale was one of the greatest exponents of Bharatanatyam. Q9. Write her contributions to this classical dance (200 words)(L1)

Some dance forms in India are unique amalgamation of martial traditions and Q10. temple rituals. Write a short note on any such non-classical dance in India (250 words)(L1)

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ART & CULTURE (Set-1)QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

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1. Is Sangeet Natak Academi, the sole custodian for the promotion of the performing arts in India, functioning in sync with its objectives? Critically analyze. (200 words)(L1)

APPRoACh

Discuss objectives of Sangeet Natak Academy (40 words)1. Explain the positive role played by it (60 words)2. Give problems faced by Academy (60 words)3. Conclude it by giving solutions (40 words)4.

hINTS

Sangeet Natak Akademi was set up in 1953 for the promotion of performing arts. It is an autonomous body under ministry of culture.

objectives:The academy functions as the apex body of the performing arts in the country to preserve and promote the vast cultural heritage of India expressed in music, dance and drama. It also works with governments and art academies in states and territories of the country.

Gives grants to aid research, documentation and publishing in the performing arts �

Organizes and subsidizes seminars and conferences of subject specialists �

Documents and records the performing arts for its audio-visual archive �

Renders advice and assistance to the government of India in the task of formulating and implementing �policies and programmes in the field

The Akademi is also responsible for the establishment and maintenance of institutions and projects �of national importance in the field of performing arts.

Positive roleSince its inception, the Akademi has been funding institutions dedicated to music, dance and drama �and providing financial assistance to eminent practitioners.

It has played a critical role in keeping alive the guru-shishya parampara, and has intervened to support �young artists from traditional practicing families and gharanas, who would otherwise be unable to pursue their art.

The Akademi has been instrumental in organizing music, dance and theatre festivals across the �country and enabling cultural exchange both within the country and internationally.

It also organizes workshops and seminars, and provides a forum for creative interaction in this �field.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for excellence and their fellowships for lifetime achievement in �the performing arts are aimed at recognizing and spurring talent to greater heights.

Over the years, the Sangeet Natak Akademi undertook the colossal project of documenting and �recording performances. Its archives of photographs, audio and videotapes, and films testify to the richness and diversity of classical and folk forms in India.

Akademi has played a commendable role in preserving endangered art forms. �

Its generous grants helped resuscitate difficult, esoteric traditions such as Koodiyattam and Chhau �dance, which would have otherwise fallen prey to the lack of attention of a rapidly changing world.

It has made efforts to sustain traditional teaching and learning processes such as the Sufiana Kalam �of Kashmir, or the percussion instruments of Kerala.

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Limitations of Sangeet Natak AcademyEver since its inception in 1953 as a self-governing body by a resolution of the Government of India, �the Akademi has been in the news for reasons other than it’s proclaimed cultural functions

Bureaucratization of the functioning of the Akademi: �

Since the post of the secretary to the Akademi - the chief executive has often been donned by retired bureaucrats, and junior officers of the Education Ministry who were appointed on an ad hoc basis.

Growing political interference in the functioning of the Akademi. �

Feudal ethos and administrative infighting degrade the performance of the Akademi. �

From the beginning the executive board - the fountain head of the Akademi has been stuffed with �government servants rather than people belonging to the performing arts.

The bone of contention seems to be the Department of Culture in the Education Ministry operates �several schemes, with a budget three times more than that of the Akademi itself, legitimately coming under the purview of the Akademi.

According to a leading dancer there is an all-round lethargy and irregularity in its functioning. �

Curtailment of its autonomy:Though the Akademi enjoys autonomy. The function of giving grants-in-aid is also performed by the �Department of Culture reducing the Akademi to the role of a promoter.

The preservation of India’s cultural identity amidst the onslaught of globalization is the biggest �challenge the Akademi faces today

The � haksar Committee, appointed to consider the functioning of the Akademi, had uncovered several glitches in the governance of the Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Their awards, mired in controversy are rarely granted to up-and-coming performers. The cultural cell �of a leading party created a ruckus by accusing the Akademi of blatant nepotism.

Way AheadIn most countries, funds for the arts come from a combination of public and private sources. However, �in India, the corporate sector and civil society have yet to assume the role.

Perhaps state patronage systems such as the Department of Culture and the Akademi, should "encourage them to do so, gradually shifting focus to joint partnerships with private institutions and individuals.

The more immediate challenge facing the Akademi is to reinvent itself. There is a need to encourage �creative experiment among emerging artists, a range of nation-wide programmes geared towards tapping and showcasing young talent need to be done.

It must free itself from bureaucratic trappings, and make a genuine attempt to educate young people �about the music, dance and theatre traditions that they have inherited. It requires is the imagination and will to re-link the performing arts with society at large.

Supplementary Notes

Lalit Kala Akademi, New DelhiLalit Kala Akademi is the Government’s apex cultural body in the field of visual arts in India. It is an autonomous body, which is fully funded by the Ministry of Culture. The Akademi is an independent organisation and functions at arm’s length from the Government. It has substantial independence in making decisions related to national and international exhibitions, events and providing financial assistance to artists and art organizations through scholarships and grants.

Lalit Kala Akademi is an institution that has rendered service to the nation in the arts sphere long before the world woke up to the global impact of Indian art. It has established, preserved and documented a permanent collection of the highest order that reflects the vitality, complexity and unfolding patterns of modern and

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contemporary art in India. All through the year it presents exhibitions and educational programmes of unparalleled significance; sustains a library, art collection, archives, conservation laboratory, and supports scholars and publications of pre-eminent intellectual merit all over the country.

National School of Drama, New DelhiThe National School of Drama is one of the foremost theatre training institutions in the world and the only one of its kind in India. It was set up by the Sangeet Natak Akademi as one of its constituent units in 1959. In 1975, it became an independent entity and was registered as an autonomous organization under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, fully financed by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Training in the School is highly intensive and is based on a thorough, comprehensive, carefully planned syllabus which covers every aspect of theatre and in which theory is related to practice. As a part of their training, students are required to produce plays which are then performed before the public. The syllabus takes into account the methods of great theatre personalities who have shaped contemporary theatre in all its variety. The systematic study and practical performing experience of Sanskrit drama, modern Indian drama, traditional Indian theatre forms, Asian drama and western dramatic protocols give the students a solid grounding and a wide perspective in the art of theatre.

Sahitya Akademi, New DelhiSahitya Akademi, India’s National Academy of Letters is the central institution for literary dialogue, publication and promotion in the country and the only institution that undertakes literary activities in 24 Indian languages, including English. Over the 56 years of its dynamic existence, it has ceaselessly endeavored to promote good taste and healthy reading habits, to keep alive the intimate dialogue among the various linguistic and literary zones and groups through seminars, lectures, symposia, discussions, readings and performances, to increase the pace of mutual translations through workshops and individual assignments and to develop a serious literary culture through the publications of journals, monographs, individual creative works of every genre, anthologies, encyclopedias, dictionaries, bibliographies, who’s who of writers and histories of literature. It has so far brought out over 6000 books, the present pace of publication being one book every 19 hours. Every year the Akademi holds at least 50 seminars at regional, national and international levels along with the workshops and literary gatherings-about 300 in number per year, under various heads like Meet the Author, Samvad, Kavisandhi, Kathasandhi, Loka: The Many Voices, People and Books, Through My Window, Mulakat, Asmita, Antaral, Avishkar, NariChetna, YuvaSahiti, Bal Sahiti, Purvottari and Literary Forum meetings.

Utility of performing arts during the ancient and the medieval period. �

Appreciate the contribution of classical dances, folk music as well as folk dances in Indian culture and �Challenges faced by performing Arts

2. Globalization has not only affected the economy and the society but also it has emerged as a challenge for the performing arts in India. Discuss. (200 words)

APPRoACh

Brief overview of Globalization on performing art (40 words) 1. Explain the negative impact (60 words)2. Explain positive impact (60 words)3. Conclusion (40 words)4.

hINTS

Globalization has influenced performing arts in variety of ways providing protection to some, commercializing others and at the same time providing a threat of extinction to many.