SSC
Bagh paintings (the cave paintings of Bagh) are found in which state?
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Answer: Option A — Madhya Pradesh
Detailed Solution
The Bagh caves are a group of nine Buddhist rock-cut caves in Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh, on the bank of the Baghani river, a tributary of the Narmada, in the Vindhya hills. They date from about the 4th-6th century CE, in the late Gupta period.
The Bagh caves are best known for their wall paintings (murals), which are similar in style to the paintings at Ajanta. Features:
They were painted using the tempera technique on a plaster of mud and lime.
The paintings show scenes of daily life, such as processions of elephants and horses, dancing and music, as well as Buddhist themes.
The most famous panel shows a group of women dancing and playing music in a circle (a scene similar to the "Hallisaka" dance).
The figures are more earthly and lively than the religious paintings of Ajanta, and the style is bold and graceful.
Most of the paintings have been badly damaged by water and time. Many surviving fragments were removed and are kept in the Gwalior museum and at the site. The caves are protected by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The name "Bagh" is also linked to a famous textile craft of the same area: Bagh print, a hand block-printing technique practised by the Khatri community in Bagh village, using natural dyes and red and black colours. Bagh print received a GI tag in 2008. So "Bagh" can refer to both the cave paintings and the block prints of Madhya Pradesh.
Other major sites of ancient Indian painting include Ajanta (Maharashtra), Badami (Karnataka), Sittanavasal (Tamil Nadu) and Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), which has prehistoric rock paintings.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Maharashtra has the Ajanta paintings.
- ✗Karnataka has the Badami cave paintings.
- ✗Odisha has Pattachitra and Saura paintings.
Quick tip
Remember: Bagh caves = Dhar district, Madhya Pradesh, Gupta-period Buddhist murals like Ajanta; Bagh print = block printing by Khatris (GI 2008).
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Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Paintings, Crafts, Dress & Tribes, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India's traditional painting styles (such as Madhubani, Warli, Pattachitra, Kalamkari, Gond and Tanjore), handicrafts and textiles, traditional dresses, and the major tribes of each state and their customs. It also includes Geographical Indication (GI) tags given to crafts and products. Questions usually ask which state a painting or craft belongs to, which tribe lives in a region, or what a traditional dress is called. Warli belongs to Maharashtra, Madhubani to Bihar, Pattachitra to Odisha and West Bengal, and Gond art to Madhya Pradesh. Grouping tribes by state, and noting the largest tribe of key states (such as the Bhils and the Santhals), helps with elimination. Practise the paintings, crafts and tribes questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.