Class IX Reading Comprehension

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.

The Indian miniature paintings have always piqued global interest. This time, Delhi’s National Museum has lent 101 such paintings from its collection to the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, for a month long exhibition. Called “Ram Katha”, the collection chronologically captures the story of the Ramayana.

The paintings done between the 17th and 19th century by artists from various schools of art in India, are themed on Lord Ram’s life. “The Ramayana, composed by Valmiki in Sanskrit is believed to be the first known narrative of Indian literature. The paintings based on Ram Katha come from north, central and the east of India,” says Vijay Kumar Mathur, the curator of the exhibition. It took him four months to curate the display from the museum’s collection of 500 odd miniature paintings depicting the Ramayana.

The exhibits represent a matured movement in miniature art wherein the spirit of Ramayana has been researched upon and visualized in colours. “While this will be a treat for Indian spectators in Australia, it will also be a special way to introduce Indian culture among the Australian citizens,” says Mathur. Starting on May 22, the exhibition will kick off the Festival of India in Australia. All major styles of pahari paintings (Basholi, Chamba, Kangra and Bilaspur) are on display, while Rajasthani Styles include Mewar, Bundi, Jaipur, Bikaner and Deogarh. There are representations from central Indian styles of Malwa, Orchha, Datia and Rahogarh, besides specimens of Mughal style from Bundelkhand, Deccani and Bijapur and classical folk styles of Kalighat. Most of these styles originated between the 15th and 19th century. Some of the noteworthy works include The Portrait of Ram, (Basholi style, Pahari, 1730); Ram breaks Shiva’s bow in the court of King Janaka (Provincial Mughal style, Orchha, Bundelkhand, early 17th century); Wedding of Ram and Sita (Mandi style, mid 18th century); Ram, Lakshman and the golden deer (Kalighat style, Bengal, late 19th century); and Hanuman with Dronagiri mountain (Rahogarh style, Central India, late 18th century).

The “Ram Katha” exhibition was first held at the National Museum in 2013. The same year it travelled to the Royal Museum of Art and History in Brussels, where it was on display for six months.

Based on your understanding of the passage, answer the questions given below.

1. Most of the styles being exhibited originated between ……………………………………………

a) 15^th and 19^th century

b) 17^th and 19^th century

c) 17^th and 20^th century

d) 18^th and 20^th century

2. The painting showing Ram breaking Shiva’s bow in Janaka’s court belongs to which style?

3. Rahogarh style from Central India can be seen in the painting showing …………………………………..

a) Wedding of Ram and Sita

b) Hanuman with Dronagiri Mountain

c) Golden deer

d) Ram breaks Shiva’s bow

4. The Indian miniature paintings were lent to ………………………….. Canberra.

a) Delhi’s National Museum

b) Royal Museum of Arts and History

c) National Gallery of Australia

d)  National Museum

5. There were a total of ……………………………. Miniature paintings in all depicting the Ramayana.

a) 101

b) 500

c) 700

d) 400

6. The Ram Katha exhibition was first held at the National Museum in …………………………………

7.  Which of the following is not a Rajasthani style?

a) Bundi

b) Deogarh

c) Kalighat

d) Mewar

8. Chamba is an example of …………………………… style of painting?

9. Find the word from the passage which is a synonym of small.

10. The word which means the same as ‘to show something in painting’ (paragraph 2) is

Answers

1. 17th and 19th century

2. Provincial Mughal style Orchha Bundelkhand

3. Hanuman with Dronagiri Mountain

4. National Gallery of Australia

5. 101

6. 2013

7. Kalighat

8. Pahari

9. Miniature

10. Depicting