UPSC Essentials | Mains answer practice — GS 1 : Questions on major tabla gharanas and earthquake in Himalayan region (Week 85) | UPSC Current Affairs News

QUESTION 2

Discuss the history and significance of the six major tabla gharanas in Hindustani classical music. Highlight the distinct traits and contributions of each gharana to the art of tabla playing.

General points on the structure of the answers

Introduction

— The introduction of the answer is essential and should be restricted to 3-5 lines. Remember, a one-liner is not a standard introduction.

— It may consist of basic information by giving some definitions from the trusted source and authentic facts.

Body

— It is the central part of the answer and one should understand the demand of the question to provide rich content.

— The answer must be preferably written as a mix of points and short paragraphs rather than using long paragraphs or just points.

— Using facts from authentic government sources makes your answer more comprehensive. Analysis is important based on the demand of the question, but do not over analyse.

QUESTION 1: Discuss the geological reasons contributing to the Himalayan region’s high seismic activity and examine the effects of such seismic shocks on the local environment and human settlements.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— An earthquake is a phenomena that strikes unexpectedly and causes tremendous shaking of the ground and everything on it. It comes from the release of accumulated stress from moving lithospheric or crustal plates.

— The Earth’s whole outermost surface (the crust and upper mantle) is made up of 15 main and minor plates. Earthquakes are caused by movement along faults, which are fractures between tectonic plates.

— Plates move due to processes occurring deep beneath the Earth’s surface. For starters, as one descends, temperature and pressure rise, causing convection currents of different intensity to circulate throughout the mantle.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

Reasons contributing to the Himalayan region’s high seismic activity

— The Himalayan mountain range began forming around 40 to 50 million years ago when the Eurasian and Indian plates first began pushing into each other. As both plates were of a comparable density, their site of impact resulted in the elevating of land.

— The Eurasian plate gradually sank beneath the Indian plate as a result of its ongoing expansion. This technique continues to this day. The USGS states: “Seismicity in the Himalaya dominantly results from the continental collision of the India and Eurasia plates, which are converging at a relative rate of 40-50 mm/yr.”

— Seismologist Sankar Kumar Nath previously told The Indian Express, “This region has a unique tectonic formation.” While the Indian plate is subducted beneath the Himalayas, as is the case across the Himalayan range, the Eurasian plate is subducted beneath the Pamir Mountains. There are several additional faultlines. “This is the convergence point for several seismic forces.”

Effects of seismic shocks on the local environment and human settlements

— The western Himalayas are among the world’s most dangerous seismic zones. Scientists have long claimed that the broader region stretches 2,500 km from the Hindu Kush to Arunachal Pradesh. A large amount of energy is stored along faultlines as a result of the continual collision of tectonic plates, and it can only be released in the form of a massive earthquake.

— Earthquakes cause ground shaking, surface faulting, ground failure, and, less commonly, tsunamis.

— An earthquake in a densely populated area can result in multiple casualties, injuries, and substantial property damage.

— The rise in earthquake risk is the result of an increase in developmental activity fuelled by urbanisation, economic development, and India’s economic globalisation. The increased usage of high-tech equipment and tools in the manufacturing and service industries has rendered them more vulnerable to interruption caused by very mild ground shaking.

Conclusion:

— A 2017 study (‘Implications for elastic energy storage in the Himalaya from the Gorkha 2015 earthquake and other incomplete ruptures of the Main Himalayan Thrust’) published in Quaternary International found that only two Himalayan earthquakes in the past 500 years have ruptured to the surface.

(Source: Tibet earthquake leaves 95 dead: Why is the Himalayan zone seismically active?, ndma.gov.in)

Points to Ponder

What is the difference between P waves and S waves?

Recent earthquakes

Related Previous Year Questions

Discuss about the vulnerability of India to earthquake related hazards. Give examples including the salient features of major disasters caused by earthquakes in different parts of India during the last three decades. (2021)

The frequency of earthquakes appears to have increased in the Indian subcontinent. However, India’s preparedness for mitigating their impact has significant gaps. Discuss various aspects. (2015)

QUESTION 2: Discuss the history and significance of the six major tabla gharanas in Hindustani classical music. Highlight the distinct traits and contributions of each gharana to the art of tabla playing.

Note: This is not a model answer. It only provides you with thought process which you may incorporate into the answers.

Introduction:

— Indian Classical Music emerged in the Guru-Shishya Parampara (Teacher-Student Tradition), with the art form and knowledge passed down through generations in a tradition in which students would live at the teacher’s home for tutelage. As a result, some geographical places became focal points for their own musical style and interpretation, becoming known as “Gharanas”.

— The word tabla is derived from the Arabic word ‘tabl’, which signifies drum. Hussain traced the tabla’s origins back to the evolution of the dhrupad and khayal traditions.

— Despite its association with Amir Khusrau (who was patronised by Sultan Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) of Delhi), the tabla is not mentioned in the Ain-i-Akbari, Akbar’s official administrative record written by his minister Abul Fazl at the end of the 16th century.

Body:

You may incorporate some of the following points in your answer:

— Tabla gharanas differ from vocal and other instrumental gharanas in that they are based on three basic principles: technique, compositional style (language/construction/phraseology of the tabla syllable in diverse compositions), and the particular philosophy of each school’s great masters.

— Six tabla gharanas are named after the places where they originated: Punjab, Purab (also known as the Banaras gharana), Delhi, Ajrara, Lucknow, and Farrukhabad.

According to the website of indianclassicalmusic;

— Delhi Gharana: It is the oldest and first gharana of tabla. Ustad Siddhar Khan Dhadi is credited with founding it. Dhadi is a sect that was primarily associated with artists. Delhi Gharana is also known as Kinaar baaj or Do ungaliyon ka baaj (using two fingers on the syahi portion).

— Benaras Gharana: Tabla musicians in this gharana do both Khulla baaj (influenced by pakhawaj) and Bandh baaj. It was founded by Pandit Ram Sahay ji of Benaras, who studied tabla playing under Ustad Modu Khan of Lucknow Gharana.

— Punjab Gharana: This gharana was founded by Lala Bhavani Das, a Pakhawaj performer. A component of this Gharana is also reported to be influenced by Jodi, which is tabla played with Pakhawaj sound and Pakhawaj Puris (deep-sounding tabla skin heads).

— Ajrada Gharana: This Gharana is usually thought to be an offshoot of the Delhi Gharana because its founding brothers, Ustad Kallu Khan and Miru Khan, were Sitaab Khan’s followers. This gharana’s abla players took the opportunity of increasing speed by using their last two fingers (ring and little finger).

— Farrukhabad Gharana: Ustad Haji Vilayat Ali Khan founded this gharana between 1700 and 1750 A.D., after years of instruction with Ustad Bakshu Khan of the Lucknow Gharana. It includes bols from various instruments such as the nakkara and the dhol. This gharana places equal focus on practically every composition.

— Lucknow Gharana: Ustad Bakshu Khan and Modu Khan, nephews of Ustad Sidhar Khan of Delhi, formed the gharana after being invited by Lucknow’s ruler, Nawab Asafuddoullah, to relocate from Delhi. In contrast to the Delhi Gharana, which focusses on the Kinaar or edge.

Conclusion:

— “Historic developments in the tabla idiom took place during the reign of Emperor Muhammad Shah of Delhi (1719-1748), whose court was also host to the launch of the sitar, and the maturation of khayal vocalism.”

(Source: Story of the evolution of the tabla and its various gharanas by Suanshu Khurana, http://www.indianclassicalmusic.com)

Points to Ponder

What are the characteristics of these tabla gharana?

Related Previous Year Questions

Evaluate the nature of Bhakti Literature and its contribution to Indian culture. (2021)

Indian philosophy and tradition played a significant role in conceiving and shaping the monuments and their art in India. Discuss. (2020)

Previous Mains Answer Practice

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 83)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 1 (Week 84)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 84)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 2 (Week 85)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 84)

UPSC Essentials: Mains answer practice — GS 3 (Week 85)

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