Which one of the following statements about the Gupta period in Indian History is not correct?
Sanskrit language and literature, after centuries of evolution, reached what has been described as a level of classical excellence through royal patronage.
The status of women was redefined. They were entitled to formal education and hence there were women teachers, philosophers and doctors. Early marriage was prohibited by law and they were given the right to property.
Decentralization of administrative authority was impacted by increased grants of land and villages with fiscal and administrative immunities to priests and temples.
Land grants paved the way for feudal developments and emergence of serfdom in India, resulting in the depression of the peasantry.
Answer is Wrong!
Answer is Right!
This question was previously asked in
UPSC CDS-2 – 2017
The correct answer is B) The status of women was redefined. They were entitled to formal education and hence there were women teachers, philosophers and doctors. Early marriage was prohibited by law and they were given the right to property.
– Statement A is correct. The Gupta period is renowned for its significant advancements in Sanskrit language and literature, often referred to as a ‘classical age’. Works by Kalidasa, Vishakhadatta, Bharavi, etc., flourished under royal patronage.
– Statement B is incorrect. While the Gupta period saw achievements in various fields, the general status of women declined compared to earlier periods. Practices like early marriage and Sati became more prevalent. Women’s access to formal education was limited, and their rights to property were generally restricted, primarily limited to ‘Stridhana’ (gifts received by a woman at the time of her marriage). There is no evidence of widespread women teachers, philosophers, or doctors, nor prohibition of early marriage by law during this time.
– Statement C is correct. The practice of granting land (Brahmadeya, Devadana) to Brahmins, temples, and monasteries, often with administrative and fiscal immunities, became widespread during the Gupta period. This led to the rise of intermediaries and contributed to decentralization of administration.
– Statement D is correct. The land grant system, by creating powerful intermediaries and tying peasants to the land under their authority, is seen as laying the groundwork for feudalistic tendencies and the emergence of serfdom in India, adversely affecting the condition of the peasantry.