Q8 · UPSC Prelims 2019 · Set A · History (Ancient, Medieval, Modern)

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In which of the following relief sculpture inscriptions is 'Ranyo Ashoka' (King Ashoka) mentioned along with the stone portrait of Ashoka?

A Kanganahalli
B Sanchi
C Shahbazgarhi
D Sohgaura

Correct answer: (a) Kanganahalli

Explanation

  1. A

    Kanganahalli

    (a) Kanganahalli. At Kanaganahalli (Sannati, Kalaburagi, Karnataka) a limestone portrait of a king is labelled ‘Ranyo Ashoka’ — King Ashoka — on a sculpted slab from the Mahastupa. That inscribed portrait is the official key.

  2. B

    Sanchi

    (b) Sanchi. Sanchi has Ashokan pillars and stupas but not this labelled stone portrait reading Ranyo Ashoka, so it is not the key.

  3. C

    Shahbazgarhi

    (c) Shahbazgarhi. This is a major set of Ashokan Major Rock Edicts in Kharoshthi in present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, without that named portrait, so it is not the key.

  4. D

    Sohgaura

    (d) Sohgaura. A Mauryan storehouse plaque, not an Ashoka portrait inscription, so it is not the key.

Summary. Official key is (a) Kanganahalli. The Sannati–Kanaganahalli stupa yielded a labelled royal portrait ‘Ranyo Ashoka’, a rare named image of the emperor. Sanchi and Shahbazgarhi are Ashokan in other ways; Sohgaura is unrelated to that portrait. Honour the stored letter (a).