History of Academic Libraries in India - EPG

Where is Taxila University, the oldest university in the world, located?

a) Eastern India 

b) Central India 

c) North-west India (now in Pakistan) 

d) South India

Which subjects were included in Taxila University's excellent library? 

a) Physics, Chemistry, and Biology 

b) Buddhism 

c) Political Science, Literature, Medicine, Hinduism and Philosophy 

d) Mathematics and Astronomy

What ancient civilization was the city of Gandhara associated with? 

a) Mesopotamian Civilization 

b) Egyptian Civilization 

c) Indus Valley Civilization 

d) Harappan Civilization

What is the modern-day location of the ancient city of Gandhara? 

a) India 

b) Bangladesh 

c) Pakistan 

d) Afghanistan

Who provided detailed accounts of Nalanda University during the 6th and 7th centuries A.D.? 

a) I-tsing 

b) Brahmanical Scholars 

c) Hiuen-tsang 

d) Sanskrit Grammar Experts 

What was the primary emphasis of learning at Nalanda University? 

a) Brahmanical learning 

b) Secular knowledge 

c) Mahayana learning (the Great Vehicle)

d) Vedas and other religious books 

What was the geographical location of Nalanda University in relation to Patna? 

a) North-east 

b) South-east 

c) North-west 

d) South-west 

Where was the Nalanda University Library situated?

   a) Dharmaganja

   b) Ratnasagara

   c) Ratnodadhi

   d) Ratnaranjaka

What were the names of the three huge buildings that comprised the Dharmaganja?

   a) Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi, Ratnaranjaka

   b) Dharmaganja, Ratnasagara, Ratnodadhi

   c) Ratnodadhi, Ratnaranjaka, Dharmaganja

   d) Ratnaranjaka, Ratnasagara, Dharmaganja

Which building among the three was a nine-storied building?

   a) Ratnasagara

   b) Ratnodadhi

   c) Ratnaranjaka

   d) Dharmaganja

What kind of works were housed in the nine-storied building?

   a) Philosophical treatises

   b) Rare artifacts

   c) Manuscripts and rare sacred works

   d) Historical documents

Explanation:  Manuscripts and rare sacred works like Prajnaparamita Sutra, etc.

What does "Dharmaganja" mean in English?

   a) Sacred Garden

   b) Piety Mart

   c) Treasure Trove

   d) Knowledge Haven

 

Which of the following works was NOT housed in the Ratnasagara building?

   a) Prajnaparamita Sutra

   b) Ratnodadhi Manuscript

   c) Manuscripts of ancient Indian texts

   d) Rare sacred works

1. What subjects were covered in the library at Nalanda?

a) Mathematics and Geography

b) Philosophy and Religion

c) Military Strategy and Warfare

d) Economics and Politics

2. Which philosophy was specialized in by the University of Nalanda?

a) Vedanta

b) Samkhya

c) Mahayana

d) Dharmasastras

3. Until what century did the library of Nalanda flourish?

a) 10th century A.D.

b) 12th century A.D.

c) 15th century A.D.

d) 17th century A.D.

4. Who sacked the University of Nalanda and its library, causing its decline?

a) Alexander the Great

b) Genghis Khan

c) Bakhtiyar Khalji

d) Ashoka the Great

Explanation: library flourished down to the 12th century A.D. until Bakhtiyar Khalji sacked it in 1197-1203 A.D. and set fire to the establishment of Nalanda.

LIBRARIES IN MODERN INDIA (1757-1947)
During the British rule in India, a number of academic institutions were established by the East India Company, and by the Christian missionaries. Jonathan Duncan, a British agent at the time, built the Benaras Sanskrit College in 1792 after the founding of the Calcutta College in 1781.

The Calcutta Fort William College was founded in 1800.

The Charter Act of 1813, the founding of Fort William and Serampore Colleges, the establishment of Calcutta, Madras, and Bombay universities and their libraries, the Hunter, Raleigh, and Calcutta University Commissions library training programs, and the creation of the Inter University Board are significant turning points, particularly in the context of academic libraries.