Traditional Indian Arts and Crafts

The bronze Nataraja icon is indeed a masterpiece of Chola art (9th-13th century AD). The Cholas excelled in bronze casting using the lost-wax technique, creating dynamic sculptures of Shiva as Nataraja (Lord of Dance). Gandhara art was Indo-Greek style, Gupta art was from a different period, and Mauryan art was much earlier.

The Ajanta cave paintings, created between approximately 2nd century BCE and 6th century CE, are masterpieces of ancient Indian art belonging to the Gupta Period (4th-6th century CE). The earliest caves (1-8) were painted during the Satavahana period, but the majority of the famous paintings in caves 9-12 and 17-29 were created during the Gupta era, considered the golden age of Indian art and culture. The paintings primarily depict Buddhist themes and Jataka tales.

The Mathura School of Art flourished from the 1st century BCE to 3rd century CE and was heavily influenced by the Gandhara School, which itself had Greco-Roman influences from Alexander's invasion. This influence is visible in the realistic human features, wavy hair, and drapery styles on Mathura sculptures of Buddha and Yakshas. The other schools listed developed independently or had different stylistic origins.

Sonal Mansingh is one of India's most renowned classical dancers, specializing in Odissi dance. She has received the Padma Bhushan and Sangeet Natak Akademi awards for her contributions to Indian classical dance, making 'Dance' the correct answer.

A copper plate inscription of Maharaja Subandhu, recording his donation for the repair of the vihara was found at the site of Cave 2. Though the date of the Bagh inscription is missing, the Badwani copper plate inscription is dated in the year (Gupta era) 167 (487).

Painted Greyware belonged to the later Vedic period (1000—600BC). Ajanta Paintings belonged to the Gupta period. Pahari School came into existence during the Mughal period.

The Preaching Buddha (preaching Buddha) from Sarnath and Standing Buddha statues are iconic Gupta period sculptures known for their refined elegance, spiritual expression, and technical mastery. The Sarnath Buddha, depicting Buddha's first sermon, exemplifies Gupta sculpture with its flowing robes, calm face, and detailed craftsmanship. Standing Buddha images from this period also display characteristic Gupta style elements. While Meditating and Sleeping Buddha images exist in Buddhist art, the Preaching and Standing Buddha sculptures are most celebrated as Gupta masterpieces.

Kalighat paintings from West Bengal traditionally use watercolour as the primary medium, applied on paper or cloth with bold, flat colors. This 19th-century folk art style originated as souvenirs for temple visitors and features Hindu deities, patuas (scroll paintings), and later secular themes. The other options (charcoal, oil paint, acrylic) are not traditional mediums for this indigenous Bengal art form.

Jamini Roy (1887-1972) was a renowned Indian painter who made his name in the field of painting. He was famous for his distinctive style that combined modernism with Indian folk art traditions, particularly the Kalighat pat style. His work featured bold lines, flat colors, and simplified forms depicting rural Bengali life and mythological themes. He was not associated with sculpture, music, or drama as his primary artistic medium.

Correct answer is (1). 

The Gandhara school of art (question says Gandharv) is known for its distinct iconography that differs from pure Greek or Roman styles despite showing Greek influence. The Indian iconographic elements make these Buddha sculptures uniquely Indian in their symbolic representation and styling.

Mughal paintings primarily depicted secular themes: court scenes, battles, hunting expeditions, portraits, and illustrations of manuscripts like the Akbarnama. Religious scenes were notably absent from mainstream Mughal art, which focused on celebrating imperial power, cultural life, and nature. This secular focus distinguished Mughal painting from earlier Indian painting traditions.

Chanhudaro in present-day Sindh, Pakistan, was the only Indus Valley city exclusively dedicated to craft production, with extensive evidence of bead-making workshops. Archaeologists have found bead-making tools, raw materials, and finished beads in large quantities. Kalibangan was known for fire altars, Ganeriwala remains largely unexcavated, and Surkotada was a smaller settlement.

Channapatna toy craft is an old and traditional practice.

The Gandhara school of art (1st-5th century CE) developed in present-day northwest Pakistan and eastern Afghanistan. Its sculptural style shows strong Hellenistic influence with realistic human features, wavy hair, and draped robes typical of Greek and Roman statues. This resulted from cultural contact with Indo-Greek kingdoms following Alexander's invasion.