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RAS question

The Vikramashila University was established by:

Correct answer: (B) Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty (8th century).

Vikramashila University was established by King Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty.

  1. (A)

    Ashoka

  2. (B)

    Dharmapala of the Pala dynasty (8th century)

  3. (C)

    Harsha

  4. (D)

    Kanishka

Explanation

Vikramashila is best tied to the Pala period because Bihar Tourism says the ancient university near Bhagalpur was famous as a centre of learning during the Pala dynasty and was established by King Dharmapala. Dharmapala ruled in 783-820 CE, Vikramashila was associated with Vajrayana and Tantric Buddhism, and it became one of the major Buddhist learning centres before its later destruction along with Nalanda by Bakhtiyar Khilji. The founding detail matters because the other options name rulers outside the Pala founder tradition given for this site.

Why the other options are wrong

  • (A) Ashoka is wrong because Vikramashila was established by King Dharmapala, not by Ashoka.
  • (C) Harsha is wrong because Vikramashila belongs to the Pala-dynasty context and Dharmapala is named as its founder.
  • (D) Kanishka is wrong because he is not connected with founding Vikramashila; the founding is attributed to Dharmapala.

Concept

This tests the history of Buddhist centres of learning under early medieval Indian dynasties. It recurs in RAS because monasteries, universities, and royal patronage are standard links between political history and cultural history.

Source

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