With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with

UPSC Prelims 2023 Question:

With reference to the Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot were associated with:

a) archaeological excavations

b) establishment of English Press in Colonial India

c) establishment of churches in Princely States

d) construction of railways in Colonial India

Correct Answer: Option a) archaeological excavations

Learn more about Indian History, Alexander Rea, A. H. Longhurst, Robert Sewell, James Burgess and Walter Elliot in the given explanation below.

Explanation:

• The Buddhist architecture in Andhra Pradesh is represented by the rock-cut caves and brick and stone built stupas, chaityas, viharas and silamandpas. The rock-cut caves are seen at Guntupalli, Kapavaram, Erravaram, Gopalpatnam etc.
• A.H. Longhurst, Walter Elliot, Alexander Rea, James. Burgess, Robert Sewell and many others conducted systematic and careful excavations at Bhattiprolu, Ghantasala, Amaravati etc. and exposed relic caskets which created much curiosity among Indian scholars about various aspects of these valuable reliquaries.

Archeologists and Historians

A.H. Longhurst:

• Albert Henry Longhurst (1876-1955) was a British archaeologist and art historian who worked in India and Ceylon. He was the brother-in-law of Sir John Marshall, the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India (1902-1928).
• Longhurst began his career with the Archaeological Survey of India in 1904. He was appointed Superintendent of the Southern Circle in 1913. In this role, he oversaw archaeological excavations and conservation work at a number of important sites, including Hampi, Vijayanagara, and Nagarjunakonda.

Robert Swell:

• Robert Sewell (1845-1925) was a British civil servant and historian who worked in India. He is best known for his work on the history of the Vijayanagara Empire, a powerful South Indian empire that existed from the 14th to the 16th centuries.
• Sewell was born in England in 1845. He joined the Indian Civil Service in 1864 and was posted to Madras. He served in a variety of administrative roles in the Madras Presidency, including as Collector of Anantapur and Kurnool districts.

James Burgess:

• James Burgess (1832-1916) was a British archaeologist who worked in India. He is considered to be one of the founders of Indian archaeology. He was born in Kirkmahoe, Scotland, in 1832. He studied at the University of Glasgow and the University of Edinburgh. In 1856, he went to India as an educationalist. He worked in Calcutta and Bombay. In 1868, he became the Secretary of the Bombay Geographical Society.
• In 1873, Burgess was appointed the Head of the Archaeological Survey, Western India. In 1881, he was appointed the Head of the Archaeological Survey, Southern India. In 1886, he was appointed the Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India. He served in this role until 1889.

Walter Elliot:

• Sir Walter Elliot (1803-1887) was a British civil servant and naturalist who worked in India. He was also an eminent orientalist, linguist, archaeologist, and ethnologist. He is best known for his work on the languages and cultures of South India.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

Subject: History | Miscellaneous (hist)

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