Match the following pairs of ancient personalities and events:
Column A | Column B
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Ashoka | A. Kalinga
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Akbar | B. Din-i-Ilahi
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Shivaji | C. Maratha Empire
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Chandragupta Maurya | D. Megasthenes
1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d
1-b, 2-a, 3-d, 4-c
1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b
1-d, 2-c, 3-b, 4-a
Answer and explanation
The correct answer is A: 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d.
1–A: Ashoka is renowned for the conquest of Kalinga (c. 261 BCE), after which he embraced Buddhism and promoted Dhamma.
2–B: Akbar founded Din-i-Ilahi, a syncretic movement drawing from Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity to foster unity.
3–C: Shivaji Bhonsle founded the Maratha Empire and challenged Mughal authority in the Deccan through guerrilla warfare.
4–D: Megasthenes visited Chandragupta Maurya's court at Pataliputra and recorded his observations in Indica.