In what context does ‘Panahi’ and ‘Upanah’ mention in the medieval Indian History?
- (a)Cloth
- (b)Jewellery
- (c)Accommodation
- (d)Shoes
Correct — D, shoes (footwear). 'Upanah' (from Sanskrit upanah) and 'Panahi' are terms for footwear — shoes or sandals — referred to in accounts of dress and crafts in medieval India.
- (a)Cloth — Textiles/cloth had their own vocabulary; Upanah and Panahi denote footwear, not cloth.
- (b)Jewellery — Ornaments are a different category of material culture; these terms are not names of jewellery.
- (c)Accommodation — The words do not refer to lodging or shelter; they name footwear.
Medieval sources on everyday material culture record specialised terms for dress, crafts and articles of use. 'Upanah/Panahi' fall in the footwear category, reflecting the leatherwork and shoemaking crafts of the period.
Terminology questions reward mapping an unfamiliar word to the right category. Upanah is a long-standing Sanskrit-derived word for a shoe/sandal, which fixes the answer as footwear.
- Sanskrit 'upanah' = shoe / sandal; 'Panahi' likewise denotes footwear.
- The terms belong to descriptions of dress and material culture.
- Footwear-making was part of the leather crafts of medieval India.
- Guessing 'cloth' because the word sounds textile-like
- Mapping the term to shelter ('panah' = refuge) rather than footwear
'In what context is term X used' — match the word to the correct category of material culture.
No directly related past PYQ was found.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The Sanskrit word 'upanah' refers to which article of everyday use?
- (a)A shoe or sandal
- (b)An upper garment
- (c)A cooking vessel
- (d)A head ornament
Answer(a) A shoe or sandal (footwear).
- practice — not a real PYQ
Terms such as Upanah and Panahi in medieval sources belong to which craft?
- (a)Leather / footwear making
- (b)Weaving
- (c)Metal-casting
- (d)Pottery
Answer(a) Leather / footwear making.