Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and other as Reason (R): **Assertion (A):** We have much more information about Cholas than their predecessors. **Reason (R):** The Chola rulers adopted the practice of having inscriptions written on the walls of temples giving a historical narrative of their victories. Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2020
A. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is true but (R) is false.
D. (A) is false but (R) is true.
Answer: Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Option a is the correct answer.
Assertion (A) is correct: Chola dynasty, which ruled over southern India and Sri Lanka from the 9th to the 13th century CE, left behind a rich and detailed record of
their history and culture. The Cholas produced a large number of inscriptions, copper plates, coins, sculptures, paintings, temples, and monuments, which provide valuable information about their political, social, economic, religious, and artistic aspects. Reason is correct and explains the Assertion: Chola rulers were fond of recording their achievements and accomplishments in inscriptions, which were engraved on stone or metal and fixed on the walls or pillars of temples. The inscriptions were written in Tamil or Sanskrit languages, and used various scripts, such as Tamil, Grantha, Nagari, etc. The inscriptions gave a historical narrative of the Chola kings' victories over their enemies, their conquests and annexations of new territories, their donations and endowments to temples and religious institutions, their titles and epithets, their genealogy and chronology, etc.