• Both Bana and Hiuen Tsang depict social life during Harsha’s reign. The society was divided into four classes: Brahmin, Kshatriya, Vysya, and Sudra. The Brahmins were the most favored members of society, and the kings granted them land .
• The ruling class was the Kshatriyas. The Vysyas were primarily merchants. Hiuen Tsang indicates that the Sudras were farmers. There were numerous subcastes. Women’s positions were not satisfactory. The system of dowry had also become common. The practice of sati was also prevalent. Women wore purdah. Hieun Tsang, however, added that the purdah system was not followed among the higher class. . People were honest and not deceitful or treacherous in their conduct. The butchers, fishermen, dancers and sweepers were asked to stay outside the city. Even though the caste system was rigid, there was no social conflict among the various sections of the society.

Nalanda University

• The term Nalanda means “giver of knowledge”. It was founded by Kumaragupta I during the Gupta period. It was patronised by his successors and later by Harsha. The professors of the University were called panditas. Some of its renowned professors were Dingnaga, Dharmapala, Sthiramati and Silabadhra. Dharmapala was a native of Kanchipuram and he became the head of the Nalanda University.

• Despite being a Mahayana University, it also taught many religious disciplines such as the Vedas, Hinayana ideology, Sankhya, and Yoga philosophies. In addition, the curriculum included general disciplines like , logic, language, astronomy, medicine, and art.It drew students not just from diverse parts of India, but also from other nations in the east.

Q. Consider the following statements:

1. The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
2. The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.

Which of the statements given above is/ are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: (d)

Q. Emperor Harsha’s southward march was stopped on the Narmada river by:

(a) Pulakesin- 1

(b) Pulakesin- 2

(c) Vikramaditya- 1

(d) Vikramaditya- 2

Answer: (b)