Match the following options in List 1 correctly with those in List 2:

Choose the correct answer from the given options:

(A)- II, (B)- IV, (C)- I, (D)- III

The correct answer is Option 1 - (A)- II, (B)- IV, (C)- I, (D)- III

The correct match is:

Explanation:

Inscriptions engraved on the railings and pillars of stupas provide a record of contributions made to construct and adorn them. These contributions were diverse, including donations from kings like the Satavahanas, as well as from guilds, such as the ivory workers who funded a portion of a gateway at Sanchi.

Nineteenth-century Europeans were very interested in the stupa at Sanchi. In fact, the French sought Shahjehan Begum’s permission to take away the eastern gateway, which was the best preserved, to be displayed in a museum in France. For a while some Englishmen also wanted to do the same, but fortunately both the French and the English were satisfied with carefully prepared plaster-cast copies and the original remained at the site, part of the Bhopal state.

Diverging from the common viewpoint, an archaeologist by the name of H.H. Cole held a distinct stance. He expressed, "Allowing the country to be stripped of original ancient artworks appears to be a self-destructive and indefensible approach." According to him, museums should house plaster-cast replicas of sculptures, with the genuine artifacts remaining in their original discovery locations. Regrettably, Cole's efforts to convince the authorities of Amaravati's significance and the importance of in site preservation weren't successful. However, his plea was heeded in the case of Sanchi.

James Fergusson perceived Sanchi as a hub of tree and serpent worship.