Match the following Indian artists with their correct art forms: 1. Gauri Shankar Devilal 2. Hari Prasad Chaurasia 3. M. F. Husain 4. Zakir Hussain. Art forms: (a) Flute (b) Painting (c) Kathak (d) Tabla. Which option gives the correct matching?

Introduction / Context:
Matching questions like this one test knowledge of famous Indian artists and the specific art forms for which they are renowned. Recognising the correct association between a name and an art form is a basic but important part of cultural general knowledge. Here, we are asked to match classical and modern artists with dance, music, and painting, including well known personalities like Hari Prasad Chaurasia, M. F. Husain, and Zakir Hussain.

Given Data / Assumptions:
We are given four artists and four art forms:

• Artists:
• 1. Gauri Shankar Devilal
• 2. Hari Prasad Chaurasia
• 3. M. F. Husain
• 4. Zakir Hussain

• Art forms:
• a. Flute
• b. Painting
• c. Kathak
• d. Tabla

We must select the option that correctly pairs each artist with their art form from the given combinations.

Concept / Approach:
The pairings are straightforward for three of the four names. Pandit Hari Prasad Chaurasia is a world famous bansuri (flute) maestro. M. F. Husain is one of India’s most celebrated modern painters. Zakir Hussain is an internationally acclaimed tabla player. That leaves Gauri Shankar Devilal, who in the context of this question is to be matched with Kathak, a classical Indian dance form. Thus the correct mapping is: 1-c (Gauri Shankar Devilal – Kathak), 2-a (Hari Prasad Chaurasia – Flute), 3-b (M. F. Husain – Painting), 4-d (Zakir Hussain – Tabla). Option c) lists exactly this combination.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Match the easiest pair first: Hari Prasad Chaurasia is famous for playing the flute, so 2-a is correct. Step 2: Match M. F. Husain, who is widely known as a painter; therefore 3-b is correct. Step 3: Identify Zakir Hussain as a legendary tabla maestro, giving us 4-d. Step 4: The remaining artist, Gauri Shankar Devilal, must then be associated with the remaining art form, Kathak, yielding 1-c. Step 5: Look at all four options and find which one lists 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d; this is option c).

Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, focus on the well known figures. Any option that does not have 2-a (Chaurasia – flute) and 4-d (Zakir Hussain – tabla) can be rejected immediately. Reviewing the answer choices, only option c) has both 2-a and 4-d correctly placed together with 3-b, which matches the universally accepted association between M. F. Husain and painting. Once these three are fixed, the first pair 1-c automatically follows. This systematic elimination confirms that option c) is the only fully correct mapping.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a (1-a, 2-d, 3-b, 4-c): Places Chaurasia with tabla and Zakir Hussain with Kathak, both of which are incorrect.

Option b (1-b, 2-c, 3-a, 4-d): Suggests Chaurasia does Kathak and Husain plays flute, which is wrong, even though 4-d is correct.

Option d (1-c, 2-b, 3-a, 4-d): Gets Gauri Shankar Devilal and Zakir Hussain right but wrongly assigns painting to Chaurasia and flute to M. F. Husain.

Common Pitfalls:
Most candidates can easily match Chaurasia, Husain, and Zakir Hussain with their art forms, but may get confused by the less familiar name Gauri Shankar Devilal and start second guessing their correct pairings. Another pitfall is to look only at one or two apparently correct pairs and overlook mistakes in the others. The best strategy is to lock in the well known artists first and then check which option preserves those correct matches for all entries.

Final Answer:
The correct matching is 1-c, 2-a, 3-b, 4-d, which corresponds to option c).