Read the passage and answer the next five questions. Choose the most appropriate options from the options given:

As part of the great cultural renaissance generated during the post-independence period, there has occurred a most meaningful encounter with tradition in various fields of creative activity. The return to and discovery y of tradition was is inspired by a search for roots and a quest for identity. This was a part of the whole process of decolonization of our lifestyle, values, social institutions, creative forms and cultural modes. The modern Indian theatre, product of a colonial theatrical culture, felt the need to search for roots most intensely to match its violent dislocation from the traditional course. Directors like B.V. karanth, K.N. Panikar and Ratan Thiyam have had a most meaningful encounter with tradition and, with their work ork, have reversed rsed the the colonial course c of contemporary theatre and put it back on the track of the great Natyashastra tradition. It sounds paradoxical, but their theatre is both avant-garde in the context of conventional realistic theatre, and still helongs the Natyashastra theatrical tradition.

Decolonization is the process of

The correct answer is Option 1: Becoming independent from.

Let us carefully analyze both the word itself and the context provided in the passage to understand why this is the right choice.

Step 1: Break down the word "Decolonization"

The word decolonization is built from three parts:

De- (prefix) + Colonial (root) + -ization (suffix)

The prefix "de-" means removal of, reversal of, or undoing. For example: "de-frost" means to undo freezing; "de-centralize" means to undo centralization.

The root word "colonial" relates to colonialism — the system by which a foreign power controls and dominates a nation's culture, economy, and identity.

Therefore, "decolonization" literally means the process of reversing or undoing colonial influence — that is, becoming independent from that colonial hold.

Step 2: Verify using the passage

The passage explicitly uses the word "decolonization" in this sentence:

"This was a part of the whole process of decolonization of our lifestyle, values, social institutions, creative forms and cultural modes."

The passage describes how, after independence, artists and directors returned to their own cultural roots — the Natyashastra tradition — and reversed the colonial course of contemporary Indian theatre. The passage further states:

"Directors like B.V. Karanth, K.N. Panikar and Ratan Thiyam... have reversed the colonial course of contemporary theatre and put it back on the track of the great Natyashastra tradition."

This clearly shows that decolonization means moving away from and becoming independent from colonial influence — not relying on it, depending on it, or merely learning from it.

Step 3: Eliminate the other options

- "Becoming dependent on" — This is the opposite of what the passage describes. Colonization created dependence; decolonization removes it.
- "Relying on" — Again, this implies continued attachment to colonial culture, which contradicts the whole idea of the passage.
- "Learning from" — The passage talks about a return to one's own roots, not about learning from colonial culture. This option misses the essence of the concept.

Conclusion:

Decolonization, as used in the passage, refers to the process of shedding colonial influence and reclaiming one's own cultural identity. This is precisely what "Becoming independent from" conveys — making it the most accurate and appropriate answer.