HOTS: The Rise of the Marathas | Social Studies (SST) Class 8 PDF Download

Q1. Shivaji’s decision to build a strong navy was unique in his time. Which of the following had the broader impact on the Maratha power?
(a) It allowed them to dominate inland trade routes
(b) It helped them resist European naval dominance on the west coast
(c) It strengthened their ties with the Delhi Sultanate
(d) It enabled them to abandon guerrilla warfare  

Ans: (b) It helped them resist European naval dominance on the west coast
Shivaji built a navy to secure the west coast, where the Mughals and Bijapur had weak or no navies. Under Kanhoji Angre, the Maratha navy challenged European trade control by demanding passes (cartaz), frustrating powers like the Portuguese and English, thus resisting their naval dominance.

Q2. Which of the following best reflects how the Bhakti movement contributed to the rise of Maratha power?
(a) It provided military strategies against the Mughals
(b) It promoted cultural unity through accessible devotional literature
(c) It encouraged the Marathas to build forts for defense
(d) It helped Shivaji establish trade relations with Europe  

Ans: (b) It promoted cultural unity through accessible devotional literature
The Bhakti movement, through saints like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram, translated holy texts into Marathi, fostering cultural unity. This provided a strong cultural foundation, enabling the Marathas to unite politically under Shivaji’s leadership.

Q3. Why was Shivaji’s coronation at Raigad Fort in 1674 symbolically important?
(a) It marked the end of Mughal power in the Deccan
(b) It legitimised Maratha rule with traditional Hindu rituals
(c) It established a democratic council for administration
(d) It created an alliance between the Marathas and the Dutch  

Ans: (b) It legitimised Maratha rule with traditional Hindu rituals
Shivaji’s 1674 coronation at Raigad Fort with Vedic rites, starting the Rajyabhisheka Shaka era. This event symbolized the establishment of a sovereign Maratha state rooted in Hindu traditions, legitimizing his rule as Chhatrapati.

Q4. If you were a Maratha chief during Tarabai’s leadership, which strategy would best reflect her vision?
(a) Staying defensive within forts
(b) Expanding aggressively into northern Mughal territories
(c) Negotiating peace and reducing warfare
(d) Seeking European alliances over Indian ones 

Ans: (b) Expanding aggressively into northern Mughal territories
Tarabai’s bold leadership after Rajaram’s death, as she launched campaigns into Mughal territories, exploiting Aurangzeb’s focus on the Deccan. Her vision involved aggressive expansion to maintain and grow Maratha power.

Q5. Shivaji’s raid on Surat spared religious places and kind individuals like Mohandas Parekh. What does this suggest about his leadership?
(a) He valued wealth over religion
(b) He sought to gain legitimacy and moral authority
(c) He was dependent on the Mughals for cultural guidance
(d) He discouraged trade with wealthy ports 

Ans: (b) He sought to gain legitimacy and moral authority
Shivaji looted Surat but spared religious places and kind individuals like Mohandas Parekh, earning fame in newspapers like the London Gazette. This selective approach suggests he aimed to project moral authority and gain legitimacy as a just ruler, not just a plunderer.

Q6. How did the cultural contributions of saints like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram indirectly prepare the ground for Maratha political unity under Shivaji?  
Ans: The cultural contributions of Bhakti saints like Dnyaneshwar and Tukaram fostered Maratha unity by creating a shared cultural identity. The saints translated sacred texts like the Upanishads and Bhagavad Gita into Marathi, making them accessible to common people. Their devotional poetry and songs in Marathi, spread from the 7th to 17th centuries, emphasized devotion and social awareness, uniting diverse communities. This cultural cohesion, as noted, provided a strong foundation for Shivaji’s vision of Swarajya, enabling him to rally Marathas politically against Mughal and Sultanate rule by leveraging a shared sense of identity and purpose.

Q7. “Forts are the foundation of a strong state.” — Evaluate this statement in the context of Maratha administration and military strategy.  
Ans: The statement, attributed to Shivaji’s minister Ramachandrapant Amatya in the Adnyapatra, is highly applicable to Maratha success. Forts were central to Maratha military strategy, as noted, controlling key routes and serving as bases for guerrilla warfare. Shivaji captured forts like Pratapgad to defeat enemies like Afzal Khan, and forts enabled the Marathas to withstand Mughal assaults under Aurangzeb, unlike Bijapur and Golconda. Administratively, forts were governance hubs, supporting local administration and tax collection (e.g., chauth). However, reliance on forts limited mobility in open battles, as seen in the defeat at Panipat (1761). Overall, forts were foundational to Maratha resilience, enabling defense and strategic control, though not sufficient alone for empire-wide dominance.

Q8. Compare Shivaji’s guerrilla warfare tactics to modern-day military strategies like “surgical strikes.” What similarities and differences can you identify?  
Ans: Similarities:  

• Precision and Speed: Shivaji’s guerrilla tactics are described like the night raid on Shaista Khan’s camp, as quick, targeted attacks with small groups, similar to modern surgical strikes that aim for precise, high-impact operations with minimal collateral damage.  
• Surprise Element: Both rely on surprise, as seen in Shivaji’s Pratapgad ambush of Afzal Khan, akin to surgical strikes using stealth to catch enemies off-guard.  
• Limited Resources: Shivaji used small, mobile units to defeat larger armies, much like surgical strikes leverage specialized teams for efficiency.

Differences:  

• Technology: Shivaji’s tactics used swords, lances, and wāgh nakh, while surgical strikes employ advanced technology like drones and precision-guided munitions.  
• Scale and Scope: Guerrilla warfare was a sustained campaign across terrains, like forests and forts, while surgical strikes are typically one-off operations targeting specific sites.  
• Objective: Shivaji aimed for territorial control and Swarajya, whereas surgical strikes often focus on deterrence or retaliation without territorial goals.

Q9. Imagine you are a Mughal official at Aurangzeb’s court. How would you evaluate Shivaji’s daring escape from Agra? Would you view it as a failure of Mughal power or the brilliance of Maratha planning? Justify.  
Ans: As a Mughal official, I would view Shivaji’s escape from Agra as a brilliance of Maratha planning, though it exposes a lapse in Mughal vigilance. Shivaji, humiliated at Aurangzeb’s court, escaped by hiding in gift baskets, showcasing his cunning and strategic foresight. This daring act required meticulous planning, exploiting Mughal trust in routine gift exchanges. While it highlights a failure in our security—failing to monitor a known rebel closely—it primarily underscores Shivaji’s resourcefulness, as his escape strengthened Maratha morale and resistance. His ability to outwit our forces, despite our superior resources, demands respect and calls for tighter surveillance in future dealings with such a crafty foe.

Q10. Discuss how Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar redefined the role of women in leadership and governance during the Maratha period.  

Ans: Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar reshaped women’s roles in Maratha leadership:  

• Tarabai: She is a bold warrior queen who, after Rajaram’s death, led Maratha campaigns against Mughals, exploiting Aurangzeb’s Deccan focus to conquer northern territories. Her strategic leadership in warfare and expansion challenged traditional gender roles, proving women could lead militarily and politically during crises, sustaining Maratha power.  
• Ahilyabai Holkar: Governing the Holkar dynasty for three decades, Ahilyabai ruled with wisdom and compassion, as noted. She rebuilt temples like Kashi Vishwanath, supported public welfare, and revived Maheshwar’s handloom tradition. Her administrative skill and cultural patronage showed women could excel in governance and cultural leadership, leaving a lasting legacy.
  Conclusion: Both women defied norms, with Tarabai leading militarily and Ahilyabai excelling in administration and culture, expanding the scope of women’s leadership in the Maratha Empire.

Q11. The Marathas challenged European trade control by demanding passes (cartaz) from them. In what way did this policy reverse traditional power dynamics?  
Ans: The Maratha policy of demanding cartaz from Europeans, led by Kanhoji Angre, reversed traditional power dynamics by shifting control from European naval powers to an Indian state. Europeans typically forced Indian ships to buy trade passes, asserting dominance over maritime routes. By demanding passes from Europeans, the Marathas challenged this hierarchy, compelling powers like the Portuguese and English to negotiate with an Indian navy. This frustrated Europeans, earning Angre the “pirate” label, and asserted Maratha sovereignty over the west coast, reversing the dynamic where Indian powers were subordinate to European trade control.

Q12. Create a comparative chart of Shivaji’s administration and that of the Mughals. In what ways did Shivaji innovate while still borrowing elements from older systems?  
Ans:  

Innovations by Shivaji:  

• Navy Creation: Unlike the Mughals, Shivaji built a navy to secure the west coast, challenging European dominance, a unique innovation.  
• Non-Hereditary Posts: Removing hereditary positions and paying salaries prevented power consolidation, unlike Mughal reliance on hereditary mansabdars.  
• Cultural Revival: His use of Sanskrit seals and Marathi texts broke from Mughal Persian dominance, fostering local identity.
  Borrowed Elements:  
• Taxation Model: Chauth and Sardeshmukhi mirrored Mughal revenue systems but were adapted to encourage alliances.  
• Council Structure: The Ashta Pradhana Mandala was inspired by Mughal ministerial councils but tailored for centralized control.
  Conclusion: Shivaji innovated with a navy, non-hereditary governance, and cultural revival, while adapting Mughal taxation and council structures to suit his vision of Swarajya.

Q13. The Marathas are often credited with planting the early seeds of Indian nationalism. Critically evaluate this statement with examples from their cultural and political legacy.  
Ans: The Marathas contributed to early Indian nationalism, but the claim requires nuance:  

• Supporting Nationalism: 
  • Swarajya Vision: Shivaji’s concept of self-rule inspired resistance against Mughal domination, fostering a sense of Indian sovereignty. His coronation and Sanskrit seal emphasized local governance over foreign rule.  
  • Cultural Revival: By promoting Marathi, Sanskrit, and Hindu traditions, Shivaji and successors like the Bhonsles (e.g., reviving Jagannath worship in Puri) strengthened regional identities, a precursor to national unity.  
  • Anti-Foreign Resistance: Nana Phadnavis’ pan-Indian alliance with Hyder Ali and the Nizam against the British, showing early coalition-building against foreign rule, a hallmark of nationalism.
• Limitations: 
  • Regional Focus: Maratha power was rooted in Maharashtra, with campaigns (e.g., in Bengal) sometimes causing harm, as noted, limiting broader Indian unity.  
  • Decentralized Rule: The Peshwas and regional chiefs gained power, leading to internal disunity, which weakened a unified national vision.  
  • Religious Emphasis: While Shivaji respected all religions, the Hindu-centric revival might not have fully embraced India’s diverse faiths, a key aspect of later nationalism.
    Conclusion: The Marathas planted seeds of nationalism through Swarajya, cultural revival, and anti-British alliances, but their regional focus and internal disunity limited a fully cohesive national identity.

Q14. Imagine Shivaji had lived 20 more years. Predict how this might have changed Maratha-British or Maratha-Mughal relations in the late 17th century.  
Ans: If Shivaji lived until 1700:  
Maratha-Mughal Relations: 

• Shivaji’s guerrilla tactics and fort-based strategy would likely intensify resistance against Aurangzeb, preventing Mughal control of the Deccan. His conquests in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka suggest he could expand further, weakening the Mughal hold on southern India.  
• His diplomatic skills, seen in sparing Mohandas Parekh, might lead to strategic alliances with weaker Mughal factions, delaying Aurangzeb’s conquests of Bijapur and Golconda.

Maratha-British Relations: 

•  Shivaji’s navy challenged European trade control. A longer reign could strengthen his fleet, disrupting British East India Company trade routes, as his ships reached Muscat.  
• His ban on Dutch slave trading suggests he would resist British exploitation, potentially delaying their early foothold in Bombay and Surat through naval and diplomatic pressure.

Overall Impact: Shivaji’s leadership would likely consolidate Maratha power, delaying Mughal decline and British expansion. His vision of Swarajya could inspire broader resistance, altering the trajectory of colonial influence in India.

Q15. Evaluate the successes and failures of the Peshwa leadership after Shivaji’s death. How did their strategies both expand and weaken the Maratha Empire?  
Ans: Successes of Peshwa Leadership:  

• Expansion: Bajirao I and Nanasaheb Peshwa expanded Maratha control to Lahore, Attock, and Peshawar, creating a vast confederacy. Their campaigns, building on Tarabai’s northern invasions, made the Marathas the largest Indian empire before British rule.  
• Military Modernization: Mahadji Shinde’s adoption of European-style troops and artillery, including metal tube rockets, strengthened Maratha forces, enabling Delhi’s recapture in 1771.  
• Anti-British Alliances: Nana Phadnavis’ pan-Indian alliance with Hyder Ali and the Nizam, as noted, challenged British expansion, showing diplomatic foresight.

Failures of Peshwa Leadership:  

• Internal Disunity: The regional chiefs gaining power, diluting centralized control, and deviating from Shivaji’s values, as seen in the harmful Bengal campaigns. This weakened cohesion.  
• Panipat Defeat (1761): The loss to Afghans, due to overambitious expansion, drained resources and morale, exposing strategic overreach.  
• British Defeat: Internal disunity and British technological advantages led to Maratha losses in the Anglo-Maratha wars (1775–1818), ending their dominance.

Impact of Strategies:  

• Expansion Success: Aggressive campaigns expanded Maratha influence, leveraging forts and cavalry, but overstretched resources.  
• Weakening Factors: Decentralization and reliance on regional chiefs fostered disunity, making the empire vulnerable to British organization.