Chapter 9 The Maratha War of Independence
Textbook Questions and Answers
1. Choose the correct option:
Question 1.
Aurangzeb was annoyed by his bravery.
(a) Shahajada Akbar
(b) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
(c) Chhatrapati Rajaram Maharaj
Answer:
(b) Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj
Question 2.
These decamped with the golden pinnacle from the Emperor’s tent.
(a) Santaji and Dhanaji
(b) Santaji Ghorpade and Vithoji Chavan
(c) Khando Ballal and Rupaji Bhosale
Answer:
(b) Santaji Ghorpade and Vithoji Chavan
Question 3.
He fought very bravely in the Goa battle.
(a) Yesaji Kank
(b) Nemaji Shinde
(c) Pralhad Niraji
Answer:
(a) Yesaji Kank
2. Find in the text in the lesson and write answers:
Question 1.
Why did Sambhaji Maharaj return halfway from the Janjira campaign? ‘
Answer:
(a) Sambhaji Maharaj started a campaign against the Siddi of Janjira in 1682 CE.
(b) The Marathas laid siege to Siddi’s Dandarajpuri and battered the fort of Janjira with the artillery.
(c) But on the other hand, the Mughal army invaded Swaraj. Hence Sambhaji Maharaj returned halfway from the Janjira campaign to protect/defend his kingdom.
Question 2.
Why did Sambhaji Maharaj decide to teach a lesson to the Portuguese?
Answer:
The Portuguese of Goa joined hands with the Emperor against Sambhaji Maharaj so ) the Maharaj decided to teach a lesson to the Portuguese.
Question 3.
While going to Jinji, Rajaram Maharaj left the responsibility of protecting Swaraj to whom?
Answer:
While going to Jinji, Rajaram Maharaj had assigned the duty to protect Swaraj to Ramchandrapant, Amatya, Shankaraji, Narayan Sachiv, Santaji Ghorpade and Dhanaji Jadhav.
Question 4.
Devdatta has described Maharani Tarabai’s Valour in which words?
Answer:
Devdatta has described Maharani Tarabai’s valour in his Marathi poem:
3. Give reasons:
Question 1.
Aurangzeb turned his aim towards Adilshahi and Qutubshahi Kingdom.
Answer:
(a) Aurangzeb was not able to succeed his campaign against the Marathas.
(b) Therefore he suspended the campaign and turned his aim towards Adilshahi and Kutubshahi states.
Question 2.
After the death of Sambhaji Maharaj, the Marathas intensified their war with the Mughals.
Answer:
(a) Sambhaji Maharaj was brutally put to death by Aurangzeb.
(b) The Marathas took inspiration from his sacrifice and intensified their fight against the Mughals.
Question 3.
It was decided that the Raigad fort should be fought under the leadership of Maharani Yesubai.
Answer:
(a) Zulfikarkhan put Raigad under siege.
(b) Rajaram Maharaj and his wife Maharani Tarabai, Sambhaji Maharaj’s wife, Maharani Yesubai and his son Shahu were in Raigad.
(c) It was very risky for all members of the royal family to stay at one place.
(d) It was decided that Rajaram should escape from Raigad and the fight to defend Raigad would continue under the leadership of Maharani Yesubai.
Activity:
Show Goa, Bijapur, Golconda, Jinji, Ahmadabad and Ahmednagar on a map of India.
Additional Important Questions and Answers
Choose the correct option:
Question 1.
Akbar sought shelter with –
(a) Sambhaji Maharaj
(b) Mukarrab Khan
(c) Rajaram Maharaj
Answer:
Sambhaji Maharaj
Question 2.
Aurangzeb died in 1707 at –
(a) Kolhapur
(b) Janjira
(c) Ahmadnagar
Answer:
Ahmadnagar
Arrange the events chronologically:
- Aurangzeb died at Ahmadnagar.
- Sambhaji Maharaj was put to death.
- Rajaram Maharaj escaped from Raigad fort.
- Aurangzeb descended to the South.
- Maharani Yesubai and Shahu put under arrest.
Answer:
- Aurangzeb descended to the South.
- Sambhaji Maharaj was put to death.
- Rajaram Maharaj escaped from Raigad fort.
- Maharani Yesubai and Shahu put under arrest.
- Aurangzeb died at Ahmadnagar.
Write the meaning of:
Question 1.
Artillery
Answer:
The army unit that uses big guns with big barrels.
Question 2.
Killedar / Kiledar
Answer:
In charge of the fort.
Question 3.
Guerilla tactics
Answer:
The use of surprise raids hit and run by the army and repetitive attacks on the enemy.
Find from the text and write the answers:
Question 1.
Who took away the golden pinnacle from the Emperor’s own tent?
Answer:
(a) Santaji Ghorpade
(b) Vithoji Chavan
Question 2.
Name the faithful Sardars of Raj aram Maharaj who joined him in the Jinji campaign.
Answer:
(a) Pralhad Niraji
(b) Khando Ballal
(c) Rupaji Bhosale.
Question 3.
What was Tarabai’s warfare method called?
Answer:
Tarabai’s warfare method was called ‘Safe deposit locker system’.
Question 4.
How did Aurangzeb entice many Maratha Sardars on his side?
Answer:
Aurangzeb enticed many Maratha Sardars on his side by giving them watans and jagirs.
Question 5.
Why was it decided that Rajaram Maharaj should escape from Raigad and go to Jinji?
Answer:
(a) The Jinji fort was far off in the south and was invincible.
(b) It was not an easy task for the Mughals to capture this fort.
Hence Rajaram escaped from Raigad and went to Jinji.
Question 6.
How does Khafikhan describe Maharani Tarabai?
Answer:
Khafikhan described Maharani Tarabai in the following words “She is intelligent and wise. She became very famous for her management of army and administration even during the rule of her husband”.
Question 7.
When was the sign of the tilting of the balance to the other end seen?
Answer:
It was when trusted Sardars like Krishnaji Sawant, Khanderao Dabhada, Dhanaji Jadhav and Nemaji Shinde started the battles on various fronts against the Mughals outside Maharashtra which gave a sign of the tilting of the balance to the other end.
Find out and write:
Question 1.
They were in the forefront to invade Mughal territories.
Answer:
Santaji and Dhanaji
Question 2.
He died in March 1700.
Answer:
Rajaram Maharaj
Question 3.
He rebelled against his father and sought shelter with Sambhaji Maharaj.
Answer:
Prince Akbar
Question 4.
The Incharge of the Kolhapur province.
Answer:
Mukarrabkhan
Question 5.
The Great Maratha soldier of whom the Mughal soldiers were scared of.
Answer:
Dhanaji
Question 6.
The Historian Riyasatkar G.S. Sardesai described Rajaram Maharaj as.
Answer:
‘Sthirbuddhi’ (Level Headed)
Give reasons:
Question 1.
Sambhaji Maharaj had to abandon the Janjira campaign and turn back.
Answer:
- Sambhaji Maharaj started a campaign against Siddi in 1682 CE.
- His army laid a siege to Dandarajpuri fort and battered the fort of Janjira with the artillery.
- But at the same time, the Mughal army invaded Swaraj.
- Sambhaji Maharaj had to abandon the Janjira campaign and turn back.
Question 2.
Noted historian Riyasatkar G.S. Sardesai has described Rajaram Maharaj by using the adjective ‘Sthirbuddhi’. (Level Headed)
Answer:
- Rajaram Maharaj was thoughtful and kind- hearted.
- He brought together all the capable people in the Maratha empire.
- He united them and thus created a new enthusiasm amongst them.
- After the death of Sambhaji Maharaj, he fought against Aurangzeb for 11 years with great courage and tenacity.
- Rajaram Maharaj’s greatest achievement is that he protected Swaraj in those extremely difficult times.
Question 3.
The Eighteenth century is known as the Maratha Century.
Answer:
- After the death of Aurangzeb, not only did the Marathas filled the vacuum in the political arena, but also lead the political affairs.
- They ruled over Delhi’s throne and almost all parts of Hindustan and also protected it.
- Due to sequence of events, the 18th century is known as the ‘Maratha Century’.
Complete the following flow chart:
The lineage of the Bhosale family.
Answer:
