Q. Consider the following statements:
1.Sambhaji Maharaj was given in the title of ‘Maharaja’.
2.Shivaji engaged in both conflict and diplomacy with the Mughals, whereas Sambhaji aggressively resisted Mughal expansion without seeking reconciliation.
Which of the statement(s) given above is/are correct?
Explanations –
Statement 1 is incorrect. Sambhaji Maharaj was not given the title of “Maharaja.” Instead, like his father Shivaji Maharaj, he was crowned as Chhatrapati, a title signifying “supreme sovereign” or “emperor.”
Statement 2 is correct. Shivaji Maharaj, after his escape from Agra in 1666, maintained a period of relative peace with the Mughals through treaties like the Treaty of Purandar (1665). He focused on consolidating his empire and avoided direct conflicts with the Mughals for some time. In contrast, Sambhaji Maharaj adopted an aggressive stance against the Mughal Empire throughout his reign. He launched attacks on Mughal territories, including the raid on Burhanpur in 1681, and provided refuge to Prince Akbar, Aurangzeb’s rebellious son.
Source: The Hindu
