Q. With reference to the rise of the Marathas, consider the following statements:
1.The Bhakti Movement in Maharashtra, particularly the egalitarian teachings of saints like Sant Tukaram and Eknath, fostered a shared socio-religious identity among the people.
2.Shahji Bhonsle, father of Shivaji, was the first Maratha noble to successfully challenge Mughal authority and defeat the imperial armies in the Deccan.
3.The initial phase of systematic Maratha expansion into North India began during the tenure of the Peshwa Baji Rao I, who advocated for the ideal of Hindu Pad Padshahi.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. The Bhakti tradition in Maharashtra, focusing on equality and local language, certainly provided a cultural context and unity that aided the political consolidation under Shivaji.
- Statement 2: Incorrect. While Shahji was an influential noble who served the Deccan Sultanates and was often in conflict with the Mughals, it was his son Shivaji who first provided a sustained and successful political challenge to the Mughal Empire, not Shahji.
- Statement 3: Correct. Baji Rao I (1720–1740 CE) was the most expansionist of the early Peshwas, who successfully launched Maratha raids and control (Chauth) into Malwa, Gujarat, and parts of North India.
