Maratha Empire & Shivaji — Set 2

Correct Answer: B. B. 1659

The Battle of Pratapgad took place on November 10, 1659, near Pratapgad Fort in Satara district. Afzal Khan, the powerful general of the Bijapur Sultanate, was sent to subdue Shivaji but was killed by him during a personal meeting. The subsequent Maratha attack routed the Bijapur forces completely.

Correct Answer: B. B. Wagh Nakh (Tiger Claws)

Shivaji used the Wagh Nakh, a concealed iron weapon shaped like tiger claws worn on the hand, to mortally wound Afzal Khan. During their meeting, Afzal Khan attempted to strangle Shivaji, who retaliated with the Wagh Nakh. A Wagh Nakh associated with this event is displayed at the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

Correct Answer: B. B. Bijapur Sultanate

Afzal Khan was a powerful military commander (sardar) in the service of the Adil Shah of the Bijapur Sultanate. He was sent with a large army to crush Shivaji's growing power in the western Deccan. His defeat and death at Pratapgad in 1659 was a turning point that established Shivaji's military supremacy.

Correct Answer: A. A. Netaji Palkar

Netaji Palkar commanded the Maratha cavalry during the Battle of Pratapgad and led the main assault on Afzal Khan's army after Shivaji's action. The swift Maratha cavalry attack devastated the numerically superior Bijapur forces. This victory greatly enhanced Maratha prestige and morale across the Deccan.

Correct Answer: B. B. Rustam Zaman

After the victory at Pratapgad, Bijapur sent another army under Rustam Zaman (Fazal Khan), who was defeated at the Battle of Kolhapur in December 1659. This consecutive victory further weakened Bijapur's influence in the region. Shivaji now controlled a large portion of the western Deccan and Konkan coast.

Correct Answer: B. B. 1664

Shivaji sacked Surat in January 1664, looting enormous wealth from one of the richest Mughal trading ports. Surat was the main Mughal port for overseas trade and the departure point for Haj pilgrims. The raid demonstrated Maratha power and humiliated the Mughal Empire, causing Aurangzeb to send Raja Jai Singh against Shivaji the following year.

Correct Answer: C. C. 1670

Shivaji conducted a second sack of Surat in 1670, again collecting enormous wealth. This raid came after he had recovered most of the forts surrendered under the Treaty of Purandar. The repeated raids demonstrated that the Mughals were unable to protect their most important commercial city from Maratha attacks.

Correct Answer: C. C. Siddhi Jauhar

Siddhi Jauhar, an Abyssinian commander in service of Bijapur, besieged Shivaji at Panhala Fort in 1660. Shivaji was trapped for months before making a daring escape at night with a decoy plan. The rearguard action at Ghod Khind by Baji Prabhu Deshpande allowed Shivaji to escape to Vishalgad safely.

Correct Answer: B. B. Ghod Khind (Pavankhed)

Baji Prabhu Deshpande held the narrow pass of Ghod Khind with a small force against a much larger enemy army to allow Shivaji to reach Vishalgad Fort safely. He continued fighting even after being mortally wounded until he heard the cannon signal from Vishalgad. Ghod Khind was later renamed Pavankhed in his honour.

Correct Answer: B. B. Pune

Shivaji launched a daring night raid on Shaista Khan's camp at Lal Mahal in Pune in April 1663. Shaista Khan escaped but lost the fingers of one hand in the attack, and many of his relatives and soldiers were killed. This bold raid humiliated the Mughals and demonstrated Shivaji's tactical audacity.