Maratha Empire & Shivaji — Set 8

Correct Answer: B. B. Kartalab Khan

The Battle of Umberkhind (1661) was a brilliant Maratha guerrilla victory against the Mughal army led by Kartalab Khan near Kolad in Raigad district. Shivaji's forces ambushed the Mughal army in a narrow forest pass, completely routing them. This victory demonstrated Shivaji's mastery of guerrilla tactics.

Correct Answer: A. A. Vishalgad

Baji Prabhu Deshpande held the narrow pass of Ghod Khind to allow Shivaji to reach the safety of Vishalgad Fort. He fought until his death, and the pass was later renamed Pavan Khind (Sacred Pass) in his honour. Vishalgad was the secure Maratha fort that Shivaji successfully reached after this heroic sacrifice.

Correct Answer: B. B. 3 days

Shivaji's first raid on Surat in January 1664 lasted about three days, during which his forces looted the city but generally spared mosques, churches, and the property of the poor. The English factory managed to defend itself but most of the city was sacked. The enormous wealth looted funded Maratha military campaigns.

Correct Answer: B. B. Prince Akbar

Prince Akbar, son of Aurangzeb, rebelled against his father in 1681 and took refuge with the Marathas under Sambhaji. This alliance between Maratha power and a Mughal rebel put Aurangzeb in a difficult position. Prince Akbar eventually escaped to Persia after the alliance failed to produce decisive results.

Correct Answer: A. A. An independent sovereign with Vedic rites

Shivaji's coronation in 1674 was the first time in several centuries that a Hindu king in the Deccan was crowned as an independent sovereign with full Vedic rites. It challenged the Mughal claim to be the sole legitimate rulers of India. The event inspired Hindu pride and marked the assertion of indigenous political authority.

Correct Answer: B. B. Saibai

Saibai Nimbalkar was Shivaji's first and most loved wife, who died young in 1659. She was the mother of Sambhaji. Shivaji had deep affection for Saibai, and her early death is said to have deeply affected him. Despite having multiple wives as was customary for royalty, Saibai held the most important place in Shivaji's heart.

Correct Answer: C. C. Soyarabai

Soyarabai, one of Shivaji's queens and the mother of Rajaram, conspired to prevent Sambhaji from claiming the Maratha throne after Shivaji's death in 1680. Her efforts failed and Sambhaji consolidated power. Soyarabai was subsequently executed by Sambhaji after he established his authority.

Correct Answer: B. B. Thanjavur Maratha kingdom

Ekoji I (also known as Vyankoji), Shivaji's half-brother and son of Shahaji Bhosale by his second wife Tukabai, founded the Thanjavur (Tanjore) Maratha kingdom in Tamil Nadu. This kingdom lasted until 1855 and made significant contributions to art, music, and culture in south India. Ekoji and Shivaji met only once, in 1677 during Shivaji's southern campaigns.

Correct Answer: B. B. Thanjavur and Jinji

Shivaji's southern campaign of 1677-78 took him through Karnataka to Thanjavur and as far as Jinji Fort in Tamil Nadu. He captured several forts including Jinji, which later served as the Maratha base during Rajaram's resistance against Aurangzeb. The campaign extended Maratha power deep into peninsular India.

Correct Answer: B. B. Lakhuji Jadhavrao

Jijabai's father Lakhuji Jadhavrao of Sindkhed was Shivaji's maternal grandfather. Lakhuji Jadhavrao was a powerful noble in the Nizamshahi court of Ahmednagar. His lineage gave Shivaji a claim to noble Kshatriya heritage, which was important for the legitimacy of his later coronation.