CHAPTER 10: Eighteenth Century Political Formations (Date : 27-08-2022)

Question 1:

What were ‘watan jagirs’?

Correct Answer : B

Broadly speaking the states of the eighteenth century can be divided into three overlapping groups:
- States that were old Mughal provinces like Awadh, Bengal and Hyderabad.
- States that had enjoyed considerable independence under the Mughals as watan jagirs. These included several Rajput principalities.
- The last group included states under the control of Marathas, Sikhs and others like the Jats.
Hence option B is correct.

Question 2:

The nayakas were warrior chiefs belonging to which region?

Correct Answer : B

The state of Hyderabad was constantly engaged in a struggle against the Marathas to the west and with independent Telugu warrior chiefs (nayakas) of the plateau. Hence option B is correct.

Question 3:

The term ‘jathas’ is related to which community?

Correct Answer : B

The organisation of the Sikhs into a political community during the seventeenth century helped in regional state-building in the Punjab.
Under a number of able leaders in the eighteenth century, the Sikhs organized themselves into a number of bands called jathas, and later on misls.
- Their combined forces were known as the grand army (dal khalsa). The entire body used to meet at Amritsar at the time of Baisakhi and Diwali to take collective decisions known as “resolutions of the Guru (gurmatas)”.
Hence option B is correct.

Question 4:

With reference to the ‘watan jagirs’ of the Rajputs, consider the following statements:

The Rajput kings, particularly who had served under the Mughals with distinction, enjoyed considerable autonomy in their watan jagirs.
Under the Mughal administration, the seizure of a watan jagir of one Rajput family by another one was prohibited.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer : A

Many Rajput kings, particularly those belonging to Amber and Jodhpur, had served under the Mughals with distinction.
- In exchange, they were permitted to enjoy considerable autonomy in their watan jagirs. In the eighteenth century, these rulers now attempted to extend their control over adjacent regions. Hence, statement 1 is correct.
- Ajit Singh, the ruler of Jodhpur, was also involved in the factional politics at the Mughal court.
The influential Rajput families claimed the subadari of the rich provinces of Gujarat and Malwa.
- Raja Ajit Singh of Jodhpur held the governorship of Gujarat and Sawai Raja Jai Singh of Amber was governor of Malwa.
  - These offices were renewed by Emperor Jahandar Shah in 1713.
- They also tried to extend their territories by seizing portions of imperial territories neighbouring their watans.
  - Nagaur was conquered and annexed to the house of Jodhpur, while Amber seized large portions of Bundi. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Question 5:

Regarding the Marathas, consider the following statements:

Kunbis were the powerful warrior families that assisted Shivaji is shaping a stable maratha kingdom.
After the death of Shivaji and succession of Peshwas, Poona was made the capital of Maratha kingdom.
Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were the methods of revenue collection in the Maratha kingdom.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer : C

The Maratha kingdom was a powerful regional kingdom that arose out of a sustained opposition to Mughal rule.
- Shivaji (1627-1680) carved out a stable kingdom with the support of powerful warrior families (deshmukhs).
- Groups of highly mobile, peasantpastoralists (kunbis) provided the backbone of the Maratha army. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
- Shivaji used these forces to challenge the Mughals in the peninsula.
After Shivaji’s death, effective power in the Maratha state was wielded by a family of Chitpavan Brahmanas who served Shivaji’s successors as Peshwa (or principal minister). Poona became the capital of the Maratha kingdom. Hence, statement 2 is correct.
Between 1720 and 1761, the Maratha empire expanded. It gradually chipped away at the authority of the Mughal Empire.
- Malwa and Gujarat were seized from the Mughals by the 1720s. By the 1730s, the Maratha king was recognised as the overlord of the entire Deccan peninsula.
- He possessed the right to levy chauth and sardeshmukhi in the entire region.
  - Chauth and Sardeshmukhi were revenue collection methods introduced by Shivaji. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

Question 6:

Regarding the Jats, consider the following statements:

The Jats consolidated their power during the late sixteenth century.
The Jats were prosperous agriculturists, and towns like Panipat and Ballabhgarh became important trading centres in the areas dominated by them.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer : B

Like the other states, the Jats consolidated their power during the late seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Hence, statement 1 is not correct.
The Jats were prosperous agriculturists, and towns like Panipat and Ballabhgarh became important trading centres in the areas dominated by them. Hence, statement 2 is correct.