Previous Year Question
Guerrilla warfare strategy was the strength of which of the following armies?
A.
Maratha
B.
British
C.
Mughal
D.
Nayaka
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
An important feature of Maratha military power was the effective use of guerrilla warfare. Chhatrapati Shivaji used small and highly mobile groups, surprise attacks and knowledge of the local terrain to confront forces that were often much larger. NCERT explicitly describes Shivaji's use of guerrilla warfare based on speed, surprise and knowledge of the terrain.
Fact: During the events at Pratapgad, Maratha troops concealed in the mountains attacked Afzal Khan's army using guerrilla tactics. Shivaji also carried out a surprise night raid on Shaista Khan's camp with only a small force.