Previous Year Question
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Turkish invasions on India were successful.
Reason (R): There was no political unity in North India.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A)
(A) is true, but (R) is false
(A) is false, but (R) is true
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
Assertion (A) is correct. Following the campaigns of Turkish invaders such as Mahmud of Ghazni and Muhammad Ghori in the 11th–12th centuries, Turkish rule was eventually established over large parts of North India.
Reason (R) is also correct. At that time, North India was divided among several regional kingdoms and Rajput powers. These powers could not maintain a united resistance against the Turkish invasions.
Political fragmentation prevented the development of coordinated resistance under a single centralised power. This gave the invaders an opportunity to confront different Indian powers separately.
Military factors such as the organised Turkish armies, fast-moving cavalry, mounted archery and battle tactics were also important in their success; nevertheless, the absence of political unity in North India was a major reason for their success.