Previous Year Question
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Shivaji had to face opposition from the big Deshmukhs.
Reason (R): These Deshmukhs were not in favour of an independent Maratha State and wanted to remain as feudal lords of Bijapur.
Select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(A) is false, but (R) is true.
Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(A) is true, but (R) is false.
Correct Answer: A
Detailed Solution
In the Deccan, Deshmukhs were hereditary local officials and influential landed chiefs. They possessed rights connected with revenue collection, local administration and military resources. Several powerful Deshmukh families also existed in the Maval region.
Shivaji's objective was not merely to expand his hereditary Jagir but to establish an independent and more centralised Maratha State. For this, it was necessary to control the autonomous power of local Deshmukhs and bring them under the new State structure.
Many Deshmukhs of Maval eventually accepted Shivaji's leadership, but some powerful Deshmukhs opposed him. The Mores of Javali were an important example. They had long possessed local power and hereditary rights and were initially unwilling to join Shivaji.
Under the Adil Shahi system of Bijapur, such Deshmukhs could retain considerable control over their local Watans, rights and feudal influence. The rise of an independent Maratha State was likely to impose greater control upon this earlier autonomous position.
Therefore, for some powerful Deshmukhs, remaining feudal lords under Bijapur was more favourable than accepting Shivaji's new centralised authority. This conflict of interests became a major reason for their opposition to Shivaji.