Previous Year Question
Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).
Assertion (A): Turkish invasion on India was 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).
(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
Several Turkish invasions took place in North India during the 11th and 12th centuries. The campaigns of Mahmud of Ghazni were mainly associated with raids and acquisition of wealth, whereas the campaigns of Muhammad Ghori opened the way for permanent political conquest.
In the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 CE, Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan. Subsequently, his commanders, particularly Qutbuddin Aibak, expanded and consolidated Turkish authority in Delhi, Ajmer and different parts of the Ganga-Yamuna Doab.
At that time, North India was not under a single powerful central authority. The Chauhans, Gahadavalas, Chandelas and several other regional dynasties ruled as separate political powers.
There was mutual rivalry and political fragmentation among these states. A durable united political and military organisation against the foreign invasion could not be developed.
Because of this fragmentation, the Turkish armies were able to confront different Indian states separately. The expansion of Turkish control over large parts of North India between 1192 and 1206 CE was facilitated by this political situation.
Other factors such as fast Turkish cavalry, mounted archery, military organisation and battlefield tactics were also important in their success. Nevertheless, the absence of political unity in North India was a major direct cause of their success.