NCERT Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas

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NCERT Class 8 Social Science Chapter 3 The Rise of the Marathas

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The Rise of the Marathas

Chapter: 3

Theme B — Tapestry of the Past

The Big Questions 

1. Who were the Marathas? How did they manage to become the largest pan-Indian power before the British took over?( Page 61)

Ans: The Marathas were a group of people from the Deccan region, mainly present-day Maharashtra, who spoke the Marathi language. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj united them and established the Maratha kingdom. They used strong forts, a powerful navy and guerrilla warfare to defeat their enemies. After resisting the Mughals for many years, they expanded under the leadership of the Peshwas and brought large parts of India under their control.

2. What were some features of their governance?

Ans: The Marathas had an efficient system of administration. Shivaji Maharaj formed a council of eight ministers called the Ashta Pradhan Mandal. Government officials received salaries from the state treasury. They had a strong army, navy and judicial system. They also encouraged trade, protected people and promoted Marathi and Sanskrit languages.

3. What impact did the Maratha Empire leave in Indian history?

Ans: The Maratha Empire challenged Mughal dominance and established the largest Indian empire before the British took over. It promoted local traditions, art, literature and culture. The idea of Swarajya inspired people to believe in self-rule. Their struggle against powerful rulers also inspired later generations and planted early seeds of India’s freedom movement.

LET’S EXPLORE

1. Have you ever heard the term ‘bhakti’? What does it mean to you? Choose a bhakti saint from any part of India and learn about their life, their teachings, and the message they shared. You can also find one of their poems or bhajans and share it with your classmates. (Page 63)

Ans: I have heard about Bhakti, which means love, devotion and dedication to God. My favourite spiritual teacher is Premanand Ji Maharaj. He is a well-known spiritual teacher from Vrindavan who teaches people about devotion to Radha and Krishna. His teachings focus on love, faith, prayer, naam jap, humility and serving others. He encourages people to live a simple life and follow the path of devotion.

Message: His message teaches us to love God, respect everyone, control our anger and help others.

Bhajan: A simple devotional chant associated with his teachings is:

“राधे राधे, राधे राधे।”

This chant reminds us to remember Radha Rani with love and devotion.

2. Try to find out more about guerrilla warfare. Which other countries in the world adopted this method? What geographical advantages did they utilise for this? Discuss your findings in groups. (Page 66 )

Ans: Guerrilla warfare is a method of fighting in which small groups of soldiers use surprise attacks, quick movements and sudden retreats against a larger enemy. Apart from India, countries like China, Vietnam, Cuba and Afghanistan also adopted this method.

(i) China: Fighters used mountains, forests and rural areas to hide and launch surprise attacks.

(ii) Vietnam: Fighters used dense forests, jungles and underground tunnels to escape enemy forces.

(iii) Cuba: Rebels used the mountains and forests of the Sierra Maestra for hiding and attacking.

(iv) Afghanistan: Fighters used high mountains, caves and narrow valleys to their advantage.

3. Pick an event from Chhatrapati Shivaji’s life and, with your classmates, stage it as a play. (Page 69)

Ans: We can stage a play on the coronation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in 1674 at Raigad Fort. Some students can act as Shivaji Maharaj, Jijabai, the royal priest, ministers and soldiers. The play can show the coronation ceremony, where Shivaji Maharaj was crowned as the king of the Maratha kingdom. It will teach us about his courage, leadership and dream of Swarajya. 

4. Have you heard of the dance form ‘Bharatnatyam’? Did you know that this dance form has a deep connection with the Marathas? Can you find out what this connection was? (Page 79) 

Ans: Yes, I have heard of Bharatanatyam. It is a famous classical dance form of South India. The Maratha rulers of Thanjavur (Tamil Nadu) supported dance and music. King Serfoji II encouraged artists and helped develop Bharatanatyam. Thus, the Marathas played an important role in promoting this dance form. 

THINK ABOUT IT 

1. If you could time-travel and meet Chhatrapati Shivaji, what three questions would you ask him and why? (Page 65)

Ans: If I could time-travel and meet Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, I would ask him these three questions:

(i) What inspired you to establish Swarajya?

I would like to know what motivated you to fight for freedom and self-rule.

(ii) How did you win battles against powerful enemies?

I want to learn about your military strategies, courage and guerrilla warfare.

(iii) What message would you give to today’s young generation?

I would like to know how we can become brave, honest and responsible citizens of our country.

Questions and activities 

1. Analyse how geography (particularly mountains and coastlines) guided Maratha military strategy and state formation.

Ans: The Marathas lived in the Western Ghats mountains and near the west coast of India. The mountains helped them build strong forts for protection and secret paths for surprise attacks. The coastline helped them create a navy to protect maritime trade. These natural features made their military strong and advanced.

2. Imagine you are creating a short biography of a Maratha leader for younger students. Choose one personality (Kanhoji Angre, Bajirao I, Mahadji Shinde, Ahilyabai Holkar or Tarabai) and write 3–4 paragraphs highlighting what makes them inspirational. Include at least one challenge they overcame.

Ans: Kanhoji Angre – The Maratha Sea Lion

Kanhoji Angre was a brave Maratha navy chief who protected India’s west coast in the early 18th century. He fought against the powerful British and Portuguese ships that tried to control Indian trade. Even though his navy was smaller, he used smart ideas and sea knowledge to defeat them many times.

He built strong sea forts like Vijaydurg and kept watch over the Arabian Sea. The European powers feared him because he never let them win easily. Kanhoji made sure that Indian traders could do business without being looted by foreign powers.

One big challenge he faced was fighting better-equipped European navies, but his courage and clever tactics helped him win. That is why he is still remembered as one of India’s greatest naval heroes.

3. If you could visit one Maratha fort today (such as Raigad, Sindhudurg, Gingee, or Pratapgad), which would you choose and why? Research its history, architecture, and strategic importance. Present your findings as a digital presentation or a poster in class.

Ans: I would like to visit Raigad Fort because it was the capital of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s kingdom. It is located on a hill in Maharashtra and is surrounded by strong natural defences. The fort has strong walls, gateways, palaces and a royal court. It was strategically important because its high location made it difficult for enemies to attack. It also served as the centre of Maratha administration.

4. The chapter states, “The British took India from the Marathas more than from the Mughals or any other power.” What do you think this means? What evidence from the chapter supports this idea?

Ans: This means that the Marathas were the main Indian power that challenged British expansion in India. The British fought three Anglo-Maratha Wars between 1775 and 1818. After defeating the Marathas in 1818, the British became the dominant power in India. This shows that the Marathas controlled a large part of India before British rule expanded.

5. Compare how Chhatrapati Shivaji and later Marathas treated religious places and people of different faiths. What evidence from the chapter shows their approach to religious diversity?

Ans: Chhatrapati Shivaji respected all religions and protected religious places of different communities. He treated people of different faiths fairly and included people from various communities in his administration and army. Later Maratha rulers also supported different religious institutions. Ahilyabai Holkar, for example, helped repair and build temples at many important pilgrimage centres. This shows their respect for religious traditions.

6. The chapter describes how forts were ‘the core of the state’ for Marathas. Why were they so important? How did they help the Marathas survive against larger enemies?

Ans: Forts were very important to the Marathas because they protected their kingdom from enemies. They were used as military bases, storage centres and administrative centres. Their location on hills and difficult terrain made them hard to capture. They also helped Maratha soldiers launch surprise attacks and escape safely. Thus, forts helped the Marathas survive against larger and more powerful enemies.

7. You have been appointed as the chief designer for Maratha coins. Design a coin that represents Maratha achievements and values. Explain the symbols you chose.

Ans: I would design a silver coin with an image of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj on one side. On the other side, I would include a fort, a sword and a rising sun. The fort would represent strength and protection, the sword would symbolise courage, and the rising sun would represent freedom and hope. I would also write the words “Swarajya and Justice” on the coin.

8. After this introduction to the Maratha period, what do you think was their most important contribution to Indian history? Write a paragraph supporting your opinion with examples from the chapter. Then share and discuss your ideas with classmates.

Ans: I think the most important contribution of the Marathas was protecting Indian culture and freedom from foreign powers. Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj built a strong and fair kingdom, respected all religions and promoted the idea of Swarajya (self-rule). Even after his death, the Maratha army continued to fight bravely against the Mughals. Leaders like Tarabai and Ahilyabai Holkar also made important contributions through their courage and good administration. The Marathas ruled large parts of India and helped preserve Indian traditions. Their contribution is therefore very important in Indian history.