GENERAL QUESTIONS
Q1. Where was Shivaji born?
Shivneri Fort, Junnar near Pune on 19.2.1627.
Q2. Who were the parents of Shivaji?
Shahaji Raje Bhosle and Jijabai.
Q3. Who was the guardian and Regent of Shivaji during his younger days?
Dadaji Konda Deo.
Q4. Where did Shivaji take his oath of "Swarajya" before taking over the rule?
Temple at Raireshwar - Pune.
Q5. What was the capital of Shivaji?
Raigad. (Later Satara)
Q6. What was the name of the Treaty that Shivaji made in 1665?
Treaty of Purandhara - 1665: with Rajput ruler Jai Singh I on behalf of Mughal Empire when Purandhar Fort was besieged.
Q7. In which year Shivaji was invited by Aurangazeb for a celebration but had him arrested and imprisoned?
1666 - for Aurangazeb's 50th birth day and was imprisoned at Agra.
Q8. In 1670, Shivaji's general Tanaji Malusare captured Fort Kondana in Pune but perished in the battle. How was it described by Shivaji?
"Won the Fort, but, Lost the Lion". In memory of him, Shivaji named the fort as Sinhagad meaning Lion's Fort.
Q9. At which place in Tamilnadu, Shivaji built one of the most impressive fort and made it his capital for nearly 9 years?
Gingee, Villupuram Dt., Tamilnadu.
Q10. Around how many forts were built by Shivaji?
300. All of them were named in Sanskrit.
Q11. How was the Prime Minister, in the Maratha empire, known?
Peshwa. (Later they became independent rulers in Pune and around).
Q12. During which Marathan rule, the Marathas became a Princely State?
Shahu.
Q13. In later years, around 1750, the Maratha empire became a confederation. How many of them were there and what were the regions ruled by them?
Peshwas - Pune; Scindias - Gwalior; Holkars - Indore; Bhonsles - Nagpur and Gaekwad - Baroda(Vadodara).
Q14. Who was considered as the greatest of the Peshwas?
Baji Rao -1720-1740.
Q15. "Strike at the trunk of the withering tree and the branches will fall themselves". Which Marathan ruler's quote is this?
Baji Rao - Peshwa.
Q16. Which Marathan ruler was called the "Nana Saheb"?
Balaji Baji Rao - 1740-1761.
Q17. Among the three battles of Panipat, the Marathas were involved in one of them. Which one and with whom?
1761 - III Battle of Panipat - Marathas Vs Ahmad Shah Abdali, Afghan.
Q18. Who was the religious guru of Shivaji?
Ramdas.
Q19. Which are the three forts captured by Shivaji between 1645-1647 from the ruler of Adil Shahi of Bijapur?
Raigarh, Torna and Kondana.
Q20. Who was the noble deputed by Adil Shahi ruler of Bijapur to kill Shivaji?
Afzal Khan - November 1659, but he got killed in the battle at Pratapgarh.
Q21. With whom did Shivaji sign the Treaty of Purandhara in 1665?
Mirsa Raje Jaisingh of Amber, Rajasthan. He was directed by Aurangazeb to attack Shivaji, providing him with a big army.
Q22. What was the military tactic adopted by the Marathas and from whom it was learnt?
Guerilla warfare from Malik Ambar of Ahmad nagar.
Q23. Why did Shivaji suspend hostility towards Bijapur rulers between 1649-1655?
Because his father was under imprisonment with the Adil Shahi ruler.
Q24. How many times did Shivaji plunder Surat, the commercial and trade centre of the Mughals?
Twice in 1664 and 1670.
Q25. With whom did Shivaji ally to conquer some parts of Bijapuri Karnataka?
Qutub Shahis of Golconda.
Q26. To whom Shivaji is most indebted for the administrative reforms?
Malik Ambar of Ahmadnagar.
Q27. What was 'Saranjam" during the Maratha rule?
A unit of land whose revenues were assigned to big officials and military chiefs in lieu of salary.
Q28. Which Marathan ruler introduced a new post called "Pratinidhi"?
Rajaram (who succeeded Sambhaji).
Q29. Which Maratha ruler is considered generally the greatest exponent of the guerilla warfare, after Shivaji?
Baji Rao I.
Q30. Which Maratha ruler was titled "Sena Karte"?
Balaji Viswanath.
Q31. During which Peshwa, the system of Maratha confederacy began?
Shahu.
Q32. During whose rule the Peshwas became very powerful and hereditary?
Shahu.
Q33. Who was that Mughal noble, who captured Sambhaji on the orders of Aurangazeb and killed him at Sanghameshwar?
Muqarrab Khan.
Q34. What was the instrument used during Marathi rulers for measuring the land uniformly?
Kathi.
Q35. Where did Shivaji station his naval fleet?
Kolaba (Colaba).
Q36. Arrange the successors of Shivaji in the descending order?
Sambhaji, Rajaram, Shivaji II, Shahu and Ramaraja.
Q37. Arrange the Peshwas in the chronological order?
Balaji Viswanath, Baji Rao, Balaji Baji Rao, Madhav Rao, Narayan Rao and Sawai Madhav Rao.
Q38. Arrange the army ranks of Marathas in the ascending order?
Paik, Naik, Havaldar, Jumladar, Hazari, and Sar-i-Naubat.
Q39. How many forts did Shivaji surrender to the Moghuls, by the Treaty of Purandhara?
23
Q40. In the Maratha empire, civil war broke out for seven years between whom and when?
Between Tarabhai and Shahu - between 1707-1714. Tarabhai was daughter in law of Shivaji.
Q41. Who said "We shall hem Shiva in like the centre of a circle?
Raja Jai Singh.
Q42. Who founded the Scindia dynasty?
Ranoji Rao Scindia , in 1731 - ruled the Gwalior region.
Q43. Which Nawab of Bengal's rule and defeat changed the history of India?
Siraj Ud Daula 1756-1757.
Q44. What was the infamous incident that took place during Siraj Ud Daula's rule at Calcutta?
BLACK HOLE INCIDENT - 20.6.1756 - when 146 Englishmen were captured and confined to a very small room (dinghy) in which all but 23 died of suffocation.
Q45. Who played the treachery on Siraj ud Daula leading to his defeat?
Mir Jafar, the Bakshi of Siraj Ud Daula.
Q46. Who was the British to hatch the conspiracy along with Mir Jafar to inflict defeat on Sirj Ud Daula?
Robert Clive.
Q47. What was the name of the battle in which Siraj Ud Daula was defeated?
Battle of Plassey - 1757.
Q48. Where is Plassey?
On the banks of river Bhagirathi, near Murshidabad, Bengal.
Q49. Which part of Bengal was conceded to the British by Mir Jafar?
24 Parganas.
Q50. When and between whom the Battle of Buxar was fought?
22-10-1764 between British East India Co., and an allied Muslim forces led by Mir Qasim, the Nawab of Bengal.
Q51. During whose rule the "Dual system of Government" introduced in Bengal?
Najm Ud Daula between 1765-17772 by Robert Clive.
Q52. Who was the founder of the Nawabs of Awadh dynasty?
Saadat Khan Burhan Ul Mulk - 1722. He was the Governor of this region during Muhammad Shah of Mughals.
Q53. Ahamad Shah Abdali belonged to?
Afghanistan - founder of the Durrani Empire in Afghanistan.
Q54. Asaf Shahi dynasty ruled which part of India?
Hyderabad.
Q55. Who was the founder of the Nizams of Hyderabad dynasty?
Nizam Ul Mulk Asaf Jahi - 1720 - Original name is Qamar Ad Din Chinquilich Khan - He was the viceroy of the Deccan region during Mughal rule.
Q56. During which Nizam's rule Hyderabad became a Princely state?
Mir Nizam Ali Khan Bahadur, in the year 1798.
Q57. What was the name of the highly valuable diamond owned by the Nizam of Hyderabad ruler Mir Mahaboob Ali Khan?
Jacob Diamond. It is now with the Government of India.
Q58. Hyderabad was one of the regions that was reluctant to join the Indian Dominion after independence. How was it annexed?
It was annexed to the Indian Dominion by a military operation named "Operation Polo" on 16th September 1948.
Q59. Who was the founder of the Nawabs of Arcot dynasty?
SADAUTULLAH KHAN - in 1720. He was a governor of this region under the Mughals and then under the Nizams of Hyderabad.
Q60. Who founded the Wodeyar dynasty rule in Karnataka?
Yadu Raya in 1399.
Q61. When was the Princely state of Mysore formed?
1799 - when Krishna Raja III became the ruler, after the defeat of Tipu Sultan in the IV Anglo Mysore War.
Q62. Which Wodeyar dynasty ruler sponsored the journey of Vivekananda to Chicago to participate in the World Congress of Religions in 1894?
Chamaraja Wodeyar IX -1894.
Q63. Which Wodeyar dynasty ruler was described as "Rajarishi" and his rule as "Rama Rajya"?
Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV by Gandhiji.
Q64. Which Wodeyar dynasty ruler was instrumental in establishing the Indian Institute of Science at Bengaluru?
Krishna Raja Wodeyar IV. In fact he donated the entire land for it.
Q65. Krishna Raja Wodeyar's rule in Karnataka has achieved unique distinction with regard to electricity. What is it?
1. Mysore State was the first to generate hydro electricity in Asia. 2. Bengaluru city was the first in Asia to get electric lights.
Q66. Dr.Raja Ramanna was an eminent nuclear physicist of India.What has he got to do with Mysore Wodeyar dynasty rulers?
He was an accomplished player of Piano and he regularly performed in the court of Krishna Raja Wodeyar.
Q67. Which Wodeyar dynasty ruler of Karnataka was a great sports lover and has helped couple of Indians to go abroad to play for India?
Jayachamaraja Wodeyar - He has helped Ramanathan Krishnan, the great tennis player of India to participate in Wimbledon, London. On another occasion he was instrumental in making E A S Prasanna to represent India in the West Indies Tour.
Q68. Which Wodeyar Dynasty ruler was the first President of the Philharmonic Society of London?
Jayachamaraja Wodeyar in 1948.
Q69. Who was the founder of the Muslim rule in Karnataka that intervened the long Wodeyar dynasty rule?
Haider Ali in 1761.
Q70. Haider Ali took over the administration of the Mysore state by?
Deposing Nanjarajar the Prime Minister of Mysore .
Q71. How many Anglo Mysore wars were fought?
Four ( Two each in Haider and Tipu Sultan's period)
Q72. The Third Anglo Mysore War occurred when?
Tipu Sultan attempted to capture Travancore with and without French help, when British and allied forces from Marathas and Nizams, defeated him, during 1790-1792.
Q73. What was the notable event in the III Anglo Mysore War?
The use of rockets by Tipu Sultan.
Q74. Who played the treacherous role on Tipu Sultan's defeat?
Mir Sadiq, a commander of Tipu Sultan. When the war was on full swing, he sent his soldiers to receive their wages, which depleted the force and made easy for the British to strike at Tipu Sultan and kill him in the IV Anglo Mysore War at Seringapattinam in 1799.
Q75. What are the social contribution of Tipu Sultan?
1. He built the first church in Mysore at the request of the French. 2. He laid the foundation for the Krishna Raja Sagar dam. 3. Lal Bagh Garden in Bengaluru was completed during his period.
Q76. Who was the Governor General of the British East India Co., during the Second Anglo Mysore War?
Warren Hastings.
Q77. From which countries did Tipu sought help to expel British from India?
France, Arabia, Afghanistan and Turkey.
Q78. What are the major causes for the Fourth Anglo Mysore War?
1. French force arrival at Mangalore in April 1798. 2. Tipu Sultan was successively defeated at Sedaseer and Malvelley by British.
Q79. Who founded the Sikh dynasty?
Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1801.
Q80. Maharaja Ranjit Singh created an army based on modern techniques. What was its name?
Sikh Khalsa Army.
Q81. From whom did Maharaja Ranjit Singh acquired the Kohinoor Diamond?
Shah Shuja of Afghanistan. Later it was taken over by the British.
Q82. Who was the Italian employed by Maharaja Ranjit Singhji as Governor?
Paolo Avitabile - He was governor of Wazirabad in 1826 and later for Peshawar in 1834.
Q83. Before becoming a confederation, the Sikh empire had smaller kingdoms known as?
Misls.
Q84. Who were the signatories of the Tripartite Treaty signed in 1838 during the period of Maharaja Ranjit Singh?
Ranjit Singh, Shah Shuja and Lord Auckland.
Q85. When was the Treaty of Lahore signed and What was its contents?
09.3.1846 after the First Anglo Sikh War. It was signed by Sir Henry Hardinge and 7 year old Duleep Singh and few of his advisors.The important features were:
1. Jammu and Kashmir and Hazara ceded to the British.
2. Provision for sale of Jammu and Kashmir later by the British.
3. Ceding of Jullunder Doab to the British.
4. British resident appointed at Lahore.
5. Payment of war indemnity of 1.5 crore.
6. Reduction of Sikh Army.
Q86. After securing Jammu and Kashmir from the Sikh Empire, it was later sold to whom?
Gulab Singh who founded the Princely state of J & K. He purchased it from the British for 75 lakhs.
Q87. Between whom and when the Treaty of Bhyroval signed and what were its contents?
December 1846. It was a supplementary treaty following the treaty of Lahore signed by British Currie and Lawrence and 13 members of the Lahore Durbar. It contents were:
1. Setting up of a council of Regency for Punjab.
2. Stationing of a British force at Lahore in return for the payment of Rupees Twenty Two lakhs by the Sikhs.
3. Power of the Governor General to take any Garrison and Fort in Punjab.
Q88. What were the major causes for the II Anglo Sikh War?
1. The British desire to avenge their humiliating near defeat in the I Anglo Sikh War. 2. Discontentment of the Sikh Sardars with the British control on Punjab. 3. Illtreatment of Rani Jindan by the British. 4. Revolt of the Governor of Multan leading to the outbreak of general rebellion by the Sikhs.
Q89. Who were the two English Officers killed by the Sikhs, who were sent to help the Governor of Multan, Sardar Khan Singh in 1848?
Vans Agnew and Lt. Anderson.
Q90. Who were the British Board of Commissioners constituted to administer Punjab after its annexation in 1849?
Henry Lawrence, John Lawrence, Charles G. Mansel.
Q91. Who were the British Board of Commissioners constituted to administer Punjab after its annexation in 1849?
She was the regent for Duleep Singh. She was removed by the Treaty of Lahore and later sentenced to death by the British after II Anglo Sikh War.
Q92. Rulers of Kerala were believed to be the descendants of ?
Kulaseakara dynasty of the Cheras from Tamilnadu.
Q93. Royal Families of the Kerala Cochin kingdom were called as?
Perumpadappu Swaroopam in Malalyalam.
Q94. What is the unique way of naming of the kings of Kerala?
The names are always suffixed with Varma.(for the Conchin state)
Q95. The Kings of Trivandrum had a unique way of naming their kings from 1829. What was it?
They were named on the basis of their birth star as per Hindu astrology like Swathi Thirunal meaning the birth on star Swathi.
Q96. Which Trivandrum King was a great exponent of carnatic music and has composed a huge number of compositions?
Swathi Thirunal.
Q97. Which Cochin Kingdom ruler was an internationally acclaimed painter?
Raja Ravi Varma.
Q98. Which Cochin Kingdom ruler appointed a Dutch as his Senior Admiral and who was he?
EUSTACHIUS DE LANNOY - an Admiral of Dutch, who was captured in War of Colachel in 1741 and appointed in the Cochin Army and served for nearly 37 years.
Q99. Which ruler of Trivandrum Kingdom was instrumental in a unified Kerala?
Aikya Keralam Thampuran -(1946-1948).
