Question

North Indian powers were defeated at the hands of invaders from Central Asia because :

(a) Indian soldiers could not hope to get plunder.

(b) There was no unity among Indian soldiers due to casteism.

(c) Central Asian soldiers had more modern weapons.

(d) The invading army was led by slaves.

1. (a),(b)
2. (b),(d)
3. (c),(d)
4. (a),(c)
5.

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 1 : (a),(b)

The correct answer is (a),(b).

• The attempts to unite India under one rule failed even during medieval times.
• India is a subcontinent, It was not possible to unite it under one rule till modern times.
• Besides, though India was divided politically, yet, there were many Rajput states at that time which were far more extensive and powerful in material resources in comparison to the Turk invaders.

Causes of Decline Rajputs: 

• Lack of Unity, 
• Foresightedness
• Caste the system, Hence statement 2 is correct.
• Defective Military Organizations
• ​Thus, the division of India into many states cannot be accepted as a valid reason for its defeat.
• The Indian soldiers could not hope to get raided and the invading army was not led by slaves. Hence option 1 is correct and 4 is incorrect.
• They were engaged in constant fighting against each other for power and glory and failed to unite themselves against a common enemy even in the greatest hour of danger to their country, its culture and religion.
• The army organisation of the Rajputs was also based on worn-out conceptions.
• The Indians did not try to improve their weapons, tactics and other equipment as compared to other countries and, therefore, they were out-classed in weapons and outmanoeuvred in tactics. Hence statement 3 is incorrect.
• The feudal organisation of the Rajput army was also its weakness.
• While the Turks fought under one command as one unit, the Rajputs failed to achieve that sort of unity in planning and fighting.