Question

Given below are two statements: One is labelled as Assertion A and the other is labelled as Reason R.

Assertion (A): The Peshwas imposed their writ over the sardars, made over conquered territories to their own nominees and relentlessly extended the circle of areas on which chauth and sardeshmukhi were imposed.

Reason (R): The Peshwas combined professed loyalties to two sovereigns, the Chhatrapati and the Mughal Emperor, and actual autonomy from both.

In light of the above statements, choose the correct answer from the options given below:

1. Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
2. Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)
3. (A) is true but (R) is false
4. (A) is false but (R) is true

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 2 : Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)

• Chauth was one-fourth of the land revenue paid to the Marathas in order to avoid the Maratha raids. It was nomi­nally levied at 25% on revenue or produce.
• Sardeshmukhi was an additional levy of ten per cent on those lands which the Marathas claimed hereditary rights.  This was an additional levy of 10%.  

• 'Sardeshmukhi' in the Maratha regime was a tax levied on revenue. The Maratha kingdom was another powerful regional kingdom to arise out of sustained opposition to the Mughal rule.

• Peshwas were the loyal ministers of Marathas state who were appointed to assist the king in different administrative as well as political affairs. Chauth and sardeshmukhi were not taxation innovation by Maratha.

• The Peshwas imposed their writ over the sardars, made over conquered territories to their own nominees and relentlessly extended the circle of areas on which chauth and sardeshmukhi were imposed.

• Marathas were granted the right to collect Chauth and Sardeshmukhi by the Mughals in exchange for a promise to not raid adjoining Mughal territories.
• Chauth and sardeshmukhi were the taxes collected not in the Maratha kingdom but in the neighbouring territories of the Mughal empire or Deccan Sultanates.
• The Peshwas combined professed loyalties to two sovereigns, the Chhatrapati and the Mughal Emperor, and actual autonomy from both.
• Hence, both the statement are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A).

• Baji Rao ruled from 1720 to 1740.
• He was a bold and brilliant commander and was considered the greatest exponent in guerilla tactics after Shivaji. Maratha power reached its zenith under him.
• Under his leadership, the Marathas compelled the Mughals first to give them the right to collect Chauth of the vast areas and then to cede those areas to the Maratha Kingdom.
• He conquered Salsette and Bassin from Portuguese in 1733.
• He also defeated the Nizam-ul-Mulk near Bhopal and concluded the treaty of Durai Sarai, via which he got Malwa and Bundelkhand (1737).