Question

Who released Shahu Maharaj?
a. Aurangzeb
b. Azamshah
c. Jahagir
d. Akbar

Answer 1

Hint:
Shahu is the son of Chatrapati Sambhaji Maharaja and his queen Yesubai. He was born in 1682. After his father was executed by the Mughals, the Shah and his mother were captured by them. Hence, Shahu was raised in captivity by Mughals.


Complete step by step solution:
Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad, known as Aurangzeb conscious or his royal title Alamgir, was the sixth Mughal emperor who ruled most of the Indian subcontinent for 49 years. Aurangzeb wanted to get the Shah to convert to Islam, but at the request of his daughter Zinatunisa, he agreed instead to accept Khanderao Gujar, Prataprao Gujar's son, as baptism. It is said that it was Aurangzeb who baptized Sahu's son, who was "good." He then moved to the Shah and was permanently taken over by the king.

After Emperor Aurangzeb's death, Azamshah became emperor. He believed that there would be a conflict between himself and Maharani Tarabai for the gadi of the Maratha Chatrapati if Shahu Maharaja was freed. Azamshah felt that this would lose Marata's powers, so he freed Shahu Maharaja.


Hence, the correct answer is option B.

Note:
Qutb-ud-Din Mohammed Azam (28 June 1653 - 8 June 1707), known as Azam Shah, was a Mughal emperor who ruled from 14 March 1707 to 8 June 1707, his chief consort Dilras Banu Begum. Azam was appointed heir (Shahi Ali Jah) to his father on 12 August 1681 and held the position until Aurangzeb's death. Shahu Maharaja died on 15 December 1749 in satara.