Question

Shivaji signed the Treaty of Purandar with the Mughal commander
A. Saista Khan
B. Afzal Khan
C. Jai Singh
D. Man Singh

Answer 1

Hint: The Treaty of Purandar was signed by Shivaji to the Mughals in order to save heavy losses and to save his men and empire from the mughals. It was signed in 1665.

Complete Step by Step answer: The Treaty of Purandar was signed by Shivaji with Mughal Commander Jai Singh on June 11,1665. Jai Singh’s army had surrounded the Purandar Fort and Shivaji was forced to sign the treaty. Shivaji realised that the war with the Mughals would result in a heavy loss and make his men suffer. He therefore chose to sign the treaty.
The main points in the treaty included:
- Shivaji could keep twelve forts and an area whose income was 1,000,000 huns
- He had to be help the Mughals whenever required
-Shivaji’s son Sambhaji was allotted a strong force of 5,000 soldiers under the Mughals.
-If Shivaji wanted to claim the coastal area of Konkan which was under the Bijapur’s control, he had to pay a sum of Rs. 40 million to the Mughals.
-He had to surrender his forts of Purandar, Rudramal, Karnala and others.

Looking at the options given:
Option A: Saista Khan was a fierce enemy of Shivaji who was sent to capture Ahmednagar by Aurangazeb. He captured Pune which was Shivaji’s bird’s eye. The area of Purandar had nothing to do with Saista Khan and therefore this is not the correct answer.
Option B: Afzal Khan was the general of Bijapur who was killed by Shivaji and his army was defeated in the battle of Pratapgarh. Hence this is not the correct answer.
Option C: Jai Singh was the Mughal commander whose army had besieged the Purandar fort which belonged to Shivaji. Shivaji surrendered and signed the Purandar treaty. Hence this is the correct answer.
Option D: Man Singh was a trusted general of Akbar. He had nothing to do with Shivaji. Hence this is not the correct answer.
Hence, Option ‘C’ is the correct option.

Note: Shivaji maintained a peaceful relations with the Mughals till 1657. He assisted Aurangazed who was the son of a Mughal ruler, in seizing Bijapur. In return he asked for formal recognition of the Bijapur forts under his control. The Mughals refused this which led Shivaji to attack the Deccan Mughals.