Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): Shivaji had to face opposition from the big Deshmukhs.

Reason (R): These Deshmukhs were not in favour of an independent Maratha State and wanted to remain as feudal lords of Bijapur.

Select the correct answer from the codes given below:

The correct answer is

Key PointsAssertion (A): Shivaji had to face opposition from the big Deshmukhs. ✅ (True)

• Deshmukhs were local feudal lords or chiefs who controlled large territories and had significant military and economic power.
• Many Deshmukhs, especially those in western Maharashtra, were loyal to the Adil Shahi Sultanate of Bijapur and opposed Shivaji’s rise, fearing a loss of their authority.
• Shivaji’s centralized administration and growing power threatened their semi-autonomous status.

Reason (R): These Deshmukhs were not in favour of an independent Maratha State and wanted to remain as feudal lords of Bijapur. ✅ (True)

• Many Deshmukhs preferred to serve under the Bijapur Sultanate rather than join Shivaji’s vision of an independent Maratha state.
• They enjoyed privileges under Bijapur’s rule and saw Shivaji’s expansion as a challenge to their feudal control.
• Some of them, such as Jadhavs, Mohites, and Ghorpades, initially resisted Shivaji’s authority.

Why (R) correctly explains (A)?

• Since the Deshmukhs did not support the idea of a sovereign Maratha state, they opposed Shivaji’s consolidation of power.
• Their allegiance to Bijapur and their desire to retain feudal autonomy directly led to their conflict with Shivaji.
• Shivaji had to subdue many of these Deshmukhs to establish his independent kingdom.

Thus, the correct answer is (3) Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).