Chapter 6 – The Oath of Swaraj
1. Fill in the blanks:
(a) To the south-west of Pune, the ________ temple was a beautiful spot.
Ans: Raireshwar
(b) All over Maval there were ________ guarding their individual Watans.
Ans: Deshmukhs
(c) Shahaji Raje had cast a special ________ for Shivaji.
Ans: Persian
2. Write the answer in one sentence.
(a) What words of Shivaji echoed in the temple?
Ans: The Raireshwar temple was echoed with the words of Shivaji saying, “God thinks that this Kingdom should take shape as Hindavi Swaraj. We shall see that God’s wish is fulfilled.”
(b) What did Jijabai think with joy and satisfaction?
Ans: Jijabai with joy and satisfaction thought that Shivaji would accomplish her dream of Swaraj.
(c) What did Shivaji come to know in his detailed survey?
Ans: In his detailed survey of all forts and military establishments in Maval, Shivaji came to know the secret pathways, underground routes, ammunition dumps, and cellars.
(d) What did Shivaji decide to put an end to?
Ans: Shivaji decided to put an end to the quarrels between the Watandars of Maval, which led to a useless waste of money and manpower.
3. Write the answers in two or three sentences.
(a) What was the ideal of Shivaji?
Ans:
(i) Shivaji took the oath of Swaraj at the temple of Lord Raireshwar.
(ii) In the oath, he declared that we shall all strive to attain our ideal of Hindavi Swaraj and work for it till it is achieved.
(iii) We shall have our own Raj, yours, mine, and everybody else’s, and refuse to live like slaves.
(b) What did Shivaji start doing with his comrades?
Ans:
(i) Along with his comrades, Shivaji started intensive training in swordsmanship and riding.
(ii) He explored the secret paths in the hills, getting familiar with the general topography of the land, its valleys and ghats, and possible communication routes.