Let's Explore: The Rise of the Marathas | Social Science Class 8 - New NCERT PDF Download

LET’S EXPLORE (Page 63)
Q. Have you ever heard the term ‘bhakti’? What does it mean to you? Choose a bhakti saint from any part of India and learn about their life, their teachings, and the message they shared. You can also find one of their poems or bhajans and share it with your classmates.
Ans: 

• ‘Bhakti’ is a term I’ve heard, and it means deep love and devotion to God, often shown through songs or prayers. It feels like a way to connect with something bigger! 
• I’d choose Sant Tukaram, a bhakti saint from Maharashtra who lived around the 17th century. He was a farmer who faced poverty but turned to God through his poems. 
  Sant Tukaram
• His teachings focused on loving God with a pure heart and treating everyone equally, no matter their status. He wrote abhangs, which are devotional songs in Marathi, to share his message with common people. 
• One of his famous abhangs is “Nama Smarana is my strength,” which means remembering God’s name gives him power. I’d share this with my classmates to show how his simple words inspire us!

THINK ABOUT IT (Page 65)
Q. If you could time-travel and meet Shivaji, what three questions would you ask him and why?
Ans: If I could meet Shivaji, I’d ask: 
1) How did you plan your guerrilla attacks so well? I’d ask this because I’m amazed at how he used the mountains to beat bigger armies like Afzal Khan’s. 
2) Why did you decide to build a navy? I’m curious because it was a new idea that protected the coast, and I want to know what inspired him. 
3) How did you keep your people united? I’d ask this to learn his leadership secrets, as uniting the Marathas into a strong kingdom seems so inspiring. These questions would help me understand his smart strategies, vision, and leadership!

Shivaji Maharaj

LET’S EXPLORE (Page 66)

Q. Try to find out more about guerrilla warfare. Which other countries in the world adopted this method? What geographical advantages did they utilise for this? Discuss your findings in groups.
Ans: 

• ​​Guerrilla warfare is a tactic where small groups use speed and surprise to attack bigger armies, and I think it’s super clever! The Marathas used it with their hilly terrain. 
• Other countries like Vietnam used it too, hiding in jungles and using rivers to ambush enemies during their war. Cuba also used it, taking advantage of mountains to fight bigger forces. 
• The geographical advantages included dense forests and high hills, which made it hard for enemies to find them. I’d discuss with my group how these natural features helped them win and compare it with the Marathas’ mountain tactics!

LET’S EXPLORE (Page 69)
Q. Pick an event from Shivaji’s life and, with your classmates, stage it as a play.

Ans: 

• I’d pick the event where Shivaji escaped from Agra in 1666! We could act it out with me as Shivaji, hiding in a basket with my friend Sambhaji, while others play the Mughal guards checking the gifts. 
• We’d use props like baskets and fake swords, and add a funny moment when the guards almost catch us but fail. It would be exciting to show how smart Shivaji was, and we’d practice together to make it fun for the class!

THINK ABOUT IT (Page 73)

Q. Shivaji issued strict instructions to his officials not to mistreat the subjects or to forcefully grab even a blade of grass from them. In one of the letters issued to his officials, Shivaji says: “Wood from big trees like teak is required for the Navy. If needed, secure permission for cutting the trees from the forest and then proceed. Other trees like the mango and jackfruit are also useful, but do not touch them. Because such trees take many years to mature, and the people look after them like their children. If you cut them, will their sorrow ever end? If you accomplish something by oppressing others, it perishes soon, along with the oppressor. There is harm in the absence of such trees as well. Therefore, do not use force in any circumstances.” Based on Shivaji’s letter, what can you tell about his values as a ruler?

Ans: 

• From Shivaji’s letter, I can tell he valued kindness and care for people. He wanted officials to ask permission before cutting trees, showing he respected the land and the people’s feelings, like treating mango trees as their children. 
• He also believed in ruling without force, saying oppression leads to ruin, which shows he was fair. His focus on using resources wisely, like teak for the navy, proves he was thoughtful and planned for the future. 
• These values make him a ruler who cared about his people and nature!

LET’S EXPLORE (Page 80)

Q. Have you heard of the dance form ‘Bharatnatyam’? Did you know that this dance form has a deep connection with the Marathas? Can you find out what this connection was?
Ans: 

• Yes, I’ve heard of Bharatnatyam—it’s a beautiful dance from Tamil Nadu! I didn’t know it connects to the Marathas, but I found out that King Serfoji II of Thanjavur, a Maratha ruler in the 18th century, supported it. 
• He invited dancers and musicians to his court, helping Bharatnatyam grow with new styles and music. This shows how the Marathas helped preserve and spread Indian culture. I’d love to learn a step and share this cool fact with my classmates!