Understanding the Treaty of Purander (1665) and its Immediate Aim

The question asks about the immediate purpose behind the signing of the Treaty of Purander in 1665 between the Mughal Empire, represented by Mirza Raja Jai Singh I, and the Maratha leader, Shivaji Maharaj. To understand the immediate aim, we need to consider the context of the Mughal campaign against Shivaji and the political situation in the Deccan.

Historical Context of the Treaty

In 1665, the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb sent a large army under the command of Mirza Raja Jai Singh I, a skilled diplomat and general, to subdue Shivaji Maharaj. Shivaji had been expanding his territory and power at the expense of both the Mughal Empire and the Sultanate of Bijapur. Jai Singh successfully besieged several of Shivaji's forts, including the crucial fort of Purander. Faced with intense pressure and the potential loss of his kingdom, Shivaji agreed to negotiate with Jai Singh, leading to the Treaty of Purander.

Key Terms of the Treaty of Purander (1665)

The treaty had several important terms:

• Shivaji had to cede 23 of his forts to the Mughals, retaining only 12 forts.
• Shivaji agreed to pay a visit to the Mughal court at Agra.
• Shivaji agreed to serve the Mughal Empire and provide troops whenever needed.
• Crucially, Shivaji agreed to help the Mughals against the Sultanate of Bijapur.

It is this last point regarding Bijapur that provides a strong clue about the immediate aim of the treaty from the Mughal perspective.

Analyzing the Options

Let's evaluate each option based on the historical context and the terms of the treaty:

• Option 1: To gain goodwill of Shivaji
  While gaining Shivaji's cooperation was a goal, the treaty was signed under duress after a significant military defeat for Shivaji. The primary aim wasn't just to gain his goodwill but to subjugate him and integrate him into the Mughal system under Mughal terms.
• Option 2: To sow seeds of contention between Shivaji and Sultan of Bijapur
  Shivaji was already a threat to Bijapur, having seized territories from them. The Mughals were also interested in weakening Bijapur. By making Shivaji an ally against Bijapur and requiring him to provide military support for Mughal campaigns against the Sultanate, the treaty directly aimed to pit Shivaji against Bijapur under Mughal direction. This served the Mughal goal of weakening Bijapur while also controlling Shivaji's actions by directing them towards a common enemy. This aligns well with Mughal strategic interests in the Deccan at the time.
• Option 3: To deceive Shivaji
  While Mughal diplomacy could involve complex strategies, the treaty itself was a formal agreement with clear terms, albeit unfavorable to Shivaji. The immediate aim of the treaty's *terms* was not deception, but rather securing specific concessions and commitments from Shivaji.
• Option 4: To make Shivaji a puppet of Mughals
  Making Shivaji a puppet was perhaps a long-term aspiration of the Mughals, aiming to completely control him. However, the immediate aim of the treaty was more specific: to reduce his power by taking forts, secure his submission, and strategically use him, particularly against Bijapur. While the treaty paved the way for greater Mughal control, labeling the *immediate* aim solely as making him a "puppet" might be too broad; using him against Bijapur was a more specific and immediate objective derived from the treaty terms.

Considering the terms, especially the obligation for Shivaji to assist the Mughals against Bijapur, the most immediate strategic aim from the Mughal side was to leverage Shivaji's military strength against a rival Deccan sultanate and, in doing so, create further conflict between Shivaji and Bijapur, preventing them from potentially uniting against the Mughals.

Conclusion

Based on the terms of the Treaty of Purander and the prevailing political landscape in the Deccan, the immediate aim from the Mughal perspective was to weaken both Shivaji and Bijapur by forcing Shivaji to campaign against the Sultanate under Mughal command. This effectively sowed seeds of contention or deepened existing ones between Shivaji and the Sultan of Bijapur.

Therefore, the correct answer is that the immediate aim was to sow seeds of contention between Shivaji and the Sultan of Bijapur.

Revision Table

Additional Information: Mughal Strategy in the Deccan

The Treaty of Purander highlights a key aspect of the Mughal strategy in the Deccan region under Aurangzeb. The Deccan Sultanates (Bijapur and Golconda) were long-standing rivals to Mughal power. Aurangzeb's policy often involved a mix of direct military campaigns and diplomatic maneuvering to weaken and eventually annex these kingdoms. Shivaji's rise complicated this strategy, as he presented a new, formidable power in the region.

Mirza Raja Jai Singh's mission was multifaceted: to subdue Shivaji and integrate him into the Mughal system, thereby neutralizing a threat, and simultaneously using this new alliance to further Mughal goals against the Deccan Sultanates. By compelling Shivaji to fight against Bijapur, Jai Singh achieved several objectives:

• He directed Shivaji's military energy away from Mughal territories.
• He used Shivaji's forces to weaken Bijapur, a Mughal enemy.
• He potentially created a permanent rift between Shivaji and Bijapur, making it harder for them to form a united front against the Mughals.

Thus, using Shivaji to create or exacerbate conflict with Bijapur was a shrewd immediate strategic move encapsulated in the terms of the Treaty of Purander, serving the larger Mughal ambition in the Deccan.