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UPSC CSE Pre 2023

Regional Sultanates and European Powers

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: C

Concept The 16th century saw a power struggle between regional Indian sultanates and rising European maritime powers. Bahadur Shah of Gujarat used territorial concessions as a diplomatic tool to seek help against the Mughal threat.

Explanation In 1534, Bahadur Shah signed the Treaty of Bassein with the Portuguese. Under this agreement, he gave up Diu, Vasai, and the islands that currently make up Mumbai to the Portuguese authorities. Later, in 1559, Daman was also acquired by the Portuguese from the Gujarat Shah.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Bahadur Shah was facing a dual threat from the Mughal Emperor Humayun and internal rivals. Surrendering Diu was a strategic, albeit costly, move to secure Portuguese military support.
Logic 2: Other rulers like Mahmud Begarha were famous for expanding the Gujarat Sultanate and resisting early Portuguese incursions (like the Battle of Diu in 1509), rather than surrendering territory.

Active Recall

Question

What was the long-term impact of the Treaty of Bassein?

Answer

It established a permanent Portuguese foothold in Western India, shifting the control of maritime trade routes from local sultanates to European naval powers.

Core Insight

The surrender of Diu illustrates how local Indian rulers sometimes invited foreign powers into domestic conflicts, inadvertently paving the way for colonial expansion.

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