Question

Which of the following regions was known as the ‘Raichur Doab’ that was captured by the Vijayanagara Empire in 1512 ?

• A. The region between Narmada and Kaveri rivers
• B. The region between Godavari and Krishna rivers
• C. The region between Tapi and Narmada rivers
• D. The region between Krishna and Tungabhadra rivers

Hint:

• The Raichur Doab is often compared to the 'Fertile Crescent' of South India.
• Krishnadeva Raya's victory in 1512 is documented by several foreign travellers like Duarte Barbosa.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Concept:

• The word 'Doab' refers to a fertile tract of land situated between two converging rivers.
• Geopolitically, the Raichur Doab was a highly contested territory in South India due to its extreme fertility and strategic location.

Step 1: Identifying the geographical location of Raichur Doab
The Raichur Doab is specifically the triangular region of land in the Deccan, bounded by the Krishna River to the north and the Tungabhadra River to the south.
Because of its agricultural productivity, it was the primary cause of conflict between the Vijayanagara Empire and the Bahmani Sultanate (and later the Bijapur Sultanate) for over two centuries.

Step 2: Linking the region to Vijayanagara history
In 1512, during the reign of Krishnadeva Raya, the greatest ruler of the Tuluva dynasty, the Vijayanagara Empire successfully captured the fortress of Raichur and the surrounding doab from the Sultan of Bijapur.
This victory was a high point in the military history of Vijayanagara, securing the empire's northern frontier for a significant period.
Therefore, Option (D) correctly identifies the rivers defining this region.