In the history of resistance to British rule in India, which of the following groups is considered to have put up the most stiff and prolonged resistance?

Introduction / Context:

This question belongs to the broad theme of Indian freedom struggle and the earlier phases of resistance to British expansion. It asks which group is widely regarded, in standard exam oriented history, as having put up the most stiff resistance to British rule over a long period. Many textbooks highlight the Marathas in this context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• Several important warrior groups and powers are listed: Rajputs, Marathas, Mughals, Sikhs, and Nawabs of Awadh.
• The question asks about the most stiff resistance overall.
• We assume the perspective often used in competitive exam material rather than a very detailed academic debate.
• The phrase most stiff resistance refers to prolonged conflict with British power in India.

Concept / Approach:

From an examination point of view, the Marathas are typically identified as the power that offered the strongest and most sustained opposition to British expansion in the eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries. The Anglo Maratha wars were crucial in the establishment of British supremacy over India. The approach is to recall this standard interpretation and then align it with the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative Check:

To verify, note that Rajputs and Sikhs indeed fought bravely but their conflicts with the British were not as prolonged or strategically central as the Anglo Maratha wars. The Mughal Empire was already in decline and could not offer continuous resistance. The Nawabs of Awadh were important regional players but did not sustain the same level of military challenge over time. In contrast, the Marathas repeatedly fought the British and only after prolonged conflict did British authority become dominant in India.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

Option A, the Rajputs, resisted various invasions historically but their direct confrontation with the British was not the primary obstacle to British rule.

Option C, the Mughals, were largely weakened before the British became the main power and did not fight long series of wars against them.

Option D, the Sikhs, did resist British expansion in the north west and fought two Anglo Sikh wars, but the overall duration and geographical spread of their resistance was less than that of the Marathas.

Option E, the Nawabs of Awadh, were influential but were eventually annexed through a combination of political and military actions without such extended warfare.

Common Pitfalls:

Candidates may choose the Mughals or Sikhs because these names are strongly associated with warfare. However, if one focuses on the period when the British East India Company was expanding into a dominant power, the Marathas emerge as the main force that repeatedly challenged British control. Remembering the sequence and impact of the three Anglo Maratha wars helps solidify this association.

Final Answer:

The group considered to have offered the most stiff resistance to British rule in India is The Marathas.