The statement “Tanjore (Thanjavur) kingdom was founded by Raja Odeyar” is:

Introduction / Context:
South Indian history includes several important dynasties and kingdoms, such as the Cholas, Nayaks, Marathas and Wodeyars (Odeyars). Tanjore (Thanjavur) and Mysore are two distinct centres that often appear in questions about southern polities. This question asks you to evaluate a specific statement about the founding of the Tanjore kingdom and to recognise which ruler is associated with which domain, testing both factual knowledge and your ability to spot an incorrect attribution.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The statement under evaluation is: “Tanjore kingdom was founded by Raja Odeyar.”
• The options invite you to judge whether this statement is correct, incorrect, partly correct or indeterminate.
• We assume the learner knows that the Wodeyars (Odeyars) are linked with the kingdom of Mysore.
• We also assume awareness that Tanjore had its own distinct line of rulers, including the Nayaks and later the Maratha Bhonsles.

Concept / Approach:
Raja Wodeyar (or Raja Odeyar) is historically associated with the foundation and consolidation of the Mysore kingdom, not the Tanjore kingdom. Tanjore, located in present-day Tamil Nadu, was ruled at different times by the Imperial Cholas, later by the Tanjore Nayaks and then by a branch of the Maratha Bhonsle family. Mysore, on the other hand, developed under the Wodeyar dynasty in the region of present-day Karnataka. Therefore, the statement that “Tanjore kingdom was founded by Raja Odeyar” is factually incorrect because it confuses two different regions and dynasties.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify Raja Odeyar (Raja Wodeyar) as a key figure in the history of the Mysore kingdom. Step 2: Recall that Mysore is located in what is now Karnataka, with its capital historically at places like Mysuru and later Srirangapatna under different rulers. Step 3: Recognise that Tanjore (Thanjavur) is a city and region in Tamil Nadu with a different political history, linked with the Cholas, the Nayaks and later the Maratha rulers. Step 4: Understand that the founding of the Tanjore kingdom is not credited to Raja Odeyar in any reputable historical account. Step 5: Compare this knowledge with the given statement and see that it incorrectly assigns Tanjore to the Mysore Wodeyar dynasty. Step 6: Conclude that the statement is incorrect, and that Raja Odeyar is instead associated with founding or strengthening Mysore.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard histories of South India describe the Wodeyars as the royal family of Mysore. They discuss how the Wodeyars established themselves as rulers after weakening the power of the Vijayanagara Empire in the region. Separate chapters cover the Tanjore Nayaks and later Maratha rulers like Serfoji in Thanjavur, with no mention of a Wodeyar founding the Tanjore kingdom. This clear separation in dynastic histories confirms that the statement in the question is factually wrong.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• The statement is completely correct: This is false because Raja Odeyar is not known as the founder of Tanjore; he is linked to Mysore.
• The statement is only partly correct: There is no partial correctness here; the association of Raja Odeyar with Tanjore is entirely misplaced.
• The truth of the statement cannot be determined from historical sources: Historical sources are quite clear about the separate lineages of Tanjore and Mysore, so it is possible to judge the statement as incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
The main pitfall is confusing South Indian kingdoms and assuming that a famous southern ruler like Raja Odeyar might be connected with any major city, including Tanjore. Another issue is not carefully distinguishing between the Wodeyar dynasty of Mysore and the Nayak or Maratha rulers of Thanjavur. To avoid such errors, remember this firm association: Raja Odeyar is linked to Mysore, not Tanjore, making the statement in the question clearly incorrect.

Final Answer:
The correct evaluation is that the statement is incorrect; Raja Odeyar founded or consolidated the Mysore kingdom, not the Tanjore kingdom.