Q. Who was the father of Shivaji, founder of the Maratha Kingdom?
Answer: Shahaji Bhonsale
Notes: Shahaji Bhonsale, a 17th-century Maratha general, was Shivaji's father. He served various Deccan sultanates and the Mughals, receiving the Bangalore jagir in 1638. Shahaji was known for his military skills and patronage of scholars, and laid the foundation for his son Shivaji’s later rise.