The correct answer is: a) Marathas.
The Bhoi dynasty was a Hindu dynasty that ruled the Odisha region of India from the 15th to the 18th centuries. The dynasty was founded by Hambir Dev, who was a descendant of the Eastern Ganga dynasty. The Bhois were initially vassals of the Gajapati kings of Odisha, but they gained independence in the early 16th century.
The Bhoi dynasty reached its peak under the rule of Pratap Rudra Dev (1497-1540). Pratap Rudra Dev was a powerful and successful ruler who expanded the Bhoi kingdom and defeated several of its enemies. He was also a patron of the arts and literature.
After Pratap Rudra Dev’s death, the Bhoi dynasty began to decline. The kingdom was weakened by internal conflicts and external threats. In the early 18th century, the Bhois were overthrown by the Marathas.
The Marathas were a Hindu warrior group that emerged in the 17th century. They were originally from the Deccan region of India, but they expanded their power and influence throughout the subcontinent. The Marathas were a major power in India until the early 19th century, when they were defeated by the British.
The Bhoi dynasty was the last independent Hindu kingdom of Odisha. Their fall to the Marathas in the early 18th century marked the end of an era in Odisha’s history.
The other options are incorrect because:
- The Mughals were a Muslim dynasty that ruled most of India from the 16th to the 18th centuries. They did not conquer Odisha until the late 17th century, after the Bhoi dynasty had already fallen.
- The British East India Company began to establish trading posts in Odisha in the early 18th century. However, they did not gain control of the region until the late 18th century, after the Bhoi dynasty had already fallen.
- The Afghans were a Muslim people from Central Asia. They invaded India several times in the 18th century, but they did not conquer Odisha.