THE MUGHAL EMPIRE

INTRODUCTION

Babur was a great statesman and a man of solid achievements .

He was a great scholar in Arabic and Persian languages .

Turki was his mother tongue .

He wrote his Memoirs , Tuzuki – i- Baburi in Turki language .

It provide a vivid account of India .

He frankly confesses his own failures without suppressing any facts .

He was a Naturalist and described the Flora and Fauna of India

Babur was the founder of the Mughal Empire in India .

His original name was Zahir ud din Muhammad .

He was related to Timur from his father’s side and Chengiz Khan through his
mother .

Babur succeeded his father Umar Shaikh Mirza as the ruler of Farghana .

But he was soon defeated by his relative and as result lost his Kingdom .

He became a wanderer for sometime till he captured Kabul from his uncle .

Then , Babur took interest in conquering India and launched four expeditions
between 1519 and 1523 .
Military Conquests

On eve of Babur’s invasion of India , there were Five prominent Muslim RULERS –

The Sultans of Delhi , Gujarat , Malwa , Bengal and the Deccan and

Two prominent Hindu rulers – Rana Sangha of Mewar and the Vijayanagar Empire.

At the end of 1525 , Babur started from Kabul to conquer India .

He occupied Lahore easily by defeating its governor , Daulat Khan Lodi .

Then he proceeded against Delhi where Ibrahim Lodi was the Sultan .

On 21st April , 1526 the first Battle of Panipat took place between Babur and Ibrahim
Lodi
Babur killed Ibrahim Lodi in the battle .

Babur’s success was due to his Cavalry and Artillery .

Babur occupied Delhi and sent his son Humayun to seize Agra .

Babur proclaimed himself as” Emperor of Hindustan “

Rana Sangha of Mewar was a great Rajput Warrior .

He marched against Babur in the Battle of Khanua near Agra in 1527 but Babur got
victory .

In 1528 , Babur captured Chanderi from another Rajput ruler Medini Rai .

In the next year , Babur defeated the Afghans in the Battle of Gogra in Bihar .

By these victories , Babur consolidated his power in India .

Babur died at Agra in 1530 at the age of 47 .

Humayun was the eldest son of Babur .

Humayun means “ Fortune “ but he remained the most unfortunate ruler of the
Mughal Empire .

Humayun had three brothers , Kamran , Askari , and Hindal .

Humayun divided the empire among his brothers .

Kamran was given Kabul and Kandahar

Sambhal was given to Askari

Aiwar was given to Hindal

Therefore , he suddenly concluded a treaty with the Afghan leader Sher Khan (Sher Shah )
And proceeded towards Gujarat .

Humayun captured Gujarat from Bahadur Shah and appointed Askari as its Governor .

But soon Bahadur Shah recovered Gujarat from Askari who fled from there .

In the meantime Sher Khan became powerful in the east .

Humayun marched against him , the Battle of Chausa was held in 1539 .

Sher Khan destroyed the Mughal army and Humayun escaped from there .
Humayun reached Agra to negotiate with his brothers .

But they were not co operative ,

Humayun fought with Sher Khan alone in the Battle of Bilgram in 1540 .

This battle was also known as Battle of Kannauj .

Humayun was defeated by Sher Khan .

After losing his Kingdom , Humayun an exile for the next 15 years .

Sur Interregnum ( 1540 – 1555 )

The founder of the Sur Dynasty was Sher Shah , whose original name was Farid .

Farid served under the Afghan ruler of Bihar , who gave him the title Sher Khan for his
bravery .

He became the ruler of Delhi In 1540 .

Sher Shah extended his empire .

His conquest include Punjab , Malwa , Sind , Multan and Bundlekhand .

His empire consisted of of the whole of North India except Assam , Nepal , Kashmir
and Gujarat .

Sher Shah’s administration

He ruled five years .

He organized a brilliant administrative system .

The central government consisted of several departments .

The King was assisted by four important ministers

2. Diwan – I – Ariz _____ in charge of Army

3. Diwan – I – Rasalat _____ Foreign Minister .

4. Diwan – i- Insha _____ Minister for Communications .

His empire was divided into 47 Sarkars .

Chief Shiqdar ( Law and Order ) and

Chief Munsif ( Judge ) were the two officers in charge of the Administration in each
Sarkar .

Each Sarkar was divided into several Parganas .

Amin ____ Land Revenue

Fatedar ____ Treasurer

Karkuns ____ Accountants were incharge of the administration of each Pargana .

There were also many administrative units called Iqtas .

The Land Revenue Administration was well organized under Sher Shah .

Land Survey was carefully done .

All cultivable lands were classified into three classes .

Good , Middle and Bad .

The government collected 1/3 of the average produce and

It was paid in cash or crop .

Sher Shah introduced new Silver Coins called “ Dam “ and they were in circulation till
1835 .

Sher Shah had improved the communications by laying four important highways .

They were

1. Sonargaon to Sind

2. Agra to Burhampur

3. Jodhpur to Chittor and

4. Lahore to Multan .

Rest houses were built on the highways for the convenience of the travellers .

Police was efficiently reorganized and crime was less during his regime .
The Military administration was also efficiently reorganized .

He was a pious Muslim and tolerant towards other religions .

He employed Hindus in important offices .

He was patron of Art and Architecture .

He built a new city on the bank of the river Yamuna near Delhi .

Now the old fort called Purana Qila and its Mosque is alone surviving .

He also built a Mausoleum at Sasaram , which is considered as one of the Master pieces
of Indian Architecture .

He patronised the learned man , Malik Muhammad Jayasi wrote the famous Hindi work
Padmavat during his reign .

After Sher Shah’s death in 1545 his successors ruled till 1555 when Humayun re
conquered India .