Question No 1: Highlight the role of primary sources in the construction of Mughal History

in India?

ANSWER: India during the Mughal Dynasty (1526-1857) was exceptionally well illuminated
by a large body of historical literature, mainly in Persian. The advent of the Mughals or the
Timurids in India in the early decades of the sixteenth century is a significant landmark in the
evolution of Indian nation and its culture. In the initial years, the Mughals had to face stiff
opposition from the Afghans, who were replaced by the Mughals, and the Rajputs. Shershah
Suri, the founder of the Second Afghan Empire by his prowess as a general and by his
administrative genius laid the future foundations for the edifice of the Mughal polity. Indo-
Mughal historical literature is not only large but also varied; histories of India, dynastic and
regional histories, memories, biographies, biographical dictionaries, historical gazetteers,
collection of historical letters and administrative documents are all well presented. The Islamic
phase of history writing in India started with a remarkable Arabic work translated into Persian by
Ali Bin Hamid Kufi in 1216-17 no known as Chachnama. By the first decade of the century, the
Mughal consolidated and expanded their sway over the whole of India and worked in the
direction of establishing law and order along with the promotion of arts and letters. Indo-Persian
historiography properly began with Hasan Nizamis book, Tajal Maathir, completed 1217
dealing with first two Sultans of Delhi, with first major work by Minhaj bin Siraj Juzdjanis,
Tabaqat-i- nasiri, completed in 1259. The establishment of the Mughal dynasty with Babur’s
victory at Panipat 1526, inaugurated a new era in history writing. As a consequence, Babur the
ruler of the small principality of Fergana had to give up his long cherished desire of ruling over
Samarqand by 1512 and turn his attention towards opening of gates of India by successive
invasions from 1519 to 1526. Abul Fazl, the historian of the time of Akbar the grandson of
Babur, pertinently notes that the meager resources of Kabul and rich resources of India might
have attracted Babur towards India. In 1526 Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi in the battle of Panipat
and founded the Mughal power in India. After this victory, Babur defeated the Rajputs in the
battle of Chanderi in 1528 and defeated the Afghans in the battle of Ghogra in 1529.

1.1 BABURNAMAH:
Babur’s autobiography known as Tuzk-i-Babri, Waqa-i-Babri or Babur amah is the best and
more faithful account of the most celebrated hero of Mughal history Babur continued the
 writing of his Turkey memoirs Tuzk-i-Babri in India. He has given us a fascinating account
of India and a frank description of the event of a large part of his region of four years in
India. These memoires were translated into Persian by a commendable accuracy by Rahim
Khan-i-Khanan Abdur (1589-90).

1.2 AKBARNAMAH:
With Yazdi’s Zafarnama setting the model for Timurid history writing, the next greatest
historical work by Abdul Fazal Akbarnama, on the same design but went much beyond that,
first text completed in 1004/1596. This official history of Babur’s, Humayun and Akbar not
only used a large amount of archival material. But also a number of specially commissioned
memoirs among which only few survive such as those of Gulbadan Begum.

1.3 HUMAYUNAMAH:
Gulbadan Begum, Humayun’s sister wrote her personal memoire as Humayunnamah.

Bayazid Bayat completed historical narrative as Tarikh-i- Humayun. Material like Tuhfa-i-
Akbarshahi by Abbas Sarwani was also especially sponsored.(written after 1579). Abdul
Fazi has a much larger vision of history what came to be considered a separate work, the Ain
Akbari containing massive fiscal, financial and social data, a detailed provincial gazetteer
and a cultural history of India. The work provide fairly firm baseline for a quantitative
history of India. It is also remarkable in being without any religious bias and in treating
Indian culture as composite one to which both Hindu and Muslim traditions have
contributed.

1.4 TUZK-I-JAHANGIRI:
Jahangir (1605-1627) followed the tradition of Babar in writing his memoires Tuzk-i-
Jahangiri. These are in Persian and appear to have begum to be written like a diary soon after
his succession to continue up to 1624. Jahangir writes in simple but literary prose, with a
surprising degree of frankness and his deep interest in Art and in natural history as well as
the lives of ordinary people particularly enlivens his memories for a modern reader.
1.5 PADSHAHNAMAH:
With Shahjahan (1628-1658) begins another series of official histories. First Muhammad
Amin Qazwini was commissioned to write the Padshahnamah, based on official records.
His account covered the first ten years of Shahjahans region. A shift from solar to lunar
calendar for dating events, and perhaps other reasons, led Shahjahan to commission Abdul
Hamid Lahauri to write the history of these ten years fresh. Lagauri ultimately produced a
very detailed account of the twenty years of Shahjahans region under the title,
Padshahnamah. The account of third decade was written as a continuation by his pupil
Muhammad Waris.

1.6 ALAMGIRNAMA:
Aurangzeb (1669-1707) had the history of his ten years reign, entitled the Alamgir Nama
written by Muhammad Kazim. All these official histories have some features in common.
They are accurate as to dates and details, for which official records are their main sources:
they pay much attention to geography and their authors are anxious to convey their reader
the imperial view, whether in accommodation or criticism of individuals or an assessment of
cause and consequences of various events. Their model is Abdul Fazl; for the narration of
events, through they obviously do not share his views on religion (now no longer official),
nor his very large vision of History that had embraced, as we have seen the full range of
economic and cultural life.
Since Aurangzeb did not allow any further official history to be written after 1668, the era
of private histories began. The most notable was Kafi Khans well known Muntakhab ul
Lubab, (1731) a general history of India. Saqi Mustaid Khans Ma: athir-i-Alamgiri
(1710-11) is designed to provide an ostensibly official history of Aurangzeb’s reign and
therefore follow the style of such histories but is much briefer. Aurangzeb’s reign is also
marked by the appearance of Hindu historians writing in Persian.

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 Question No 2: Analyze the role of Zaheer-ud- din Babar in the establishment of
Mughals rule in India?

ANSWER: The greatest thriving of northern Indian culture, art and majestic vigor certainly
took place during the period of influence of the Mughal monarchs of the 16th and 17th
centuries. The Mughals were Centrals Asians descendents of the great Mongol warriors
Ghengis Khan and Timur (Tamerlane), whose horsemen swept across the Eurasian
grasslands in the 13th and 14th centuries, conquering everything between Beijing and

Budapest. But until century, the great Mongol empire has splits although; their descanters’

fought over the territorial leftovers and tried their best to save their personal small sultanates.

1.1 ZAHEER- UD- DIN BABAR FOUNDER OF MUGHAL DYNASTY:

Zaheer-ud-din Muhammad Babur is known as founder of the Mughal dynasty which ruled
Indian Empire for almost one hundred and fifty years and won many laurels in various
domains of life. Zaheer-ud -Din Muhammad Babur, surnamed “Babur” was born in 1483 to
Omer Shaikh Mirza ( Fifth in male descendant from Taimur ) and Kutlak Nigar Khanum (
in the 15th degree from Chingiz khan ) thus he was connected with both families of Taimur
and Chingiz Khan ,thus he had in him the blood of the two great conquerors of Central Asia,
“the ferocity of the Mongol, and the courage and capacity of the Turks.” Two persons who
molded his personality were, his family teacher, Sheikh Majid and his own grandmother
,Ahsan Daulat Begum . He learnt Turki, Persian and poetry from his tutor and the art of
administration from his grandmother in his childhood. At the early age of 12, his father,
Sultan Omer Sheikh Mirza died and Babur became king of Farghana.

1.2 Babur’s Wanderings:

Babur, wandered for two years because he had no territory except a small hilly distract of
Khokand. The number of his followers had reduced to the point that he had to turn his reins
from Hisser to seek the hospitality of Sultan Ahmed, the great Khan of the Mongols. On his
way he decided to take a chance at Samarqand where great discontent prevailed against the
Uzbek conqueror. One dark night his supporters managed to smuggle him and his followers
 into Samarqand. He was hailed by the people who rose up in arms against the Uzbeks. It was
resulted a defeat of the Shaibani Khan. Babur’s joy knew no bounds. He celebrated his
success by marrying one daughter of each of his two uncles who had ruled at Samarqand.
Burning with revenge, Shaibani Khan reorganized his forces for a final showdown. Babur
moved out of Samarqand in 1501. A well contested battle was fought at Saripul, in which
Babur was discomfited. Samarqand was so vigorously besieged that the inhabitants of the
town began to starve. Losing all hopes of saving the town, Babur sued for peace and
surrendered the city of Samarqand. In 1503, Babur and his maternal uncles made a second
bid to conquer Farghana but were not succeeded.

1.3 First battle of Panipat (1526) :

Babur in order to set out for the conquest of India, first of all, he had to deal with Daulat
Khan who had turned out Ala-Ud-Din from Lahore. After defeating him, Babur advanced to
Delhi. Ibrahim Lodhi came out of Delhi to give battle to Babur. The opposing armies met on
the historic plains of Pani Pat. Babur had certain advantages, he sent out 4 to 5 thousands of
his men to make a mighty attack on the Afghan camp which failed in its object. When the
Afghan army came near Babur and noticed Babur’s front line defense, they hesitated and
thus lost the advantage of a shock charges. Babur took the advantage of the enemy’s
hesitation and directed his men to take up the offensive. Thus the superior general ship and
strategy of Babur won the day. Ibrahim Lodhi was killed fighting bravely.

1.4 Battle of Kanawha:

The victory of Panipat did not make Babur the ruler of India. He met a strong foe in Rana
Sanga of Mewar, who had a desire to occupy the throne of Delhi himself. Such a formidable
foe had to be disposed of if Babur was to have an unchallengeable position. In 1527, Rana
Sanga advanced with a large army, Babur also advanced to Fateh Pur Sikri. The advance-
guard of Babur was defeated by the Rajputs. His followers got dishearten. At this time Babur
demonstrated his qualities of leadership. He decided to capitalize on the religious fervor of
his army and ordered the breaking of the cups of wine. He repented of his past sins and
promised to give up wine for the rest of his life. The appeal and motivation had the desired
 effect. He started the attack with heavy artillery fire. After an obstinate battle the Rajputs
were defeated.

1.5 Death of Babur, 1530:

The circumstances leading to the death of Babur in December, 1530, were such that when
his son Humayun fell sick and it was declared that there was no possibility of his survival. It
was at this time that Babur is said to have walked three times round the bed of Humayun and
prayed to God to transfer the illness of his son to him. It is stated that from that time onward
Humayun began to recover and condition of Babar went from bad to worse and ultimately he
breathed his last. At the time of his death Babar was hardly 48 years of age.

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Question No3: Critically evaluate the performance of Sher Shah Suri and also
highlight his major achievements?

ANSWER:

SHAR SHAH SURI

Sher Shah Suri (1486 – 1545) (birth name Farid Khan, but also known as Sher Khan),
was the founder of the short lived Pashtun Suri or Sur, kingdom in the Indian subcontinent,
with its capital at Delhi. Sher Shah Suri was born in Rohtas district of Bihar in India in the
family of Mian Hassan Khan Sur, a prominent figure in the government. His grandfather,
Ibrahim Khan Sur, was recruited much earlier by Sultan Bahlul Lodhi of Delhi. The title
of 'Sher Khan' was Give to you for the fight with lion. Farid Khan started his service under
Bahar Khan Lohani, the Mughal Governor of Bihar. Because of his gallantry, Bahar Khan
rewarded him the title Sher Khan (Tiger Lord). After the death of Bahar Khan, Sher Khan
became the regent ruler of the minor Sultans, Jalal Khan.

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS:
 Sher Shah was a good general and administrator. He introduced a new currency, a silver coin
known as 'Rupee'. He reduced custom duties and built an excellent connection of roads,
including Grand Trunk Road in Bihar, which was 1,600 miles (2500 Kilometers) long. Sher
Shah was a secular ruler who practiced tolerance and welfare.

1.1 ADMINISTRATION:

1.1.1. Advice of the council of Ministers:

Sher Shah had a number of ministers to assist him in his administrative work. The ministers
looked after their respective departments. Their appointment and dismissal was at his discretion.

1.1.2. Provincial administration:

Historians have differed on the issue of Sher Shah’s provincial administration. While Qanungo
has opined that there was no administrative unit called ‘Suba’ or ‘Iqta’, Dr. P. Saran states that
there the entire kingdom was divided into provinces. Some provinces were very large and others
small. There was no uniformity with regard to their income, size and administration. In the
sensitive provinces like Lahore, Multan and Malwa, military governors looked after the
administration. On the other hand, the province of Bengal was administered by a civilian.

(a) Sarkars:
A province was divided into a number of Sarkars (Districts). In all there were 47 districts. There
were two chief officers in every district. The one chief Shiqdar or Shiqdar-i- Shiqdaran was a
military officer. He maintained peace and order in the district, helped in the collection of revenue
and other taxes and also supervised the work of his subordinate officers called Shiqdar.

The other officer was called the chief Munsif or Munsif- i-Muinsfan. He was primarily a judicial
officer who looked after justice in the district. He also looked after the working of his
subordinate judicial officers in the parganas. These two officers were helped by a number of
junior officers and other subordinates in carrying out their duties were ‘Subas’ where military
officers were appointed by Sher Shah.

(b) Parganas:
Each Sarkars was divided into small units called the parganas and each Parganas was further
subdivided into a number of villages. Like the Sarkars, there were two chief officers called a
Shiqdar (military officer) and Munsif (civilian judge) who were assisted by other staff in the
discharge-of their duties.

(c) Villages:

A village was the smallest self-sufficient unit, administered by village Panchayats. Sher Shah
introduced the system of transferring officers of the Sarkars and the Paragans every two or three
years so that they may not develop vested interest, the root cause of corruption.

1.1.3 Sources of income:

Important sources of income were:

(i) Land revenue

(ii) Taxes on the transportation of raw and finished products

(iii) The royal mint

(iv) Confiscation of the unclaimed property

(v) Tributes from the rajas, nawabs jagirdars, etc.

(vi) Gifts from the foreign travelers

(vii) Salt tax

(viii) Jaziya on the Hindus

(ix) One-fifth of the Khams (booty).

1.1.4 Land and revenue administration:

The revenue administration of Sher Shah has been regarded as one of the best during the
medieval period.

1.1.5 Welfare of farmers:

Sher Shah was very particular about the welfare of the peasants. He used to say, “If I oppress
them they will abandon their villages and the country will be mined and deserted.”

1.1.6 Law and order:

The most important contribution of Sher Shah was the reestablishment of law and order across
the length and breadth of the empire. Dacoits and robbers were dealt with very sternly. It has
been stated by several historians that during the reign of Sher Shah, an old woman might place a
basket of golden ornaments on her head and go on a journey without any fear. No thief or robber
would come near her for fear of punishment.

1.1.7 Local responsibility for theft:

The local people or the head (Mukhiya) of the village was responsible for the safety of the
people of the area and the travelers. It was the responsibility of the village Panchayat or the
local people to produce the culprit or to pay for the stolen goods. In case the local officers of the
village failed to trace the murderer, the headman was given the penalty of death. This method
helped to wipe off thefts, robberies and murders.

1.1.8 Fair judicial administration:

Sher Shah used to say and act upon it, “Justice is the most excellent of religious rites.” No one
could escape punishment on account of high status. The
Sultan was the highest judicial authority in the state. Sher Shah held his court every Wednesday
in the evening. Next to him was the chief Qazi who was the head of the department of justice.
There were subordinate Qazi in every district and in all important cities. This criminal law was
severe. The offenders were punished by Fines, Flogging, Improvements and even cutting of the
limb

1.2 CURRENCY:
The ratio of exchange between the Dam and rupee was fixed at 64 to 1. The same coin-rupee
ratio served the basis of the currency during the Mughal and British periods. Earlier there was no
fixed ratio among so many coins of various metal alloys. He abolished the old and mixed metal
currency. He issued fine coins of gold, silver and copper of uniform standard.

1.3 NETWORK OF ROADS:

Sher Shah constructed a network of roads connecting important parts of his empire within his
capital. He repaired old roads.

Shar Shah Suri Constructed the following FOUR Highways:

(i) Sadak-e-Azam (Grand Trunk Road) starting from Sonargaon in Eastern Bengal passing
through Agra, Delhi and Lahore and terminating at Peshawar, covering a distance of about 3,000
km;

(ii) From Agra to Jodhpur and the Chittor fort;

(iii) From Agra to Burhanpur;

(iv) From Lahore to Multan.

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Question No 4: Do you agree that Akbar’s religious and political strategy consolidated
Mughal rule in India?

ANSWER: Akbar did not inherit the luckless habits of his father. Instead the young emperor
began what was to be the greatest reign of the Mughals dynasty. A powerful and brave
character in his own right, tales of his superhuman strength and astute warriors mind preceded
Akbar’s whenever he went. Such reputation undoubtedly helped him expend the empire, as he
conquered nearly all of modern-day northern India and Pakistan, and successfully converted
independent states such as Gujarat and Rajasthan into his great Mughal Empire.
1.1 EARLY LIFE OF AKBAR THE GREAT:

Akbar (Abul Fateh Jalal-Ud-Din Muhammad Akbar, 14 October 1542-1605) was the third
Mughal Emperor. He was born in Umarkot (now in Pakistan). He was the son of
2nd Mughal Emperor Humayun. Akbar became the king in 1556 at the age of 13 when his father
died.

Bairam Khan was appointed as Akbar's regent. Soon after coming to power Akbar defeated
Hemu, the general of the Afghan forces, in the Second Battle of Panipat. After a few years, he
ended the regency of Bairam Khan and took charge of the kingdom. He initially offered
friendship to the Rajputs. However, he had to fight against some Rajputs who opposed him. In
1576 he defeated Maha Rana Pratap of Mewar in the Battle of Haldighati. Akbar's wars made
the Mughal Empire more than twice as big as it had been before, covering most of the Indian
subcontinent except the south.

1.1 RELIGIOUS POLICY:

Akbar was a Muslim. He realizes that to establish a strong empire, he had to gain the confidence
of his Hindu people who were the majority in India. Beyond his ability as an effective conqueror,
Akbar was a keen administrator who developed a centralized federal government that delegated
tasks to powerful bureaucracies. But above all, he is perhaps best known for recognizing the
importance of tolerance, which was paramount to his dynasty long-term viability. He got to
know that the religious people of other religions were often bigots (intolerant of others religious
beliefs). This led him to form the idea of the new religion, Sulh-e-kul meaning universal peace.
His idea of this religion did not discriminate other religions and focused on the ideas of peace,
unity and tolerance. This gesture of his made the Hindus and people of other religions call him
with different names and start loving him.

 Din-i- Ellahi :

Din-i-Ellahi was a religious path suggested by Akbar. Akbar is known for his liberal
ideas and liberal religious policy. He adopted a policy of mutual understanding and
 reconciliation among followers of different faiths and equality of all religions. He tried to
harmonize the relations. He founded a new religion known as ‘Din-i-Ellahi’ based on the
common points of all religions. Of course, in this endeavor he was not successful. It was
a code of moral conduct which reflected Akbar's secular ideas and he desire to achieve
peace, unity, tolerance in his empire.

 Main steps taken for religious harmony:

 1. Equal treatment with subjects of all faiths.

 Abolition of ‘Jaziya’ and other taxes imposed on the Hindus.

 Matrimonial alliances with Hindu families.

 Employment of Hindus at higher posts.

 Freedom of worship to all.

 Founding a new religion based on the common points of all religions.

 Impact of Akbar’s policy:

 Empire became strong.

 An environment of good will was developed.

 Social reforms took place.

 Cultural unity emerged.

 Akbar got the credit of being a national king.

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Question No5: Highlight the major achievements and failures of Jahangir as ruler of
India?
ANSWER:

EARLY LIFE OF JAHANGIR:

Jahangir (1569-1627), the fourth Mughal Emperor of India and patron of the arts, ruled
for 22 years. Noor-Ud-Din Muhammad Salem (Persian: ‫)نورالدین محمد سلیم‬, known by his
imperial name Jahangir (Persian: ‫( )جهانگیر‬31 August 1569 – 28 October 1627), was the
fourth Mughal Emperor, who ruled from 1605 until his death in 1627. His imperial name
(in Persian), means 'conqueror of the world', 'world-conqueror' or 'world-seizer' .The tale of his
relationship with the Mughal courtesan, Anarkali, has been widely adapted into
the literature, art and cinema of India. Saleem was named for one such man, Shaikh Saleem,
though Akbar always called him Shekhu Baba.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

Jahangir consolidated the gains made by his father. The courtly culture of the Mughals flourished
under his rule, like his great grandfather, Babar, he had an interest in garden, and Mughal
painting probably reached its zenith in Jahangir’s time. Jahangir married Noor Jahan, “Light of
the World” in 1611. Shortly after his death in October 1627, his son, Shah Jahan, succeeded to
the throne. He inherited a vast and rich empire; and at min-century this was perhaps the greatest
empire in the world, exhibiting a degree of centralized control rarely matched before.

JAHANGIR’S ARCHITECTURE:

 Akbar Tomb, Sikandar (1605-12)

 Anarkali’s Tomb, Lahore(1615)

 Building in Lahore Fort, including Moti Masjid and Bari Khawabgah, Lahore

 Sheikhupura Complex, Lahore

  Shalimar Bagh, Pathar Masjid, Srinagar(1619)

 Nishant Bagh, Pathar Masjid, Srinagar

 Khusrau’s Tomb Allahabad (1621)

 Itimad-ud-daulah’s Tomb, Agra (1622-28)

 Chaunsath Khamba, Delhi (1623)

 Khan-i-Khanan’s Tomb Delhi (1626)

DOWNFALL AND FAILURE OF JAHANGIR:

By 1622 AD the Persians and the Uzbeks were fully aware of the political loop holes and
handicaps that were jeopardizing Jahangir’s rule. This was posing a big threat to Jahangir as he
knew it well that the armies of Uzbeks and Persia were far stronger than his own army. These
Uzbek and Persian army’s started attacking Jahangir’s forces thus shaking their confidence and
making them weak. Jahangir who wanted to depend on his eldest son Shah Jahan was not giving
his support thus weakened the Mughal king and made him ill in the process. He was shifted to
Kashmir for a change of environment, but he was too stressed and depressed that all the
medicines and therapies failed on him.

On 7th November 1627 the ‘Conqueror of the World’ left for the heavenly abode. He was
succeeded by his son Shahan Jahan on 28th November 1627 under the patronage of his Father in
law, Asaf Khan.