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Chapter: 08. Babur Humayun And Sher Shah
Key Rulers of the Era: Babur vs. Humayun vs. Sher Shah Suri
Points of Comparison
Babur
Humayun
Sher Shah Suri
Reign Period in India
1526–1530 CE
• 1530–1540 CE• 1555–1556 CE
1540–1545 CE
Dynasty / Rule Established
Mughal Empire
Mughal Empire (restored in 1555 CE)
Afghan Rule (Sur Dynasty)
Ancestry / Parentage
Descendant of Amir Timur and Chenghiz Khan
Eldest son of Babur
Son of Hasan Khan, a jagirdar of Sasaram in Bihar
Major Conquests & Victories
• Battle of Panipat (1526)• Battle of Khanwa (1527)• Battle of Chanderi (1528)• Battle of Ghagra (1529)
• Conquest of Gujarat and Malwa (later lost)• Recaptured Kabul and Kandahar• Recaptured Delhi and Agra (1555)
• Battle of Chausa (1539)• Battle of Kanauj (1540)• Conquered Malwa, Rajputana, Multan, Sind, and Punjab
Key Challenges Face
• Disunified Indian kingdoms• Homesick and war-weary soldiers• Ambitious Afghan nobles• Rajput confederacy under Rana Sanga
• Weak, unstable inherited empire• Hostile brothers (Kamran, Hindal, etc.)• Bahadur Shah of Gujarat• Sher Khan Suri
• Driving out the Mughals• Consolidating a new administrative setup
Death Details
Died on 26 December 1530 CE in Agra; buried in Kabul
Died from an accidental fall down the stairs of his library
Died in 1545 CE in an accidental gunpowder explosion during the siege of Kalinjar
Battles Fought by Babur in India
Battle
Year
Opponent(s)
Historical Significance & Outcome
First Battle of Panipat
1526 CE
Ibrahim Lodi (Sultan of Delhi)
• Ibrahim Lodi’s army was routed and he was killed.• Babur entered Delhi and was proclaimed Emperor of Hindustan.
Battle of Khanwa
1527 CE
Rajput confederacy under Rana Sanga of Mewar
• Babur won using superior artillery and cavalry.• Secured Babur’s supreme control over Central India.• Removed the biggest obstacle to Mughal rule.
Battle of Chanderi
1528 CE
Rajput forces under Medini Rai
• Babur captured the Rajput stronghold of Chanderi.• Almost all Rajputs perished; neutralized Rajput resistance to his authority.
Battle of Ghagra
1529 CE
Rebellious Afghans in Bihar and Bengal
• Babur inflicted a crushing defeat on the Afghans.• Made Babur the master of the Punjab, Delhi, and the Gangetic plain up to Bihar.
Key Battles Between Humayun and Sher Shah Suri
Points of Comparison
Battle of Chausa
Battle of Kanauj
Year
1539 CE
1540 CE
Key Opponents
Humayun vs. Sher Khan
Humayun vs. Sher Khan (Sher Shah)
Tactical Outcome
• Sher Khan launched a sudden attack during peace negotiations.• Mughal army was completely routed.
• Mughal forces were decisively defeated.
Humayun’s Escape / Fate
Jumps into the Ganga; floats down-river with the help of a water carrier’s inflated bag.
Forced into a 15-year exile (wandering from place to place).
Political Consequence
Sher Khan consolidated his hold and prepared for his next strike.
• Sher Khan became master of Delhi and Agra.• He assumed the title of “Sher Shah” and established Afghan rule.
Administrative Hierarchy of Sher Shah’s Empire
Administrative Division
Level in Hierarchy
In-Charge Officials / Supervising Bodies
Key Administrative Focus
Sarkar
Province (Highest regional division; 47 in total)
Afghan Chiefs
Overall provincial supervision and monitoring
Pargana
District (Subdivision of Sarkar)
Supervised by Shiqdar-i-shiqdaran and Munsif-i-munsifan
Local administration, peace-keeping, and tax assessment
Village
Lowest unit (Subdivision of Pargana)
• Panchayats (village elders)• Patwaris• Muqaddams
Local disputes, collection of land revenue, and maintaining peace
Key Administrative Officials under Sher Shah’s Rule
Official Title
Jurisdiction Level
Primary Responsibility
Accountability for Failure
Shiqdar
District (Pargana)
Responsible for law, order, and general administration
Not mentioned in text
Munsif
District (Pargana)
Looks after civil cases and collection of revenue
Not mentioned in text
Patwari
Village
Collection of land revenue in the villages
Not mentioned in text
Muqaddam
Village
Maintaining peace in the village
Severely punished if they failed to track down a robber or murderer in their area
Land Revenue Agreements under Sher Shah
Term
Literal Meaning
Purpose
Patta
Title deed of the land
Clearly defined the mutual rights and duties of the peasant and the government.
Qubuliat
Agreement of the land
Clearly defined the mutual rights and duties of the peasant and the government.
Literary Accounts of the Early Mughal Era
Points of Comparison
Tuzuk-i-Baburi (Baburnama)
Humayunnama
Subject Ruler
Babur
Humayun
Author
Babur
Gulbadan Begum (Babur’s daughter / Humayun’s sister)
Original Language
Turkish (translated to Persian during Akbar’s reign as Baburnama)
Not mentioned in text
Main Content
• Detailed memoirs of Babur’s personal adventures and achievements.• Habits, customs, appearance, and occupations of his countrymen.• Boundaries, resources, revenues, fruits, flowers, birds, and animals of Hindustan.
• Detailed account of Humayun’s life and reign.• Insights into the cultural and intellectual life of the royal court.• A unique female perspective on Mughal history.
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