~ History of India ~

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Khilji Dynasty

After the decline of the Slave dynasty, the Sultanate became even more fragile and instable due to the numerous revolts and internal aggression. The Khilji dynasty started with the crowning of Jalaluddin Khilji by the nobles. This was around the year 1290 A.D. But within a few years, he was killed by his nephew Alauddin Khilji under a conspiracy hatched by the latter. The Khilji dynasty is also known by the name of Khalji dynasty. The history of Khilji dynasty is marked by brutal wars and internal conflicts among the rulers. Read on about the history of the Khalji dynasty.

The next territory that Alauddin Khilji conquered was that of Gujarat. Around 1301 A.D, he captured Ranthambhor and murdered the Rajput Hamir Deva. Then, he killed Rana Rattan Singh and captured Chittor. By 1305, he had captured territories like Malwa, Ujjain, Mandu, Dhar and Chanderi but couldn't capture Bengal. He had conquered almost entire north India by the year 1311 and established his kingdom successfully. Read about the main Khilji dynasty rulers of India.

Jalal ud-din Firuz Khilji
The first Indian ruler of the Khilji dynasty was Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji, who ruled from 1290 - 1294. He invaded India and built his capital in Delhi, though he never really ruled from there. He constructed another capital at Kilokhri, and ruled from there for around 6 years. During the time Mongols attacked the country, Jalal-ud-din Khilji put up a brave front and smart negotiations made the Mongols depart. They came back however, five years later and attacked once again when his nephew ascended on the throne. Jalal-ud-din Khilji was murdered by his own nephew when he was going to visit him in Kara.

Ala-ud-din Khilji
The second ruler of the Khilji dynasty was Ala-ud-din Khilji, whose real name was Juna Khan. He ruled in India from 1296-1316. He was the nephew and son-in-law of the first Khilji ruler, Jalal-ud-din Khilji. He killed Jalal-ud-din Khilji and then announced himself as the ruler of Delhi. Ala-ud-din expanded his territory into the peninsular India within a short span of time. He died on January 1316 due to an acute health condition.

Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah
The third and last ruler of the Khilji dynasty in India was Qutb-ud-Din Mubarak Shah. He was the weakest ruler of all and during his reign, all taxes and penalties were abolished. He released all prisoners of war who were captured after waging gruesome battles. He was ultimately murdered by Khusru Khan and this ended the Khilji dynasty in India.

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Lodi Dynasty

The Lodi dynasty in India arose around 1451 after the Sayyid dynasty. The Lodhi Empire was established by the Ghizlai tribe of the Afghans. They formed the last phase of the Delhi Sultanate. There were three main rulers in the history of Lodi dynasty. All three of them have been discussed in detail in the following lines. So read on about the Lodi dynasty history.

Buhlul Khan Lodi
Buhlul Khan Lodi (1451-1489) was the founder of the Lodi dynasty in India and the first Afghan ruler of Delhi. He was an Afghan noble who was a very brave soldier. Buhlul Khan seized the throne without much resistance from the then ruler, Alam Shah. His territory was spread across Jaunpur, Gwalior and northern Uttar Pradesh. During his reign in 1486, he appointed his eldest son Barbak Shah as the Viceroy of Jaunpur. Though he was an able ruler, he really couldn't decide as to which son of his should succeed him as the heir to the throne.

Sikandar Lodi
After the death of Buhlul Khan, his second son succeeded him as the king. He was given the title of Sultan Sikander Shah. He was a dedicated ruler and made all efforts to expand his territories and strengthen his empire. His empire extended from Punjab to Bihar and he also signed a treaty with the ruler of Bengal, Alauddin Hussain Shah. He was the one who founded a new town where the modern day Agra stands. He was known to be a kind and generous ruler who cared for his subjects.

Ibrahim Lodhi
Ibrahim Lodhi was the son of Sikander who succeeded him after his death. Due to the demands of the nobles, his younger brother Jalal Khan was given a small share of the kingdom and was crowned the ruler of Jaunpur. However, Ibrahim's men assassinated him soon and the kingdom came back to Ibrahim Lodhi. Ibrahim was known to be a very stern ruler and was not liked much by his subjects. In order to take revenge of the insults done by Ibrahim, the governor of Lahore Daulat Khan Lodhi asked the ruler of Kabul, Babur to invade his kingdom. Ibrahim Lodhi was thus killed in a battle with Babur who was the founder of the Mughal dynasty in India. With the death of Ibrahim Lodhi, the Lodhi dynasty also came to an end.

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Sayyid Dynasty

After the Tughlaq dynasty disintegrated, the Sayyid dynasty rose to power. They were essentially the rulers of the Delhi Sultanate of India and reigned from 1414 to 1451. The history of the Sayyid dynasty is not clearly known but they claimed to be the descendants of Prophet Mohammed. The Sayyid Empire was formed amidst chaos when there was no figure of authority to control Delhi. The Sayyid dynasty had four basic rulers.

Khizr Khan
The founder of Sayyid dynasty was Khizr Khan and ruled from 1414-1421. He was known to be an able administrator and was very soft natured. He never resorted to bloody battles until it was absolutely necessary. It was his kind and docile nature that did not let him acquire many kingdoms during his reign. He defeated the Hindus of Daob, Kalithar and Chandwar since they had stopped paying tributes. Though he didn't wage many battles during his reign, he was busy suppressing revolts in different parts of his kingdom. He could not come up with many great reforms but still he was greatly respected and loved by his subjects.

Mubarak Shah
After the death of Khizr Khan, his son Mubarak Shah succeeded him on the throne. Like his father, Mubarak Shah was a wise man and an efficient ruler and remained on the throne from 1421-1434. He used his resources carefully and to the fullest. He was a devout Muslim and cared for his subjects. He was not quite able to possess many areas and kingdoms during his rule and kept suppressing revolts like his father. The city of Mubarakabad was founded by him in the year 1433.

Muhammad Shah
After the death of Mubarak Shah, his brother's son Muhammad Shah succeeded him on the throne since Mubarak Shah did not have a son. Muhammad Shah ruled from 1434-1444. He was not an able ruler and misused his power and position of authority. He lost the trust and affection of his nobles and royal force who had freed him from his captors. He was lethargic and lazy ruler who just wanted to live his life in pleasure.

Alam Shah
After the death of Muhammad Shah in 1444, his son took over the throne under the title of Alam Shah. During the year 1447, he visited a place called Baduan and loved it so much that he decided to stay there forever. Till 1451, Delhi was ruled by Buhlul Lodhi. Alam Shah ruled Baduan till he died in the year 1478. with his death the Sayyid dynasty came to end.

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Tughlaq Dynasty

The Tughlaqs were basically of Turkish origin and the family was essentially Muslim. Around the year 1321, Ghazi Tughlaq ascended the throne and was given the title Ghiyath al-Din Tughlaq. The Tughlaq dynasty was able to withhold its rule due to their strong allies like the Turks, Afghans and the Muslim warriors of south Asia. In the following lines, you shall find information about the history of Tughlaq dynasty and the major rulers of this dynasty. So read about the Tughluq Empire.

Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq
Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty in India. His real name was Ghazi Malik and he ruled from 1320 - 1325. He was the one who founded the city of Tughlaqabad outside Delhi. He waged a gruesome battle against Khusrao Khan, who killed the last Khilji ruler. His successful defense against the Mongols made him an able ruler and the founder of a dynasty in India. He conquered many areas including eastern portion of Bengal, a huge territory.

Mohammed bin Tughlaq
One of the most controversial rulers in India, Mohammed bin Tughlaq was the successor of Ghazi Tughlaq. The empire was spread and his rule grew. He was a brilliant person who had full command over mathematics and medicine. Yet, he was considered crazy by those who were there in his court. He was known to mete out very cruel and brutal punishments to people who were found guilty of even small mistakes. He shifted his capital from Delhi to a place in the outskirts known as Daulatabad which harmed his reputation amongst policy makers.

Feroz Shah Tughlaq
Feroz Shah Tughlaq was the successor of Mohammed Bin Tughlaq. Feroz Shah was a caring ruler unlike Mohammed bin Tughlaq. He made sure that people in his kingdom were happy and heard out their problems patiently. However, he was not militarily strong and could not sustain any sort of external attacks or aggression. Feroz Shah breathed his last in the year 1388 and after that the Tughlaq dynasty faded away in no time.

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Sikhism

Ranked as the world's fifth largest religion in the world, Sikh religion was founded around 500 years ago by Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Today the religion has over 20 million strong devotees all over the world. Sikhism preaches that there is only one God and denounces any kind of ritualism or superstitions. The history of Sikhism is enriched with valuable teachings of the ten enlightened Sikh Gurus. These teachings are compiled in a holy book known as Guru Granth Sahib. The book does not narrate the lives of the Gurus, but instead highlights the teachings and message of universal love given by the Gurus.

Guru Granth Sahib
The holy book of the Sikhs is known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. For devout Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is not a book or a holy scripture. Instead it is a living Guru to them who guides them in the right path of life. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is also known by the name of Adi Granth Sahib. The word Guru basically means one who enlightens; Granth is Punjabi for book; Sahib is a Hindi word which means a Master.

Guru Nanak
Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism is considered to be the first Sikh guru. Guru Nanak Dev was born on 20th October, 1469 in a place called Nankana located in the present day Pakistan. Guru Nanak is revered by both Hindus and Muslims alike and his teachings are practical and emphasize on peaceful co-existence rather than conducting rituals and performing religious rites.

Sikh Khalsa
Khalsa in Sikhs was started off by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs. The basic meaning and essence of Khalsa is "Pure" and it is the title given to those Sikhs who have tasted Amrit or in other words, have been baptized. The rise of the Sikh Khalsa force dates back to 13th April, 1699 at a place called Anandpur Sahib in India.

Sikh Gurus
The religion of Sikhism was founded and established by Sikh Gurus. The teachings and philosophies of the 10 Sikh gurus have made the foundation of the Sikh religion really strong. These Gurus were believed to have been sent from the heavens above and their mission in human life was to enlighten people and spread the message of love and peace. Each of the ten Gurus made his own contribution to the religious philosophies and ideals and they are as practical today as they were back then.

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Guru Granth Sahib

The holy book of the Sikhs is known as Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji. For devout Sikhs, the Guru Granth Sahib is not a book or a holy scripture. Instead it is a living Guru to them who guides them in the right path of life. Sri Guru Granth Sahib is also known by the name of Adi Granth Sahib. The word Guru basically means one who enlightens; Granth is Punjabi for book; Sahib is a Hindi word which means a Master. Thus, Shri Guru Granth Sahib is actually considered to a permanent living master who provides the right path to enlightenment. 

The Guru Granth Sahib has 1430 pages and consists of actual words spoken by holy Gurus. The holy book also consists of teachings of famous Hindu and Muslim saints. The language used for the text is Gurmukhi and also contains chapters written in Sanskrit, Persian, Punjabi and Khariboli. The fifth Sikh Guru Arjan Dev compiled the Guru Granth Sahib for the first time in the year 1604 at Amritsar. After the death of the tenth and last Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, it was declared that there shall be no more Sikh Gurus but the Granth Sahib would act as a living Guru for all from now on.

Every Gurdwara (Temple of Sikhs) keeps the Granth Sahib in the main Durbar or Hall. The book is kept on a raised platform and is decorated with beautiful robes. The platform is covered with a splendid canopy as a symbol of respect to the Holy Book. Guru Granth Sahib is not worshipped as an idol since Sikhism condemns idol worship. It is worshipped as a symbol of enlightenment and the knowledge that is present within the book is worshipped. The hymns are sung to ragas of classical music and different Talas (rhythmic beats).

Message of Guru Granth Sahib
The Guru Granth Sahib has a very valuable message for humanity. The Holy Book emphasizes on the concept that one can attain enlightenment if one controls his/her emotions and desires and meditating sincerely. The main messages that the Guru Granth Sahib delivers are listed below.

All People of the World are Equal

Control the Five Vices

Follow God's Hukam (Universal Laws)

God is one for all

Practice Humility, Kindness, Compassion, Love, etc.

Remember the name of God always

Speak and Live Truthfully

Women are Equal to Men

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Guru Nanak

Guru Nanak Dev was the founder of Sikhism is considered to be the first Sikh guru. Guru Nanak Dev was born on 20th October, 1469 in a place called Nankana located in the present day Pakistan. Guru Nanak is revered by both Hindus and Muslims alike and his teachings are practical and emphasize on peaceful co-existence rather than conducting rituals and performing religious rites. The life history of Guru Nanak Dev Ji is very inspiring and interesting. Read this biography of Sri Guru Nanak Dev to know more.

Guru Nanak showed extra ordinary talent since a very young age. When he was born, an astrologer prophesized that he would achieve fame as a great man and spiritual leader. When Guru Nanak Dev was just 5 years old, he surprised everyone by talking about God and high level spiritual knowledge. He was a brilliant student and was well versed in languages like Hindi, Persian, Punjabi and Sanskrit. Even though he was brilliant in studies, he preferred to seek spiritual knowledge and meditate.

He had no interest in business or working to earn a living and collect money. Once his father gave him some amount to start a business of his own, but he spent the money on some hungry ascetics whom he met on the way. He married at the age of 16 and had a happy married life. Despite having a domestic life, he never left meditating and pursuing higher knowledge and level of realization. But very soon, he left home to seek out the higher truth.

Guru Nanak never differentiated between men and ate with the poor with as much pleasure as he ate with the rich. He believed that the poor man's bread was much more rich and pure than the rich man's bread. He once squeezed the bread of a poor man and a rich man. The poor man's bread oozed milk and the rich man's bread oozed blood. This way he taught that people should make a living honestly and not through unfair means.

Guru Nanak never differentiated between different religions and considered all Gods to be the same. He condemned the elaborate rituals that were performed in the name of religion. Once, Guru Nanak visited Haridwar where he saw that people were offering water to the Sun in the belief that the water would reach his forefathers. Guru Nanak started to throw water in the opposite directing saying that if water could reach dead people in heaven, the water that he offers can certainly reach crops in his field. This way he proved the ineffectiveness of these meaningless rituals.

Guru Nanak did not believe in these mindless superstitions and rituals. He always believed and taught that there was only one God who was omnipresent. He taught that chanting God's name and living life purely would free a person from the cycle of birth and death. To make it easier for people to take God's name, he prepared the Japji, which was essentially a morning prayer. He also composed a set of poems that constitute the first chapter of Guru Granth Sahib which is the holy book of the Sikhs. His teachings and philosophies continue to inspire many around the world. Guru Nanak breathed his last in 1538 when he was 70 years old. He appointed one of his disciples as the second Guru and named him Angad.

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Sikh Khalsa

Khalsa in Sikhs was started off by Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru of Sikhs. The basic meaning and essence of Khalsa is "Pure" and it is the title given to those Sikhs who have tasted Amrit or in other words, have been baptized. The rise of the Sikh Khalsa force dates back to 13th April, 1699 at a place called Anandpur Sahib in India. Recently in the year 1999, the Sikhs celebrated 300 years of the Khalsa Revolution in a very grand way. A Khalsa must carry these five symbols, known as Panj Kakka with them always.

Kanga: A Khalsa must always carry a small comb in order to keep his/her hair in place.

Kachcha: A Khalsa must always wear warrior shorts as it provides agility and swift movement to a warrior. It is also a symbol of chastity.

Kara: A Khalsa must always wear a Kara or a steel bangle since it is a symbol of bondage and self-control. Wearing a Kara also dismisses all sorts of fears from the mind.

Kesh: A Khalsa must not cut hair as naturally grown hair gives the appearance of a saint. A turban must be worn on the head to protect the Kesh (hair).

Kirpan: A Khalsa warrior must have a Kirpan or a small sword for the purpose of defense and protection. It not only protects self but can also be used for defending the weak and helpless.

The story of the origin of Khalsa is very inspiring. One day, Guru Gobind Singh while addressing a crowd, asked who was ready to die in the name of religion and for his faith. After initial hesitation and feelings of confusion, a man named Bhai Daya Ram stepped forward ready to sacrifice his life. He was taken into a tent by Guru Gobind Singh. After some time, Guru Gobind Singh emerged from the tent holding a sword drenched in blood. He again announced if there was anyone else ready to sacrifice to their life in the name of faith. Four more people stepped forward and their names Bhai Dharam Singh, Bhai Himmat Singh, Bhai Mohkam Singh, and Bhai Sahib Singh. All the four were taken inside the tent to be sacrificed. After some time, when the tent opened everyone saw the five men to be alive. These five men were then baptized and they became the Khalsa Brotherhood.

Khalsa was also used a major military force. One of the chief duties of a Khalsa was to protect the weak and the hapless. The Khalsa had weapons with them and were trained in martial arts. With the rising torture of the Mughal rulers, the Sikhs needed protection and the Khalsa were appointed for this purpose. The Khalsa rose as a strong military force of saint warriors that protected the weak and defenseless against the atrocities of the Mughal rulers. After the decline of the Mughals, the Khalsa was declared a democratic body that could go against the Maharaja of Punjab.

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Sikh Gurus

The religion of Sikhism was founded and established by Sikh Gurus. The teachings and philosophies of the 10 Sikh gurus have made the foundation of the Sikh religion really strong. These Gurus were believed to have been sent from the heavens above and their mission in human life was to enlighten people and spread the message of love and peace. Each of the ten Gurus made his own contribution to the religious philosophies and ideals and they are as practical today as they were back then. The first Guru of Sikhs was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. The last and tenth guru was Guru Gobind Singh. After him, the Sikhs have considered the holy book Guru Granth Sahib as their teacher. Read about each and every guru of Sikhism.

Guru Nanak Dev (1469 to 1539): Guru Nanak Dev Ji was the first Guru of the Sikhs. He is considered to be the founder of the Sikh religion and is worshipped as God among the Sikhs.


Guru Angad Dev (1504 to 1552): Guru Angad Dev was appointed the second Guru by Guru Nanak Dev himself. He is credited with standardizing the Gurumukhi script of Guru Granth Sahib.

Guru Amar Das (1479 to 1574): Guru Amar Das was the third Guru of the Sikhs and he started the concept of free food for all visitors of Gurudwara. He also created the prayer known as Ananda Sahib.

Guru Ram Das (1534 to 1581): The fourth Guru of the Sikhs, Guru Ram Das was the key person who organized the structure of the Sikh society. He also composed the marriage hymns and finalized them.

Guru Arjan Dev (1563 to 1606): Guru Arjan Dev was the fifth Guru of the Sikhs and is remembered as the first martyr among the Sikh Gurus. He was the one who compiled the teachings of the Gurus before him and called it the Adi Granth.

Guru Hargobind (1595 to 1644): The sixth Guru of the Sikhs was a saint, a soldier and an able sportsman. He was the one who told the Sikhs to carry swords with them for protecting the innocent masses against oppressive forces.

Guru Har Rai (1630 to 1661): The seventh Guru continued the tradition of carrying weapons and using martial arts for the protection of the weak and the helpless.

Guru Harkrishan (1656 to 1664): Guru Harkrishan died at tender age of seven yet left his impact on Sikhism. According to legends, when there was a smallpox epidemic in Delhi, the water blessed by the young Guru helped cure many people of the illness. Gurudwara Bangla Sahib was built in his memory.

Guru Tegh Bahadur (1621 to 1675): Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth Guru and master of the spiritual sword. He was the one who encouraged people to give away wealth in the name of charity with a pure heart and in the process, come closer to God. He was executed by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.

Guru Gobind Singh (1666 to 1708): The tenth and last Guru of the Sikhs was Guru Gobind Singh. He spread the teachings of the Sikhs far and wide and declared that after him there will be only one Guru for the Sikhs and that would be the Guru Granth Sahib.

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Mughal Empire

The Mughal Empire in India lasted from 1526 to 1858. The Mughal dynasty was established by able Muslim rulers who came from the present day Uzbekistan. The Mughal rule in India saw the country being united as one single unit and being administered under one single powerful ruler. During the Mughal period, art and architecture flourished and many beautiful monuments were constructed. The rulers were skillful warriors and admirers of art as well.

Akbar the Great
One of the greatest Mughal emperors to have ruled India was Akbar. He was popularly known as Akbar the Great because of his ability to rule efficiently and skillfully. Akbar was born on 23rd November, 1542 when his father Humayun and mother Hamida Bano were wandering in Iran.

Aurangzeb
The sixth ruler of Mughal Empire was Emperor Aurangzeb. He was the son of emperor Shah Jahan had his wife Mumtaz Mahal. He was born on 3rd November, 1618. A devout Muslim, he strictly adhered to Islam and made sure that his kingdom followed the same.

Babur
Emperor Babur has been known as the founder of Mughal Empire in India. He was born on 14th February, 1483 at a town called Andijan that is located in the present day Uzbekistan. He belonged to the Mongol tribe that also embraced Turkish and Persian.

Humayun
Emperor Humayun was the second Mughal emperor who ruled India. He was named Nasiruddin Humayun and was born on 6th March, 1508. He was declared emperor in the year 1530 and ascended the throne at the age of 22. Emperor Humayun lost the kingdom as soon as he gained it as he was inexperienced in handling a large empire.

Jahangir
Emperor Jahangir strengthened the Mughal Empire in India after his father Akbar. Jahangir was born on 31st August, 1569 and was named Nuruddin Salim Jahangir. Nuruddin has been derived from Arabic which means "light of faith". Jahangir is a Persian word which means "world conqueror".

Shah Jahan
Emperor Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal ruler of India. He was born on 5th January, 1592 and it is said that during the reign of Shah Jahan, the Mughal Empire prospered greatly like never before. The name Shah Jahan has been derived from Persian and it means "Emperor of the World".

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Akbar the Great

One of the greatest Mughal emperors to have ruled India was Akbar. He was popularly known as Akbar the Great because of his ability to rule efficiently and skillfully. Akbar was born on 23rd November, 1542 when his father Humayun and mother Hamida Bano were wandering in Iran. It is said that when Akbar was born, Humayun had nothing to distribute as a token of happiness. All he had was some musk which he broke into small pieces and gave to his well wishers. Humayun predicted that the fame of his son would spread everywhere like the smell of musk. Check out this biography of Akbar which sums up the life history of the Mughal Emperor.

Akbar spent his childhood in the rough terrain of Afghanistan. His early years were spent learning how to hunt, fight and mature into a skillful warrior. He did not find time to read and write and was illiterate. But his illiteracy did not hamper his quest for knowledge and desire to know about new things. Akbar had a huge library and a vast collection of books and scriptures. His courtiers read out the books for him. Akbar had the knowledge equivalent to some of the most learned scholars. He also was an admirer of fine arts and always encouraged, poetry, music and dance in his court.

Akbar ascended the throne at the tender age of 13 years in the year 1556. This was the time his father Humayun died after an accident. During his initial years as an emperor, he was helped by his General known as Bairam Khan. After sometime however, he was removed by Akbar due to misunderstandings. After Bairam Khan, his nurse and aunt tried to gain control over Akbar and started to influence his thoughts. But she was not successful in doing so and Akbar then decided to take the empire and administration in his own hands.

With time and experience, Akbar proved to be an efficient ruler. His kingdom never had any woes and administration was smooth. Akbar was a great admirer of art and architecture and constructed many palaces and monuments during his reign. The famous ones are the Red Fort and the Fateh Pur Sikri located at Agra. Akbar was tolerant of all other religions and did not differentiate between Hindus and non-Hindus. He appointed many Hindus at high posts in his kingdom and was one of those very few rulers who was able to win over their trust and loyalty.

Akbar had three sons, two of whom died when they were young. The last prince known as Prince Jahangir, was in constant revolt with his father. These regular battles against his own son proved detrimental for his health and the great Mughal Emperor Akbar breathed his last in the year 1605. He was buried with full honors and many grieved the death of this great emperor and able ruler. His magnificent tomb is located at Agra.

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Aurangzeb

The sixth ruler of Mughal Empire was Emperor Aurangzeb. He was the son of emperor Shah Jahan had his wife Mumtaz Mahal. He was born on 3rd November, 1618. A devout Muslim, he strictly adhered to Islam and made sure that his kingdom followed the same. He was not religiously tolerant like his ancestors and made Islamic law the foundation of reign. He destroyed many Hindu temples and forced many non-Muslims to convert into Islam. Read this short biography to know more about the life history of Mughal emperor Aurangjeb.

Aurangzeb retained the throne for almost 50 years. He spread the extent of Mughal Empire to the entire Indian sub continent barring the southernmost tip of India. However, his constant battles and wars overextended the empire alarmingly and isolated from the Rajput allies. The subjects and citizens showed resentment but no one had the power or strength to do a revolt. The religious policies of Aurangzeb widened the gap between Hindus and Muslims. He had a very strong hand and is generally considered to be the last successful Mughal emperor.

Aurangzeb was a simple man who led a pious life. He never touched alcohol and led a simple life. His predecessors were lavish in their lifestyle and collected anything that was beautiful, precious and unique. Aurangzeb did not like architecture and not many monuments are credited to him. Aurangzeb disliked music and banned any form of music or dance in his kingdom. Most of his life was spent on the battlefield conquering territories and trying to conquer the Deccan.

Though Aurangzeb was an able warrior and fiercely protected his territories, his weakness was that he was too strict and cruel. He never committed injustice and remained a just ruler. However, his state policies and way of ruling only angered the citizens and they turned against him. His constant warfare and waging battles emptied his treasures and slowly the Mughal Empire started to go towards its decline. By the time he reached 90 years of age, he realized he had committed many sins and led the life of an ascetic. He died on 3rd March, 1707 and was buried in a modest tomb.

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Babur

Emperor Babur has been known as the founder of Mughal Empire in India. He was born on 14th February, 1483 at a town called Andijan that is located in the present day Uzbekistan. He belonged to the Mongol tribe that also embraced Turkish and Persian. He was named Zahiruddin Muhammad and was called Babar affectionately. Babar is derived from Persian language and means lion. Babar rose to power by his determination and strength and set the foundation of the Mughal Empire for his future generations. Read this short biography of King Babur.

The Mughal Emperor Babar is described as a military genius and a skillful warrior. He is known to have built an empire of good fortune and immense stability. Not only was he an able administrator, but also a lover of fine arts and poetry. It is said that he loved nature and built many beautiful gardens and sprawling lawns. He used to organize warm welcome parties at these gardens and any spot of natural beauty. He was a warrior of extraordinary strength and is said to have climbed mountains just for exercise.

Babur was a poetic genius and his creations have been compiled as an autobiography known as Babar-nameh. They were translated into Persian during the rule of Akbar. They were then translated into English during 1921-22 and the compilation was titled "Memoirs of Babar". One finds valuable information in these works and they define Babar as someone who was very noble and kind hearted. He was a very witty person who had a streak of adventure and a keen eye for natural beauty.

Babar attained his first power position at the mere age of 12! In the year 1494, he succeeded his father as the ruler of Fargana, which is located in the present day Uzbekistan. But his uncles were greedy and did everything possible to displace him from his position and rob his territories. Babar had to spend quite some time in exiles and roam around without any shelter. His only well wishers were peasants and friends who gave him food every now and then. Babar attacked a city called Samarkand and got possession of it after a struggle of seven months. However, he was robbed off Fargana after a rebellion amongst nobles in his kingdom.

By the 16th century, Babar was determined to conquer Afghanistan and India. It is said that Babar had no plans of conquering India as such, but after Fargana was robbed off him, conquering India seemed like an attractive option. He conquered Kabul located in Afghanistan after waging a fierce battle against the nobles and the rulers. Babar crossed the mountains and somehow came to India. After waging fierce battles against the Rajputs and Lodhis, Babar managed to take possession of Delhi and Agra. After that he rapidly started to spread his territory and conquered most of Indian sub-continent and Afghanistan. He was succeeded by his eldest son Humayun who further consolidated the empire in India.

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Humayun

Emperor Humayun was the second Mughal emperor who ruled India. He was named Nasiruddin Humayun and was born on 6th March, 1508. He was declared emperor in the year 1530 and ascended the throne at the age of 22. Emperor Humayun lost the kingdom as soon as he gained it as he was inexperienced in handling a large empire. But with time and his efforts, he regained it back with some help from the Persian forces. Read this short biography to know the life history of king Humayun.

The empire that Humayun inherited after his father Babar was very unstable and lacked strong administration. This made him face many problems from the very start. The weak empire attracted aggression from external forces like the Afghans, Rajputs, etc. His biggest rival was Sher Shah Suri who defeated him in the battle of Kannauj in the year 1540. He was left with no option but to leave India and escape to Iran for sometime.

While he was wandering in Iran and Sindh, he met a young Persian girl named Hamida Bano whom he married. After a year, they had a son whom they named Akbar. According to local legends, Humayun did not have anything but some musk to gift to his well wishers and followers at that time. He broke the musk into small pieces and distributed it among his men. He predicted that one day the fame of the prince would spread like the smell of musk.

The Mughal Empire remained inactive for a period of nearly 15 years. Sher Shah Suri established his own dynasty and called it the Suri dynasty. In the year 1555, Humayun came back with a strong force and fierce determination and recovered his kingdom back. He ruled over most of India, Pakistan and Afghanistan and was an efficient ruler. He was quite the gentleman and had much interest in astrology and mathematics. Humayun was inclined towards the finer things in life and was not a very fierce warrior. He was very affectionate towards his brothers and did not punish them even though they had betrayed his trust many times.

Though Humayun managed to get his kingdom back, he couldn't rule for long. One day while coming down from his library, he slipped and fell down the stairs. He suffered massive injuries including a skull fracture. Due to his advancing age and lack of medicinal facilities, he died a tragic death. The kingdom was left with his son Akbar.

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Jahangir

Emperor Jahangir strengthened the Mughal Empire in India after his father Akbar. Jahangir was born on 31st August, 1569 and was named Nuruddin Salim Jahangir. Nuruddin has been derived from Arabic which means "light of faith". Jahangir is a Persian word which means "world conqueror". Jahangir was an able administrator who had a penchant for the finer things in life. He was not a brutal warrior but a learned politician. Read this short biography to know the life history of Mughal Emperor Jehangir.

Jahangir received the best education that was available at that time. His father Akbar was very particular that his son received the best education that was available in the kingdom. At the age of four he was taught Turkish, Urdu, Persian, Arabic, Arithmetic, Geography, History, Sciences, etc. At a very young age, he was given the rank of a Mansabdar of ten thousand, which is the highest rank in military after the Emperor. At the mere age of twelve, he commanded a regiment independently in the Kabul campaign.

Emperor Jahangir married many times and the girls were from very high-class noble families of the Mughals and Rajputs. A Rajput princess known as Jagat Gosain was his favorite and she gave birth to Shah Jahan, Jahangir's successor. He also married the famous Noor Jahan, who was the widow of Sher Afghan. Noor Jahan was supposed to be unparalleled in beauty and intelligence. This was the reason why Jahangir was attracted towards her. She proved to be the driving force behind Jahangir and made him strengthen the empire.

Jahangir loved fine arts and encouraged the growth the poetry, paintings, dance, music, etc. He was also a good writer and loved nature. He penned down his life and his experiences in the form of an autobiography named Tuzk-e-Jahangiri. He was a collector of paintings and many of them are still preserved in a museum. He was famous for his "Chain of Justice", which was a golden chain attached to some bells outside his palace. Anyone in despair could pull the chain and go in for a personal hearing from the emperor himself. Jahangir died in the year 1627 and was buried in a magnificent tomb at a place called Shahdra, located in present day Pakistan.