Mughal Empire — Set 3

Correct Answer: D. Sasaram

• **Sher Shah Suri's tomb** is located in **Sasaram, Bihar** — an octagonal structure in an artificial lake. • **46 metres** high; built during his **own lifetime** — a masterpiece of Afghan/Indo-Islamic architecture. • Designed by **Aliwal Khan**; balances Hindu and Islamic architectural elements beautifully. • 💡 Agra = Mughal capital, not his tomb; Delhi = Humayun's tomb; Lahore = Jahangir's tomb — Sher Shah chose Sasaram.

Correct Answer: A. A Dhrupad singer

• **Tansen** was a legendary **Dhrupad singer** in Akbar's court — one of the **Navratnas** (Nine Gems). • He composed ragas like **Miyan Ki Malhar, Miyan Ki Todi, Darbari Kanada** — all. • Originally named **Ramtanu Pandey**; trained under **Swami Haridas** before joining Akbar's court. • 💡 Persian poet = Faizi; Sufi Saint = Salim Chishti; Military General = Man Singh — Tansen was solely a musician.

Correct Answer: C. Personal rank/status

• **'Zat'** in the Mansabdari system = **personal rank/status** of the officer in Mughal hierarchy. • Zat determined the officer's **personal salary** (not military obligations — that was Sawar's role). • **Sawar** = number of **cavalrymen** the officer had to maintain; dual-rank system made it unique. • 💡 Number of horses = Sawar rank; Land area = Jagir (separate system); Weapons carried = not a Mansab category.

Correct Answer: A. Aurangzeb

• **Aurangzeb** completely banned **music and dance** from the royal court as un-Islamic practice. • He dismissed court musicians; ironically the largest number of **books on classical music** were written in his era. • He himself played the **veena** privately — a contradiction to his public ban on music. • 💡 Shah Jahan = architecture patron; Jahangir = painting patron; Akbar = most open to all arts — not the one who banned.

Correct Answer: C. Abdul Qadir Badauni

• **Abdul Qadir Badauni** translated the **Ramayana** into Persian during Akbar's reign. • Despite being a **secret critic** of Akbar's liberal policies, he was commissioned for multiple translations. • He also translated the **Mahabharata** (as 'Razmnama' — Book of Wars) under the same commission. • 💡 Abul Fazl = Akbarnama/Ain-i-Akbari; Todar Mal = finance; Faizi = Sanskrit translations/poetry — not Ramayana.

Correct Answer: D. Humayun

• **Dinpanah** ('Asylum of Faith') was founded by **Humayun** in Delhi, construction started **1533**. • It was meant to be Humayun's new capital city, built on the banks of Yamuna in Delhi. • **Sher Shah Suri** later demolished it and built his own capital **Shergarh** (Purana Qila) on the same site. • 💡 Babur = Agra-based, built no city here; Shah Jahan = built Shahjahanabad; Akbar = built Fatehpur Sikri — not Dinpanah.

Correct Answer: A. Shah Jahan

• **Prince Khurram** was the birth name of **Shah Jahan** — given by grandfather Akbar who loved him most. • Jahangir gave him the title **'Shah Jahan'** (King of the World) after his successful **Deccan campaign**. • He ascended the throne in **1628** after rebelling against his father Jahangir. • 💡 Aurangzeb = Muhi-ud-Din Muhammad; Jahangir = Prince Salim; Bahadur Shah I = Muazzam — Khurram = Shah Jahan only.

Correct Answer: A. Gulbadan Begum

• **Gulbadan Begum** (daughter of Babur, half-sister of Humayun) wrote **'Humayun-nama'**. • She wrote it at the request of her **nephew Akbar** to document Humayun's life and times. • It is remarkable as a **woman's account** of early Mughal domestic and political life — rare for that era. • 💡 Humayun himself = not the author; Maham Anga = Akbar's foster mother; Babur = wrote Baburnama, not Humayun-nama.

Correct Answer: D. Aurangzeb

• **Aurangzeb** was called **'Zinda Pir'** (Living Saint) for his austere, simple lifestyle. • He did NOT use the state treasury personally — earned by **sewing caps** and **copying the Quran**. • He fasted regularly, wore simple clothes, and strictly followed **Islamic Sharia** laws. • 💡 Humayun = called 'Insan-i-Kamil' by some; Shah Jahan = grand luxury lifestyle; Akbar = din-i-ilahi founder — not Zinda Pir.

Correct Answer: A. Shah Jahan

• **Red Fort (Lal Qila)** in Delhi was built by **Shah Jahan** when he shifted capital from Agra to Delhi. • Construction: **1638–1648** (10 years); named for its massive **red sandstone** walls; 2.4 km in length. • It is where India's Prime Minister hoists the **national flag on Independence Day (15 August)**. • 💡 Jahangir/Akbar/Aurangzeb did NOT build the Red Fort — Shah Jahan built it as part of new city Shahjahanabad.