Mughal Empire — Set 6

Correct Answer: C. King James I

• **King James I** was Britain's monarch when **Captain William Hawkins** visited Jahangir's court in **1608**. • Hawkins carried a letter seeking trade privileges; Jahangir gave him the title **'English Khan'**. • Hawkins spoke Turkish which Jahangir understood — they had personal rapport initially. • 💡 King Charles I = later (**1625**–**1649**); Queen Elizabeth I = **1558**–**1603** (EIC charter era); King George I = **1714** — James I sent Hawkins.

Correct Answer: B. Persian

• **Persian** was the official language of the **Mughal Court** — language of administration and high culture. • Early Mughals spoke **Chaghatai Turkic** natively, but adopted Persian as the prestige language. • British replaced Persian with **English** in **1835** (Macaulay's Minute on Education). • 💡 Arabic = religious/Quran; Urdu = developed later as court-bazaar mix; Turkish = Babur's mother tongue — Persian was official Mughal language.

Correct Answer: C. Nur Jahan

• **Nur Jahan** built the **Tomb of Itimad-ud-Daulah** for her father **Ghiyas Beg** in Agra. • Called **'Baby Taj'** — first Mughal structure built **entirely of white marble** (before the Taj Mahal). • Known for exquisite **pietra dura** (parchin kari) inlay — this technique was later perfected in the Taj. • 💡 Shah Jahan = built the actual Taj Mahal; Akbar = built in red sandstone; Aurangzeb = minimal marble buildings — Nur Jahan built Baby Taj.

Correct Answer: C. Muhammad Shah

• **Muhammad Shah** was called **'Rangeela'** (The Colorful) for his love of arts, music, and lavish lifestyle. • He ruled **1719–1748**; it was during his reign that **Nadir Shah invaded (1739)** and looted Delhi. • He was also the emperor when **Ahmad Shah Abdali's** first invasion of India began (1748). • 💡 Farrukhsiyar = Sayyid Brothers' puppet (killed **1719**); Jahandar Shah = **1712**–13 (brief); Shah Alam II = 1760s — Rangeela = Muhammad Shah.

Correct Answer: C. Guru Arjan Dev

• **Guru Arjan Dev** (5th Sikh Guru) was executed by **Jahangir** in **1606** — the **first Sikh martyr**. • Accused of blessing Jahangir's rebellious son **Prince Khusrau** and writing 'offensive' hymns. • He compiled the **Guru Granth Sahib (Adi Granth)** — the holy scripture of Sikhism. • 💡 Guru Angad = 2nd Guru, not executed; Guru Gobind Singh = 10th Guru, died **1708** under Bahadur Shah I; Guru Ram Das = 4th Guru, no execution.

Correct Answer: C. A holder of revenue assignment

• **'Jagirdar'** = holder of a **'Jagir'** — a revenue assignment of land in lieu of cash salary. • The Jagirdar could collect revenue from that area but **did not own the land** — it was state property. • **Not hereditary** — Jagirs were regularly transferred and rotated (Jagir transfers were a major Mughal policy). • 💡 Religious scholar = Mullah/Ulema; Village headman = Muqaddam; Fort keeper = Qiladar — Jagirdar = revenue assignee specifically.

Correct Answer: A. Abul Fazl

• **'Akbarnama'** was written by **Abul Fazl** — the official biography and history of Akbar's reign. • It is in **three volumes**: first two cover Akbar's life; third volume is '**Ain-i-Akbari**' (administration). • Abul Fazl was Akbar's closest friend; killed in **1602** at Salim's (Jahangir's) order near Allahabad. • 💡 Badayuni = wrote 'Muntakhab-ut-Tawarikh' (critical of Akbar); Todar Mal = finance minister; Faizi = poet — only Abul Fazl wrote Akbarnama.

Correct Answer: D. Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah

• **Nizam-ul-Mulk Asaf Jah** (also called Chin Qilich Khan) founded **Hyderabad** in **1724**. • He was Mughal Viceroy of the Deccan; frustrated with court politics, he declared independence. • Founded the **Asaf Jahi dynasty** — which ruled until **1948** when Hyderabad merged with India. • 💡 Murshid Quli Khan = Bengal's independent Nawab; Saadat Khan = Awadh's founder; Hyder Ali = Karnataka (Mysore) — only Asaf Jah founded Hyderabad.

Correct Answer: D. Akbar

• **'Jharokha Darshan'** was introduced by **Akbar** — the Emperor appeared on a balcony every morning. • Public could see the Emperor and gain **blessings (darshan)**; it reinforced the divine aura of the ruler. • **Aurangzeb discontinued** this practice in 1668 as he considered it un-Islamic (idol worship-like). • 💡 Humayun/Aurangzeb/Babur = never introduced this; Akbar began and Aurangzeb ended this public practice.

Correct Answer: B. Ustad Ahmad Lahori

• **Ustad Ahmad Lahori** is the chief architect of the **Taj Mahal** — commissioned by Shah Jahan. • Construction: **1632–1653**, using **white marble** from Makrana (Rajasthan); took **22 years**. • Over **20,000 artisans** from India, Persia, and Central Asia worked on the monument. • 💡 Ustad Mansur = Jahangir's court painter; Daswant = Akbar's painter; Mirak Mirza Ghiyas = Humayun's tomb architect, not Taj.