Mughal Empire — Set 8

Correct Answer: B. Universal Peace

• **'Sulah-i-Kul'** = **'Universal Peace'** or 'Peace with All' — the cornerstone of **Akbar's** religious policy. • It meant no religion was superior; the state protected all faiths equally without discrimination. • This principle led to Ibadat Khana debates and ultimately inspired the **Din-i-Ilahi** in 1582. • 💡 'War with All' = opposite; Jizya Tax on non-Muslims = antithesis of Sulah-i-Kul; Conquest of South = military, not religious — Sulah = Universal Peace.

Correct Answer: A. Shah Jahan

• **Jama Masjid** in Delhi was built by **Shah Jahan** — completed in **1656** after 14 years of construction. • One of **India's largest mosques**; can accommodate **25,000 worshippers** simultaneously. • Built with **red sandstone and white marble**; stands directly across from the **Red Fort** in Old Delhi. • 💡 Jahangir = no major mosque in Delhi; Aurangzeb = built Moti Masjid (Red Fort); Akbar = built Agra Fort mosque — Shah Jahan built Jama Masjid Delhi.

Correct Answer: C. Shah Jahan

• **Shah Jahan** was imprisoned by his son **Aurangzeb** in **Agra Fort** — spent last **8 years** there. • From his prison room, he could gaze at the **Taj Mahal** across the Yamuna river. • He died in captivity in **1666**; buried next to his wife **Mumtaz Mahal** in the Taj Mahal. • 💡 Jahangir = not kept captive; Akbar = died naturally at Agra; Humayun = died in staircase accident — only Shah Jahan was imprisoned by his son.

Correct Answer: C. Inlay work in stone

• **'Pietra Dura'** (also called **'Parchin Kari'** in Mughal India) = **inlay work** of cut, polished, colored stones. • Precious stones like **lapis lazuli, malachite, jade, carnelian** were inlaid into white marble backgrounds. • Most notably used in the **Taj Mahal** (Agra); also in Itimad-ud-Daulah and Red Fort. • 💡 Textile weaving = not stone inlay; Miniature painting = 2D art; Garden layout = Charbagh — Pietra Dura = stone inlay only.

Correct Answer: B. Muzaffar Shah III

• **Muzaffar Shah III** was the ruler of **Gujarat** defeated by **Akbar** in **1572**. • This conquest gave Mughals access to **sea trade** with Persia, Arabia, and Europe via western ports. • **Buland Darwaza** at Fatehpur Sikri was built to **commemorate** this Gujarat victory. • 💡 Baz Bahadur = ruler of Malwa (defeated **1561**); Mahmud Begada = earlier Gujarat sultan; Rani Durgavati = Gondwana ruler — Muzaffar Shah III = Gujarat **1572**.

Correct Answer: B. Akbar

• **Akbar's** full name was **Jalal-ud-din Muhammad Akbar** — born at **Umerkot (Sindh)** in **1542**. • He became emperor at age **13** (1556) after Humayun's death; Bairam Khan served as regent. • The name 'Akbar' means 'the great' in Arabic — though full original name starts with Jalal-ud-din. • 💡 Humayun = Nasir-ud-din; Babur = Zahir-ud-din; Jahangir = Nur-ud-din (Prince Salim) — only Akbar's original name begins with Jalal-ud-din.

Correct Answer: A. Aurangzeb

• **'Bibi ka Maqbara'** is the tomb of **Rabia-ul-Daurani**, wife of **Aurangzeb** — in **Aurangabad, Maharashtra**. • Built in **1679** by their son **Azam Shah** — often called the **'Taj of the Deccan'** for its resemblance. • The quality of marble work is inferior to the Taj Mahal — Aurangzeb reportedly controlled costs. • 💡 Shah Jahan's wife = Mumtaz (Taj Mahal, Agra); Jahangir's wife = Nur Jahan; Akbar's wife = Jodha Bai — Aurangzeb's wife = Bibi ka Maqbara.

Correct Answer: A. Ilahi Gaz

• **'Ilahi Gaz'** (Yard of God/Emperor) was the standardized land measurement unit by **Akbar**. • It equaled approximately **32 inches** (81 cm) — replaced varying local measurement systems. • Used by **Raja Todar Mal** for accurate land measurement in the Zabti/Dahsala revenue system. • 💡 Bigha = pre-existing measure, not standardized by Akbar; Kos = distance measure; Sher = weight/price unit — Ilahi Gaz = Akbar's standard land unit.

Correct Answer: B. Tulsidas

• **Tulsidas** (author of **Ramcharitmanas**) was a famous Hindi poet contemporary to **Akbar's** reign. • He lived mainly in **Varanasi (Ayodhya)** and never visited Akbar's court despite being contemporaries. • Ramcharitmanas is in **Awadhi** — a vernacular Hindi dialect; written between **1574–1577**. • 💡 Surdas = also Akbar's contemporary (Bhakti poet); Kabir = earlier (**1440**–**1518**, pre-Akbar); Mirabai = slightly earlier — Tulsidas most closely linked with Akbar's era.

Correct Answer: B. Salim Chishti

• **Fatehpur Sikri** was built by **Akbar** to honor Sufi saint **Shaikh Salim Chishti** of Sikri. • The saint predicted the birth of Akbar's son; Jahangir was born there and named **'Salim'** after him. • Fatehpur Sikri served as Akbar's capital **1571–1585** before water shortage forced abandonment. • 💡 Moinuddin Chishti = Ajmer dargah; Bakhtiyar Kaki = Delhi (Mehrauli); Nizamuddin Auliya = Delhi — only Salim Chishti = Fatehpur Sikri.