Islam Shah Suri: Successor of Sher Shah Suri and Second Sur Ruler

After the death of Sher Shah Suri, the founder of Sur dynasty that almost supplanted the nascent Mughal Empire resulting in the exile of the second Mughal emperor Humayun from India, he was succeeded on the throne by his second son Jalal Khan on 25th May 1545 AD. Sher Shah died on 22nd May from an accidental explosion of gunpowder during his siege of the Hindu fort of Kalinjar in central India. Since it was felt by the nobles of the empire that someone was needed to be raised to the throne as early as possible they forsake his eldest son Adil Khan in favour of Jalal Khan who was in the town of Rewah which was nearer to Kalinjar than Ranthambore where the eldest son was present at the time of Sher Shah’s demise. 

 

Jalal Khan ascended the throne with the title of Islam Shah though he is more popularly known as Salim Shah. The fort he built in Delhi is also known as Salimgarh Fort, lying adjacent to the Red Fort built by the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan, the builder of Taj Mahal. 

A ruined mosque inside Salimgarh Fort / Image Credit

Though Islam Shah Suri tried to be an efficient ruler to some extent but he remained in constant dread of his elder brother Adil Khan who was nominated heir apparent to the Sur Empire. However, he succeeded in defeating Adil Khan who fled the battlefield. Nothing is heard of him after that.

Islam Shah’s reign was marked by intrigues and useless quarrels. He became suspicious of the nobles and thus embarked on a reign of tyranny and brutality. He died in November 1554 in Gwalior and was buried in Sasaram in Bihar near the tomb of his father. He was succeeded by his minor son Firuz Khan, who was twelve years of age at that time. After three days Firuz was murdered by his own maternal uncle Mubariz Khan, son of Nizam Khan Sur, Sher Shah's younger brother. Mubariz Khan was the brother of Firuz Khan's mother, Bibi Bai.  

Mubariz Khan ascended the throne under the title of Muhammad Adil Shah.

Key Points

• Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi is the only historical account on the reign of Afghan ruler Sher Shah Suri. It was written by Abbas Khan Sarwani and commissioned by third Mughal ruler Akbar whose father Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri at the battles of Chausa and Kanauj in 1540. 

• Tomb of Sher Shah at Sasaram was completed by Islam Shah Suri. 

• Tomb of Islam Shah Suri is also at Sasaram. It is one km north west of the tomb of Sher Shah's tomb.
• During the rule of Islam Shah Suri, prostration was made before the vacant throne  
• Kamran, brother of Humayun, tried to enlist the support of Islam Shah Sur against his own brother. However, Islam Shah Sur rebuffed his request.  

                     Incomplete Tomb of Islam Khan Tomb at Sasaram / Image Source

Bibliography 

SAA Rizvi: The Wonder that was India

Vijayanagar Empire

Though the origin of the Vijayanagar Empire is in the realm of debate, it can be said with certainty that its foundation in 1336 was a culmination of the political and cultural movement against the Muslim ideas and forces of Delhi Sultanate in the south India. This powerful kingdom continued to unfurl the banner of Hinduism for almost three centuries. The nucleus of the kingdom was the city of Vijayanagar, identified with present day Hampi (located on the banks of the Tungabhadra River) in Karnataka. 

Sangama Dynasty

There is unanimity among the historians that the kingdom was founded by Harihara and Bukka, sons of Sangama. The first dynasty which lasted from 1336 to 1485 was named after Sangama, father of the duo. After Harihara, Bukka ruled from 1356 to 1377. In 1374 he sent an embassy to China. He was succeeded in 1377 by his son Harihara II who ruled till 1404. During his rule of 27 years he strengthened the power of the Vijayanagar empire and was responsible for its supremacy over the whole of southern India.

Another important ruler of the Sangama dynasty was Deva Raya I who became its ruler in 1406 and ruled till 1422. Deva Raya II who ruled from 1424 to 1446 was the greatest ruler of the Sangama dynasty. He is known for his title Gajabetegara (a hunter of elephant). 

Saluva dynasty

The second dynasty, known as Saluva dynasty, was founded by Narasimha Saluva in 1485. The Saluva dynasty ruled till 1505. 

Taluva dynasty

Taluva was the third dynasty which ruled till 1570. This dynasty produced the greatest king of Vijayanagar empire, Krishnadeva Raya (ruled 1509-29). 

It was during the reign of the Taluva king Sadashiva Raya (1543- 69) that famous battle of Rakshasa Tangadi or Talikota in 1565 was fought in which Vijayanagar army was defeated by the combined forces of the five Muslim Sultanates of Deccan. This gave body blow to the empire. After this battle the kingdom lost its grandeur and glory. 

Aravidu dynasty

Though the rulers of the fourth dynasty, known as Aravidu dynasty, continue to rule till the middle of the seventeenth century, they were not able to retrieve the lost glory of the kingdom.

Indian History Questions: Sangam Age

Q. 1 Which of the following Sangam rulers is known as ‘Red Chera’?

(a) Senguttuvan

(b) Karikala

(c) Nedunjeral

(d) Elara

Answer (a)

Q. 2 Which of the following kings of the Sangam Age is credited with the foundation of Puhar or Kaveripattinam?

(a) Karikala

(b) Elara

(c) Vijayalaya

(d) Ilandiraiyan

Answer (a)

Q. 3 Karikala, the famous king of this period, belonged to which of the following dynasties did?

(a) Chola

(b) Chera

(c) Pandya

(d) Pallava

Answer (a)

Q. 4 Which of the following was not one of the royal dynasties of the Tamil country during the Sangam Age?

(a) Pandya

(b) Chera

(c) Pallava

(d) Chola

Answer (c)

Q. 5 The spies during the Sangam period were known as?

(a) Dutas

(b) Spasas

(c) Orrars

(d) Sanjayans

Answer (c)

Indian History Questions: Sangam Age

Q. 1 Which of the following Sangam rulers is known as ‘Red Chera’?

(a) Senguttuvan

(b) Karikala

(c) Nedunjeral

(d) Elara

Answer (a)

Q. 2 Which of the following kings of the Sangam Age is credited with the foundation of Puhar or Kaveripattinam?

(a) Karikala

(b) Elara

(c) Vijayalaya

(d) Ilandiraiyan

Answer (c)

Famous Sufi Saints of India

Khwaja Ali Hujjwiri

Popularly known as Data Ganj Baksh (Distributor of Unlimited Power), Khwaja Ali Hujjwiri lived in 11th century AD and is considered to be the earliest Sufi Saint of repute who made India his home. He died in Lahore and his tomb is an important place of pilgrimage. 

Khwaja Ali Hujjwiri is known for compiling Kashf-ul-Mahjoob or Kashf al-Mahjub, a Persian treatise on Sufism, which was translated into English by British Orientalist and scholar Reynold Alleyne Nicholson. The work gives the biographies of Sufis from Prophet Muhammad's days to his own time. 

Sheikh Bahaud-din Zakariya

Credited with the foundation of the Suhrawardiya Sufi order in India, Sheikh Bahaud-din Zakariya made Multan his base which also served as headquarters of the order. He was born at Kot Kehror (now known as Karor Lal Esan), near Multan.  

His tomb is situated in Multan.

Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti

The founder of the Chisti order in India, Khwaja Muinud-din-Chisti was also known as Khwaja Ajmeri. Headquartered in Ajmer in Rajasthan, Chisti was the most popular and famous Sufi order in India which attracted devotees from both Muslims and Hindus and continue to do so. He died in Ajmer in 1236.

Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki

The most important disciple of Moinuddin Chisti, Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki popularized the Chisti order in Delhi. He had come to Delhi some time after 1221. He died in 1235. His tomb is in Mehrauli in Delhi and it is said that Qutub Minar takes its name from this Sufi saint. 

Hamiduddin Nagauri

Another prominent disciple of Moinuddin Chisti, Hamiduddin Nagauri was instrumental in initiating Chisti order in Nagaur in Rajasthan.

Baba Farid-du-din Ganj-i-Shakar (1175-1265)

Popularly known as Baba Farid in Sikh tradition, Baba Farid-du-din Ganj-i-Shakar was the first great Sufi poet of Punjab. A disciple of Khwaja Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki, he built his khanqah (Sufi hospice) at Ajodan (presently Pakpattan in the Punjab province of Pakistan). More than 100 hymns written by him have been included in the Guru Granth Sahib, the sacred book of the Sikhs.

Leading a life of extreme poverty, Baba Farid used to wear worn-out garments. He subsisted on futuh and nazur (unsolicited gifts). It is said that when his son was to die of starvation he expressed his inability to do anything. He was succeeded by his most famous disciple Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya.

Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya

One of the most famous Sufi saints of Chisti order, Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya (1236-1325) inherited the spiritual mantle from Baba Farid-du-din Ganj-i-Shakar. He was also known as Mahboob-i-Ilaahi.

Shaikh Nasiruddin Muhamud

Shaikh Nasiruddin Muhamud, better known as Shaikh Raushan Chirag-i-Delhi (the lamp of Delhi), was a famous Sufi saint of Chisti silsilah, the most popular of the orders into which Sufis were organized. He was the disciple and successor of Shaikh Nizamuddin Aulia, the most prominent Sufi saint of the aforesaid order.

Gesudaraz Syed Muhamad Husayni

Chirag-i-Delhi’s famous disciple was Gesudaraz Syed Muhamad Husayni who is credited with the spread of Chisti order in South India. Famously known as Bandanawaz (benefactor of the creatures of God), he made Gulbarga in Karnataka his base.

One of the earliest to write in Urdu, Gesudaraz is said to have authored more than thirty books on Sufism.

Shaikh Badruuddin Samarkhandi

He was the founder of the Firdausi order wise influenced was confined to Bihar. Shaikh Sharfuddin Yahya Maneri, who lays buried in Bihar Sharif, district headquarters of Nalanda in the state of Bihar, was another prominent Sufi saint of Firdausi silsila.

Shah Nayamatulla Qadiri

He was the founder of the Qadiriya silsila in India. Dara Sikhoh, the eldest and most favourite son of Shahjahan, was a follower of this order. The order made its presence strongly felt in Uttar Pradesh and Deccan. Miyan Mir was the most famous Sufi saint of Qadiriya order.

Shah Abdullah Shuttari

He was the founder of Shuttari order. Its areas of influence were Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat.

Khwaja Baqi Billah

Born in Kabul in 1563, Khwaja Baqi Billah is the originator of Naqshbandiah silsilah in India. He died at an age of 40 in 1603 and lies buried in Sadar Bazaar area of Delhi. Shaikh Ahmad Sirhindi was the most prominent saint of Naqshbandiah order. Also known as Mujaddid Alif, Shaikh Ahmed Sirhindi died in 1624 at Sarhind in Punjab.

William Jones: Orientalist and Scholar of Ancient India

Born in London in 1746, William Jones was one of the most celebrated orientalists who came to Calcutta in 1783 as a judge of the Supreme Court.  His contribution to reveal of India’s past to the world is immense.

One of the best minds of the 18^th century, Jones was a linguistic genius. He knew all the important languages of Europe as well as Hebrew, Arabic, Persian and Turkish.      

William Jones was the president of the Asiatic Society of Bengal which he founded in 1784. He also published a journal named Asiatic Researches.  In 1789, William Jones translated Kalidasa’s Sakuntala. He followed it by translating Gita Govinda and the law-book of Manu which was published posthumously in 1794 under the title Institutes of Hindoo law.

   

Tantia Tope: Hero of the Revolt of 1857

Tantia Tope was the leader of the rebels of Central India who unfurled the banner of rebellion during the Revolt of 1857, known variously as First War of Independence, Sepoy Mutiny etc. The original name of this brave Maratha Brahmana was Ramchandra Panduranga who was endowed with indomitable spirit.

During the uprising, Tantia Tope, an expert in the original Maratha Gurilla tactics, joined the troops of Nana Saheb, leader of the revolt in Kanpur. He helped Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi in her fight against the British forces. After her death in the battle on the 17th June, 1858, the British devoted their energy chasing him from place to place. An act of betrayal by Man Singh, a feudatory of Sindhia, found Tantia Tope in the hands of the British who sentenced him to death on charges of rebellion and murder on April 18, 1859.