Babur: From the Battle for Supremacy in Central Asia to the Establishment of the Mughal Sultanate in India

The famous English novelist EM Foster writes that Macavelli, the inventor of modern political philosophy, had probably not heard of Babur. Had he heard, he would have been more interested in writing about his (Babur’s) life than writing a book called ‘The Prince’.

Babar was a character who was not only successful, but was also full of aesthetic sense and artistic qualities. While Zahir-ud-din Mohammad Babur (1483-1530), the founder of the Mughal Sultanate, is seen and described as a conqueror, on the other hand he is also considered a great artist and writer.

One historian writes about Stephen Dale Babur that it is difficult to decide whether Babur is more important as an emperor or as a poet and writer.

In today’s India, Babur is also considered by the people of a particular ideology of the majority Hindu class as an invader, plunderer, usurer, Hindu enemy, tyrant and oppressive emperor. This issue is not limited to this, but the ruling party of India, not only Babur, is seen against everything related to the Mughal Sultanate.

About five hundred years ago today, Babur established a sultanate which is Benazir in itself. He defeated Ibrahim Lodhi in the first battle of Panipat in 1526 and established a new sultanate in India. During its heyday, this sultanate held more than a quarter of the world’s wealth. The area of ​​this sultanate was spread over almost the entire subcontinent including Afghanistan.

Babur’s greatest introduction

But Babur’s life is a constant struggle. The biggest introduction of Babur in today’s world is his own autobiography. His book is known today as ‘Baburnama’ or ‘Tuzq-e-Babri’.

Nishat Manzar, chair of the Department of History at Jamia Millia Islamia, says that Babur’s life can be divided into two parts: one part is the struggle for supremacy in Central Asia between the Syr Darya and the Amu River and the other part is much shorter. But it is very important. Because in this part only in four years he established a great sultanate of India which lasted for almost three hundred years.

Muin Ahmed Nizami, a fellow of South Asian Islam at the Oxford Center for Islamic Studies, told the BBC that Babar, of Timurid and Genghis ethnicity, had inherited a small princely state named Farghana from his father, Omar Sheikh Mirza. The neighboring princely states of Fergana were ruled by their relatives.

He explains that, “He even had to lose his princely state. He spent most of his life campaigning and wandering in the desert. His attempts to regain his state continued to fail. Even circumstances forced him to return to India. forced to turn.”

Babur’s Autobiography

Babar wrote in his autobiography, referring to his frequent failures of that time: “For the days I lived in Tashkent, I lived in a very sad and dilapidated condition. There was hope. Most of the servants had left, and the few who remained with me could not move with me because of poverty…”

He further writes, “Finally I got tired of this wandering and homelessness and got bored with life. I said in my heart that, it is better to go wherever possible than to live such a life. To hide so that no one can see It is better to go away as far as possible than to live in such humiliation and misery in front of people, where no one recognizes me. Thinking this, I decided to go to the area of ​​North China. I have been able to travel since childhood. Was interested, but I could not go because of the sultanate and relations.

Moeen Ahmed Nizami told that he has written such things in other places as well. In one place it is written, “Is there anything yet to be seen, what irony and oppression of fate remains to be seen?”

In Ek Sher, he expresses his position, which means, “Neither do I have friends anymore, nor do I have country and wealth, I do not have a moment’s rest.” It was my decision to come here but I can’t even go back now. ,

In his autobiographical novel, ‘Zaheer-ud-din Babur’, Dr. Premkil Kadaroff has depicted this provocative and disturbed condition of Babur. At one place he writes that “Babur paused for a bit to breathe but he continued… Everything is Fani (mortal). Even great Sultans fall to pieces as soon as their founders leave the world.” But the words of the poet survive for centuries.

He once had one of his lions hung on a stone after the mention of the emperor Jamshed, which is now in a museum in Tajikistan. He correctly explains their situation.

Girftem alam b mardi aur zor

And but neither bardem ba khud b gor

Its translation is that the world can be conquered by force and courage, but cannot even bury itself.

This shows that he was not one to give up. Babur had the power like a mountain spring, which rips through the rocky ground and comes out from above with such force that it irrigates the entire land. That is why, at one place, Premkil Qadroff has described this situation in this way.

“At that time, the view of the mighty waterfall was very pleasing to Babur… Babur thought that the water of this spring must have come from the Perikh Glacier. This meant that the water would have to come down from Perikh and then bring the sky high mounts like To climb to the top of the mountain, one had to go deeper than the depth of the valleys between the two mountains. Where was the water spring getting so much power?… Babar likening his life to such a waterfall It felt all right. He himself had also fallen under the falling rock.”

Babur to India

Different perspectives can be given about how Babur’s attention was drawn to India, but Professor Nishat Manzar says that his attention to India was very appropriate. Because there was only one thing to tax in Kabul. And there was a dire need of money for the government administration, so Babur had no option but to turn to India.

So we see that before crossing the Indus river, he had attacked the western part of India several times before and from there returned to Kabul after plundering.

He says that the way Babur begins his autobiography, such courage and determination cannot be expected from a twelve-year-old boy. But in the blood of Babur, along with the rule, bravery was also included.

Nishat Manzar says that he was drawn by both luck and necessity, otherwise all his initial efforts were based on consolidating his ancestral empire in North Asia and establishing a great empire.

He also said that it is a different matter of debate whether Rana Sanga or Daulat Khan Lodhi had invited him to attack the Delhi Empire or not. But it was certain that, with the democratic values ​​of today, we cannot judge the Sultanate period. In that era, if someone went anywhere and was victorious, he was accepted by both the common and special people there, he did not consider him an attacker.

But about Babur’s dream of India, LF Rushbrook writes in his book ‘Zaheer-ud-din Mohammad Babur’ that Babur, after giving up the most, decided to live in a village called ‘Dekh Kaat’.

He adapted himself completely to the atmosphere there. He renounced all his claims and started living at the house of village muqaddam (chieftain) as an ordinary guest. Here such an incident happened that fate had decided that it would have a profound effect on Babur’s future life. The trial will be of 70 or 80 years. But his mother was 111 years old and she was alive. Some relatives of this old lady went to India with Taimur Baig’s army. This thing was in her mind and she used to tell her story.

The stories he told about the adventures of Babur’s elders created a fervor in the imagination of the young prince. There is no doubt that from that time onwards, the dream of refreshing Timur’s conquests in India kept swirling in his mind.

Rahma Javed Rashid, Assistant Professor in the Department of History at Jamia Millia University, says, “It is well known that Babur was the fifth generation descendant of the Taimur dynasty from the father’s side and the 14th generation descendant of the great conqueror Genghis Khan from the mother’s side. were. Thus the blood of two great conquerors of Asia was included in Babur, giving him superiority over other regional rulers.

 

Education and training

Babur was born and educated in Andajan, the capital of Fargana. Professor Nishat Manzar says that although both his ancestors, Genghis Khan and Timur Lang, both were not educated. But he was well aware that governance without education is a difficult task. So he gave higher education to his children. Babur’s education was also started at the age of four years and four days according to Islamic tradition.

He further explained that the people who educated Genghis Khan’s descendants were from the Uighur community, which is now in troubled conditions in China’s Xinjiang province, but was considered the most educated in the Middle East.

Similarly, for the education of his children, Timur Beg hired the Chughtai Turks, who were also considered the most educated of his time. He gave literary status to his language despite the dominance of Arabic and Persian.

When I asked Professor Nishat how he got this place in the field of knowledge and skill despite becoming the emperor at such a young age, inspite of so many war campaigns and wandering around the court. He said that wherever Babar went, his teachers also accompanied him. He loved meeting all kinds of people, and he especially patronized poets like Ali Sher Nawai.

He said that the way Babar has openly described himself is not found in any other emperor. He has mentioned everything from his marriage, love, drinking, walking in the desert, repentance and the condition of his heart.

Stephen Dale, in his book ‘Garden of at Paradise’, called Babur’s prose “divine” and wrote that it is as perceptible as the style of writing is common five hundred years later, or as it is to be written today. is called.

He also mentioned how he corrected the writings of his son Humayun. He wrote that “the subject gets lost in your writing” and therefore asked him to write directly.

The famous Urdu poet Ghalib invented the style of writing in Urdu almost three hundred years later and which he was also proud of. Such clear and simple prose was written by Babur for his successors before him.

Reading Baburnama reveals that his first marriage was to his cousin Ayesha. A daughter was born to Ayesha who could not survive even 40 days. But Babur had no love for his wife.

He has written that “There was a boy in the Urdu market, named Babri, in which the name Hum also had an association. I had a strange attachment to him in those days.

“But the situation was such that if Babri had ever appeared before me, I could not look at him with an eye out of shame. Even if I could meet him and talk to him. Such was the restless state of mind that his coming Couldn’t even thank him. Couldn’t even complain about his non-attendance and didn’t even have the courage to forcefully call…”

“My condition in those days was such, the intensity of love and love and the influence of youth and passion was such that sometimes bareheaded barefoot used to walk in palaces, gardens and orchards. There was no concern for myself and my stranger, nor Care about yourself and others.

By the way, Babar’s most beloved wife was Mahim Begum, from whose womb Humayun was born, while Gulbadan Begum and Hindal, Askari and Kamran were born to other wives.

Professor Nishat Manzar

Professor Nishat Manzar says that Babur led a pious life for 21 years. But then he started liking the festival of drinking alcohol. Therefore, women who drink alcohol are also mentioned in their gatherings. Babur has not tried to hide his mention. He also writes about his father that, he was addicted to alcohol and also started taking opium. Whereas it is famous about Humayun that he was addicted to opium.

Nishat Manzar says that when Babur abstained from alcohol, it was his strategy. In front of him was India’s biggest Jangjun Rana Sanga. Who had never lost in any war before. After the battle of Panipat, Babur’s army was reduced to half. There came a time during the war when Babur was seeing defeat in front. Then he first gave a fiery speech and then repented.

Some Alis believe that because of this sincere repentance of Babur, Allah made the Mughals come to India for three hundred years. But Rizwan Qaiser, professor of history at Jamia Millia Islamia, says that this may be a religious interpretation of Babur’s actions, but it has no historical significance. Because it cannot be proved by any means. Yes, it can be said that Babur must have used religious zeal to win the war.

Earlier, when Babur had taken the support of the emperor of Iran to get his ancestral home, Farghana. Then he called himself a Shia, then a prominent Alim of that time had said very bad things about Babur and opposed him.

Professor Nishat also said that Babur used the word “Kafir” at many places for his enemy Muslim rulers and called them ill-tempered.

Jahanara Begum – whom Aurangzeb also respected a lot

Babur described his repentance in this way: “I had ordered wine from Kabul and Baba friend Suji brought three rows of camels filled with pots of wine. In the meantime, Mohammad Sharif Najumi (astrologer) spread the word. That, Mars is currently in the west and it is inauspicious, so there will be defeat in the battle. This fact shook the heart of my army…”

“Jamadi-ul-Sani (Arabic month) was the 23rd of Tuesday. Suddenly I had a thought that why not abstain from alcohol. With this intention, I abstained from alcohol. All the gold and silver of the wine Utensils were broken. And all the liquor that was in the camp at that time was thrown out. The gold and silver found from the wine pots were distributed among the poor. My friend As also supported in this work.”

“Hearing the news of my repentance, three of my office bearers also repented the same night. Since Baba friend had brought countless pots of wine from Kabul on several rows of camels and this wine was too much. So instead of throwing it away, salt was mixed in it. I gave it so that it would become vinegar. Where I repented from the wine and put the wine in the pits, as a remembrance of the repentance, a stone was erected and a building was built…”

I also intended that if Allah gives victory over Rana Sanga, I will waive all taxes in my sultanate. I felt it necessary to announce this apology and ordered the authors to write articles on this subject and make it widely known.

“The army was in turmoil because of the large number of enemies. So I gathered the whole army in one place and said: ‘Whoever has come into this world has to die. Life is in the hands of God, so from death Don’t be afraid. In the name of Allah, take an oath that you will not turn your back on seeing death in front and you will continue to fight till life is left. “My speech had a great impact. It filled the army with enthusiasm, the battle was fierce and in the end the victory was won. This victory happened in 1527.

Babur and his relatives

After the battle of Panipat, Babur distributed the wealth liberally among his relatives and office bearers. Babur has also mentioned it and his daughter Gulbadan Bano has also mentioned it in detail in her book ‘Humayunnama’.

Professor Nishat Manzar and Dr Rahma Javed told the BBC that the highlight of Babar’s personality was his relationship with women. He told that women used to attend his prayers. When his mother was with him, his maternal grandmother also used to reach Andajan from Samarkand. He has specially mentioned aunts, aunts, sisters and cousins ​​in his biography.

As many women as mentioned in the biography of Babur, the name of many women did not come up in the entire later Mughal Sultanate. In this regard, Professor Nishat Manjar said that before the reign of Emperor Akbar, the influence of Turkic and Beg traditions was more among the Mughals, due to which the presence of women is visible everywhere.

That is why Babur has mentioned two of his daughters, who used to wear turbans like men. Riding on a horse, she used to carry a sword. Although sword-wielding and bravery were common in her, she often took part in courts and meetings. His scope was not limited to marriage only.

Professor Nishat says that the Indianization of the Mughals started in the time of Akbar and after that women went backward. Later, when Jahangir’s rebellion, the ones who come forward in making a settlement are Jehangir’s cousins ​​and grandmothers. His real mother from whose stomach he was born is nowhere to be seen. However, his role in films has been shown exaggeratedly. Because it’s based on fiction.”

Inheritance in the personality of Babur

Babur is accused of being an attacker in India and destroying temples, forcibly converting Hindus to Islam. While his grandson Jalaluddin Mohammad Akbar is called the “peace messenger” and religious tolerance is considered part of him.

But Saifuddin Ahmed, assistant professor in the Department of History at Delhi University, says, “Historians and political experts have often seen Akbar and Ashoka as strong rulers and have highlighted their importance. On the contrary, Babar is infamous for demolishing the temple in Ayodhya and building the mosque.

He goes on to say that, “Babur’s will, which he made for his son and successor Humayun, is a classic example of the political ideology developed in Khorasan. Political parties completely ignore, or avoid implementing them. Babur did not get the opportunity to stay in India for long, but he soon adopted the methods here. The will he wrote for Humayun reflects his justice and prudence.”

Babur wrote: “My son, first of all, do not do politics in the name of religion, do not give place to religious hatred in your heart at all. do justice.”

Saifuddin Ahmed says that, this ideology of Babur is called secularism today.

He further said that Babur, while advising not to create tension in the ideology of national relations, wrote: Abstain from cow slaughter especially so that it gives you a place in the hearts of the people and thus he is loyal to you by the chain of favor and thanks. Lets do it.

According to Saifuddin Ahmed, Babar said the third thing: “You should not demolish the prayer place of any community and always do full justice. So that the relations between the emperor and Riyya remain friendly and peace and order prevails in the country.”

Fourthly, he said that the propagation of Islam would be better with the sword of favor and benevolence than the sword of injustice and oppression. Furthermore, Babur advised to ignore the Shia-Sunni differences and to avoid neglecting people on the basis of caste. Otherwise, it will harm the unity of the country and the rulers will soon lose their power.

According to Saifuddin, Babur also said that “Treat the different characteristics of your people as the different seasons of the year, so that the government and the people may be protected from various diseases and weaknesses.”

Professor Nishat Manzar said that the truth is, Babur’s heart was as wide as that of India and he believed in constant struggle. His interest in nature and the creation of gardens in India marked the beginning of a new era, the culmination of which we see in the gardens of Jahangir and the architecture of Shah Jahan.

Religion was very much ingrained in Babar’s life and he did not forget to mention the fact that he was punctual in prayer while talking about many people. Or that at what time of prayer he started his journey and offered prayers at that time there.

Although he used to know the situation from astrologers, but was away from superstition. Therefore, in his statement in Kabul, Babur wrote that, “There was a saint here, Mulla Abdul Rahman. He was a scholar and used to study all the time. He died in that condition… People say that Ghazni I have a tomb and if you recite darood on it, it starts moving. I went and saw that it felt that the tomb was shaking. There is a cunning of the people. A net has been made over the tomb, when we walk on the net, that net vibrates. Due to its movement, the tomb also seems to be moving. I uprooted that net and made a dome.’

There are many similar incidents in Baburnama but the death of Babur is a very spiritual event in itself.

Gulbadan Bano has described it in detail, how Humayun’s condition was deteriorating. So Babur circled around their bed and made a vow. She writes that this used to happen in our place. But Baba Janam had asked for Humayun’s life in return for his life. So it happened that Humayun got better and Babur got sick. And in this condition, on 26 December 1530, a great conqueror said goodbye to the world and left behind countless questions.