HUMAYUN'S CONFLICT WITH SHER SHAH SURI

PRERNA FOR IAS

HUMAYUN'S CONFLICT WITH SHER SHAH SURI

1. Humayun's Conflict with Sher Shah Suri

The conflict between Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, and Sher Shah Suri, the Afghan ruler, was a major event in Indian history. Sher Shah's growing power, Humayun's weak military leadership, internal conflicts within the Mughal Empire, and Afghan resistance led to the struggle. Humayun suffered a heavy defeat in the Battle of Chausa (1539) and the decisive Battle of Kannauj (1540). As a result, he was forced to leave India and live in exile for nearly fifteen years. Sher Shah established the Sur Empire and introduced important administrative, revenue, and road reforms before Humayun regained Delhi in 1555.

2. Humayun's Exile and Restoration

After his defeat by Sher Shah Suri in the Battle of Kannauj (1540), Humayun was forced into exile. He spent nearly fifteen years seeking support and finally received military assistance from Shah Tahmasp I of Persia. During his exile, his son Akbar was born at Amarkot in 1542. With Persian support, Humayun regained control of Kabul and Kandahar. Following Sher Shah's death and the decline of the Sur Empire, Humayun returned to India and defeated the Afghans in the Battle of Sirhind (1555). He successfully regained Delhi and restored the Mughal Empire before his death in 1556.

3. Humayun and Dinpanah

Dinpanah was a new city founded by Emperor Humayun in 1533 on the banks of the Yamuna River in Delhi. The name Dinpanah means "Refuge of Faith." Humayun intended it to become an ideal centre of learning, culture, and Mughal administration for scholars and intellectuals. The city was built at the site of the present-day Purana Qila. After defeating Humayun in 1540, Sher Shah Suri captured Dinpanah, expanded it, and renamed it Shergarh. Today, the remains of Purana Qila are associated with both Dinpanah and Shergarh, making it an important historical monument of the Mughal and Sur periods.