Sher Shah Suri (1540-55)

 Sher Shah Suri, also known as Farid Khan, founder of the Sur Empire in India, with its capital in modern-day Bihar. 

• In 1540, Sher Shah, an ethnic Afghan king, seized control of the Mughal Empire. 
• He began as a Jagirdar, rising to a commander in Babur's Mughal army, eventually becoming governor of Bihar. 
• Sher Shah expanded his conquests to Bengal, establishing the Sur dynasty in 1537. 
• Renowned for his strategic acumen and prowess as an administrator and general, Sher Shah's reign is vital for UPSC exam preparation.

Background

• At the age of 54, Sher Shah assumed the throne of Delhi. Born Farid, he hailed from a lineage of small Jagirdars in Jaunpur. 
• Gaining administrative expertise from managing his father's jagir, he emerged amid the chaotic Afghan affairs following Ibrahim Lodi's loss and death as a prominent Afghan Sardar.
• Bahar Khan, his patron, bestowed upon him the title Sher Khan for his feat of killing a tiger. 
• Under Sher Shah's rule, north India witnessed the reign of the most powerful empire since Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. 
• His domain stretched from Bengal to the Indus, excluding Kashmir.
• His final military endeavor targeted Kalinjar, a formidable fort in Bundelkhand. 
• Injured severely by a cannon during the siege, Sher Shah succumbed to his wounds in 1545. 
• Islam Shah, his second son, succeeded him, yet his untimely demise triggered a civil war among his heirs.
• This turmoil provided Humayun the opportunity to reclaim his lost Indian kingdom. 
• In 1555, through two bloody wars against the Afghans, Humayun regained control over Delhi and Agra.

Contribution of Sher Shah Suri

• The term rupee was coined for a silver coin weighing 178 grains. 
• Sher Shah's reinstatement of law and order was paramount, cracking down on robbers, dacoits, and non-compliant zamindars.
• He emphasized trade, commerce, and communication, notably by constructing the Grand Trunk Road from the Indus River to Sonargaon in Bengal. 
  • Additional roads connected Agra to Jodhpur and Chittor, facilitating travel and trade. 
  • Sarais, spaced every two kos for travelers' convenience, provided lodging and security, housing the news service as well.
• Customs duties were levied strategically, ensuring revenue flow at Sikrigali and the Indus, while forbidding unauthorized levies elsewhere. 
• Local officials were held accountable for merchant losses on the roads.
• Sher Shah focused on land revenue, military, and justice systems, maintaining a meticulous soldier registry and branding horses. 
• He commissioned his mausoleum at Sasaram and founded a new city on the Yamuna, with the Old Fort and a mosque as surviving landmarks.
• A patron of intellectuals, his reign saw the completion of Hindi masterpieces like Malik Muhammad Jaisi's Padmavat.

Conclusion

Sher Shah Suri established the Sur Dynasty and excelled as an administrator. His notable contributions include building Sarais, road connectivity, law and order reforms, trade and commerce reforms, and the construction of the Grand Trunk Road. 

His demise in 1545, following the conquest of a fort, led to the succession of his son Islam Khan.