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Mughal Emperors are well known all over the world for their golden rule over the Sub-continent, which lasted for over three centuries. Not only did they gloriously rule this part of the world, they also left an indelible mark on the Indian Sub-continent with their art and architecture. To this day, there are beautiful buildings in all parts of the Sub-continent, now divided into India and Pakistan, which reminds one of its splendid past.
BRIEF HISTORY OF MUGHAL EMPIRE:
Mughals came to the Sub-continent when Zahiruddin Babar conquered Delhi in 1526. It was after the famous Battle was Panipat where Babar defeated Ibrahim Lodhi, thus bringing an end to the Lodhi dynasty. This also laid the foundation for Mughal Empire which then went on to rule the Sub-continent for next three centuries. Babar was a very dynamic and enterprising ruler, who could not rule India for more than four years as he died in 1530.
Humayun, Babar's son, succeeded him but he faced several tough times when he ascended the throne. It was because of the fact that his father died before he could consolidate his empire. This led to many administrative problems coupled with the fact that there were some Afghan rulers who were powerful enough to compete with Humayun for the throne. Among them, Sher Shah Suri proved to be the toughest one who brought Afghans to power and temporarily put an end to the Mughal rule after he defeated Humayun in 1540.
Sher Shah Suri was quick to capture most of the Sub-continent and this opened a great chapter of excellent administration in the history of India. His five-year rule that ended tragically with his accidental death in 1545 was marked with significant administrative and military reforms. Sher Shah will always be remembered for the wonderful road network that connected most areas of the Sub-continent. Among them is the Grand Trunk Road which joins East Bengal to West Punjab passing through Agra, Delhi and Lahore.
After his death, his son reigned for nine years and his son Firuz Shah succeeded him in turn in 1554. But all this proved to be nothing but temporary hindrance in the restoration of the Mughal Dynasty, which was established once again by Humayun in 1555. But poor Humayun was very weak by then and died just a year later, in 1556.
It was then that the most important and by far the most eventful period of Mughal reign began when Akbar, son of Humayun took over after his father's death. Akbar was hardly thirteen when he ascended the throne and went on to rule for almost half a century. But in his early days of power, Akbar was supported by Bairam Khan who faithfully helped him govern the huge Empire. Akbar is well remembered for his statesmanship, which was based upon good will towards all. He was but a weak Muslim and tried to bring objectionable changes in the rules of this religion. But these changes didn't last for long as Muslims believed staunchly in the rules laid by the Holy Koran.
Akbar's death brought his son Jahangir to the throne in 1605. Jahangir's reign is dented with many rebellions which he successfully countered. His greatest achievement was the conquest of the fortress of Kangara in Punjab. It was captured after a struggle, which lasted 14 months.
Shah Jahan followed Jahangir in 1628, and to this day Shah Jahan is known for the magnificent monument of Taj Mahal which he had built in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. But Shah Jahan was accused by his son, Aurangzeb Alamgir, of extravagance and he held his father captive and after some resistance from his brothers came to power in 1658. He remained imprisoned for eight years where he was treated very well but was kept away from the administration of the Empire.
Aurangzeb Alamgir is known in history for his Islamic works. He was a pious man who lived like any other ordinary man of India while he was on the throne. He had seen the way his father had led his life and despised it strongly. Therefore he preferred to work more for the social good of his people.
Though Mughal Empire did continue after the death of Aurangzeb, it is unanimously agreed that the decline had started right after the birth of this great Mughal Emperor. Bahadur Shah Zafar was the last Mughal emperor who ascended the throne in 1837 and was forced to leave in 1857 after the famous war of independence in which British imprisoned Bahadur Shah in a fort and from thereon became real ruler of the Sub-continent till 1947.
INFLUENCE OF THE MUGHAL DYNASTY:
Mughals were patrons of art and literature. They were themselves deeply interested in poetry and prose and therefore extended patronage to many poets and scholars. It was a great honor for a poet to be selected as a poet of the court. But one of the most significant features of their rule was the development that took place in the area of architecture. They erected buildings all over the Sub-continent which are nothing less than architectural masterpieces. The most famous among them are the Purana Qila by Sher Shah Suri, the Jama Masjid, The Agra Fort, The Lahore Fort all by Akbar, Taj Mahal, Moti Masjid of Agra, Jama Masjid of Delhi, the Shalimar Garden, and The Sheesh Mahal, all examples of Shah Jahan's refined taste in architecture. There are many other gloriously beautiful buildings, which reminds one of the Mughal rule and the impression that they have left are deeply engraved on the Sub-continent's colorful past.
Apart from architecture and literature, Mughals greatly supported music and paintings. They would personally look after the development of this area and would help in painters and musicians in whatever way possible. Much of Sub-continent's literature and art originated during the Mughal Rule, the great poet Ghalib who is to this day considered as one of the most gifted poets to have emerged from this part of the world was also a product of this very period.
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