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Sher Shah Suri: the story on HearLore | HearLore
Sher Shah Suri
In the year 1526, a young Afghan nobleman named Farid Khan performed an act of such raw courage that it earned him a name which would echo through history. While dining with the governor of Bihar, Behar Khan Lohani, a tiger leaped suddenly upon the ruler. Farid did not flee. Instead, he drew his dagger, cut the tiger into pieces, and ate the meat with a spoon to prove his fearlessness. This singular event transformed him from a minor noble into Sher Khan, the Lion, and set the stage for a man who would eventually drive the mighty Mughal Empire out of India. Born between 1472 and 1486 in Sasaram, Bihar, Farid al-Din Khan was the son of Hasan Khan Sur, a Pashtun landlord who had migrated from the Roh region of Afghanistan. His early life was marked by family strife and cruelty from a stepmother who made his childhood a living hell. He fled home to seek refuge with Jamal Khan, a powerful patron who sent him to Jaunpur for education. There, he studied history and religion, honing the mind that would later reorganize the administration of an entire empire. When his father died, Farid returned to claim his jagirs, only to be driven out by his stepbrothers. He spent years in Agra observing the Mughal Emperor Babur, learning the intricacies of military organization and administration before returning to Bihar to begin his rise to power.
The Silent Conquest Of Bengal
While the Mughal Emperor Humayun was distracted by campaigns elsewhere, Sher Shah executed a masterstroke that would redefine the political map of India. In 1538, he overran the Bengal Sultanate, defeating the Lohani nobles and forcing the Sultan of Bengal, Mahmud Shah, to pay over 13,000,000 gold coins and cede vast territories. This was not merely a military victory but a calculated dismantling of a rival power structure. Sher Shah divided Bengal into 47 smaller administrative divisions, each overseen by a shiqdar, and appointed Kazi Fajilot as the chief supervisor of the Muqtars. His reforms increased the prominence of Afghans in Bengal, leading to the establishment of the Muhammad Shahi and Karrani dynasties in the decades that followed. The conquest was achieved through a combination of military force and strategic diplomacy. When the Portuguese attempted to aid Mahmud Shah by fortifying the Teliaghari and Sakrigali passes, Sher Shah out-flanked the combined armies and reached Gauda by way of Jharkhand. He did not stop at the borders of Bengal. He seized Rohtasgarh in March 1538 through stratagem, using the fort to house Afghan families and loot obtained during the war. The city of Gauda fell in April 1538, and Sher Shah declared his first coronation, establishing the Suri dynasty. This period marked the transition from a regional warlord to a sovereign ruler capable of challenging the greatest empire of the age.
When was Sher Shah Suri born and where did he originate from?
Sher Shah Suri was born between 1472 and 1486 in Sasaram, Bihar. He was the son of Hasan Khan Sur, a Pashtun landlord who had migrated from the Roh region of Afghanistan.
What happened to Sher Shah Suri in 1540 that made him Sultan of Hindustan?
Sher Shah Suri defeated the Mughal Emperor Humayun at the Battle of Chausa in 1540 and was crowned Sultan on the 17th of May 1540. This victory routed the Mughal army and established the Sur Empire.
How did Sher Shah Suri reform the currency system of India?
Sher Shah Suri issued the first Rupiya, a silver coin of a standard weight of 178 grains, which became the precursor of the modern rupee. He also minted gold coins called the Mohur weighing 169 grains and copper coins called Paisa.
What infrastructure projects did Sher Shah Suri build during his reign?
Sher Shah Suri reconstructed and extended the Grand Trunk Road from Chittagong in Bengal to Kabul in Afghanistan. He built caravanserais, mosques, and dug wells along the route to ensure safety and water availability for travelers.
Who wrote the historical account of Sher Shah Suri's reign and when was it commissioned?
The Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi was commissioned by Akbar and written by Abbas Sarwani to detail the reign of Sher Shah Suri. This text greatly contributed to the history of medieval India.
The year 1540 witnessed the most decisive confrontation in medieval Indian history, a battle that would send the Mughal Emperor Humayun into exile and crown Sher Shah as the Sultan of Hindustan. At the Battle of Chausa, the Mughal army, numbering 200,000 strong, was completely routed by Sher Shah's forces. Humayun barely escaped with his life, and the Mughals suffered over 7,000 casualties, including many prominent noblemen. The defeat was not accidental; it was the result of Sher Shah's ability to capitalize on the Mughal army's fragile state. Humayun had been trapped in Gauda due to heavy rains, which caused the loss of his baggage between Patna and Monghyr. When Humayun attempted to cross the Karmanasa River, his army was vulnerable to attack. Sher Shah struck at the critical moment, descending upon the Mughal forces and shattering their lines. The victory was so complete that Humayun fled to Agra, and Sher Shah was crowned a second time on the 17th of May 1540, adopting the epithet Sultan Adil, meaning Just King. He took on the name Sher Shah, signaling the end of Mughal dominance and the beginning of the Sur Empire. This battle demonstrated his strategic genius, as he had anticipated Humayun's movements and exploited the logistical failures of the Mughal army to secure his own position as the undisputed ruler of Hindustan.
The Architect Of A New Empire
Beyond the battlefield, Sher Shah was a visionary administrator who laid the foundations for future Mughal emperors, notably Akbar. He reorganized the empire into a complex system of subdivisions called Iqtas, which were often ruled by military governors. These Iqtas were further divided into districts known as Sarkars, each overseen by two chief officers: the Shiqar and the Munsif. The Shiqar was responsible for civil administration and could field 200 to 300 soldiers to maintain law and order, while the Munsif handled revenue collection and civil justice. The system extended down to the village level, where Panchayats, or village assemblies, operated autonomously and were respected by Sher Shah. These assemblies consisted of village elders who managed local needs and enforced community-specific punishments. Sher Shah's reforms were so effective that merchants could travel and sleep in deserts without fear of being harassed by bandits or robbers. His soldiers acted as police, with the duty of finding thieves and robbers. He implemented a reform of self-responsibility, assigning officials the duty to find culprits in cases such as murder; if they failed, they would be held responsible and hanged. This system of accountability ensured that the law was applied equally, regardless of social status, and it earned him a reputation as one of the greatest administrators in India.
The Currency Of A Nation
Sher Shah's economic reforms were as revolutionary as his military campaigns, introducing a system of tri-metalism that would characterize Mughal coinage for centuries. He issued the first Rupiya, a silver coin of a standard weight of 178 grains, which became the precursor of the modern rupee. The term rupiya had previously been used as a generic term for any silver coin, but Sher Shah standardized it, creating a currency that is today used as the national currency in India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Pakistan, the Seychelles, and Sri Lanka. He also minted gold coins called the Mohur weighing 169 grains and copper coins called Paisa. According to numismatists Goron and Goenka, it is clear from coins dated AH 945, which corresponds to 1538 AD, that Sher Shah had assumed the royal title of Farid al-Din Sher Shah and had coins struck in his own name prior to the battle of Chausa. His economic policies extended beyond currency. He abolished taxes at the borders of provinces to invigorate trade throughout India, leaving only two levies in place: one on goods brought into the country and another when goods were sold. Customs duties were entirely removed, and he established an efficient postal system, with mail being carried by relays of horse riders. These reforms transformed the economy of the subcontinent, creating a unified market that facilitated trade and communication across vast distances.
The Road To Kabul
One of Sher Shah's most enduring legacies was the reconstruction and modernization of the Grand Trunk Road, a major artery that runs all the way from modern-day Bangladesh to Afghanistan. He extended the road from Chittagong in Bengal to Kabul in Afghanistan, significantly improving trade and communication. Caravanserais, or inns, and mosques were built along the route, and trees were planted on both sides to provide shade to travelers. Wells were also dug, especially along the western section, ensuring that water was available to those who traveled the road. The road was not merely a trade route; it was a symbol of imperial power and a tool for administration. Sher Shah built several monuments along the way, including the Sher Shah Suri Masjid in Patna and the Qila-i-Kuhna Mosque inside the Purana Qila complex in Delhi. He also built a new city, Bhera, in present-day Pakistan in 1545, including within it a grand masjid named after him. The road facilitated the movement of armies, merchants, and messengers, and it remains a testament to his vision of a unified and connected empire. The Grand Trunk Road was so well-maintained that it continued to be used by the British East India Company and remains a major highway in India and Pakistan today.
The Death Of A Lion
Decades after his death, the legacy of Sher Shah Suri continued to shape the history of India and the world. The Tarikh-i-Sher Shahi was commissioned by Akbar to detail the reign of Sher Shah, written by Abbas Sarwani, and it greatly benefited the contribution towards the history of medieval India. His influence extended beyond the political and administrative spheres into popular culture. The antagonist in Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, Shere Khan, was named after Sher Shah Suri, a testament to the enduring image of the Lion King. In 1962, an Indian Hindi-language action film titled Sher Khan was released, starring Kamaljeet, ostensibly based on the emperor's life. A television show about the emperor, Shershah Suri, was aired on DD National by Doordarshan, the Indian national public broadcaster. His tomb, located in the middle of an artificial lake at Sasaram, stands as one of the most beautiful monuments in India, with British archaeologist Cunningham even inclined to prefer it over the Taj Mahal. The Sur Empire, though short-lived, left an indelible mark on the subcontinent, and Sher Shah's reforms in currency, administration, and infrastructure laid the groundwork for the Mughal Empire that followed. His story is one of resilience, strategic brilliance, and the power of a single man to change the course of history.