- Medieval Indian History Tutorial
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Significance of Babur's Conquest
The significance of Babur’s advent into India are as follows −
Geo-strategic Significance
Kabul and Qandhar had always acted as staging places for an invasion in India, Babur’s advent made Kabul and Qandhar the integral parts of an empire comprising north India.
Babur and his successors strengthen the India security from an external invasion, which were persistent from the last 200 years.
Economic Significance
Geographically Kabul and Qandhar positioned in the trade route; therefore, the control of these two regions strengthened India's foreign trade.
Babar attempted to re-establish the prestige of the Crown, which had been eroded after the death of Firuz Tughlaq.
Zahir al-Din Muhammad (Babur)
Babur born on 14 February 1483 at Andijan in Mughalistan (present day Uzbekistan).
Babur had the prestige of being a descendant of two of the most legendary warriors of Asia namely Changez, and Timur.
Babur groomed himself to his begs by his personal qualities. He was always prepared to share the hardships with his soldiers.
Babur was fond of wine and good company and was a good and cheerful companion. At the same time, he was a strict disciplinarian and a hard taskmaster.
Babur took good care of his army and other employees, and was prepared to excuse many of their faults as long as they were not disloyal.
Though Babur was an orthodox Sunni, but he was not prejudiced or led by the religious divines. Once, there was a bitter sectarian conflict between the Shias and the Sunnis in Iran and Turan; however, in such a condition, Babur’s court was free from theological and sectarian conflicts.
Though Babur declared the battle against Rana Sanga a jihad and assumed the title of ‘ghazi’ after the victory, but the reasons were noticeably political.
Babur was master of Persian and Arabic languages, and is regarded as one of the most famous writers in the Turkish language (which was his mother tongue).
Babur’s famous memoirs, the Tuzuk-i-Baburi is considered as one of the classics of world literature. His other popular works are masnavi and the Turkish translation of a well-known Sufi work.
Babur was a keen naturalist, as he described the flora and fauna of India in considerable details.
Babur introduced a new concept of the state, which was to be based on −
The strength and prestige of the Crown;
The absence of religious and sectarian bigotry; and
The careful fostering of culture and the fine arts.
Babur, with all these three features (discussed above), provided a precedent and a direction for his successors.