SHER SHAH (1540-1545 A.D.)

➮ Sher Shah’s childhood name was Farid.
➮ Sher Shah was born to Hasan, the Jagirdar of Sasaram.
➮ He received the title of Sher Shah from Bahar Khan Lohani, the Afghan Governor of South Bihar.
➮ Sher Shah gained Chunar by marrying the widow, Malika.
➮ He defeated Humayun in the battle of Chausa. He adopted the title of Sher Shah and proclaimed himself the emperor of Hindustan.
➮ He again defeated Humayun in the battle of Kannauj or Bilgram.
➮ Sher Shah’s last campaign was against Kalinga. He succeeded but died from an explosion in 1545.
➮ He was succeeded by his son Islam Shah.
➮ Humayun defeated Sikandar Suri and occupied Delhi in 1555.
➮ Sher Shah established a highly centralised Government.
➮ He divided his empire into 47 Sarkars (districts) which were divided into several pargana (subdistricts). Village was the lowest unit of administ ration. He made the local village headmen (muqaddams) and zamindars responsible for local crime.
➮ He built many sarais.
➮ He built the grand trunk road from Sonargaon to Attock.
➮ He improved the land revenue system by adopting Zabti-i-Har-Sal.
➮ Sher Shah abolished all internal customs and duties.
➮ Sher Shah built three important roads, Agra-Jodhpur-Chittor, Lahore-Multan, and Agra- Burhanpur.
➮ Sher Shah built 1700 sarais which also worked as dak chaukis.
➮ Sher Shah ascended the throne of Delhi at the ripe age of 67.
➮ Abbas Khan Sarwani was the historian of Sher Shah.
➮ The sole survivor of this is the Old Fort (Purana Qila) in Delhi.
➮ Sher Shah was succeeded by his second son, Islam Shah.