How did Babar, who came from Kabul, defeat the Sultan of Delhi and rule? Mughal occupation lasted for 330 years

On April 21, 1956, in the battle of Panipat, Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi Sultanate was defeated by Babar, the ruler of Kabul.

500 years ago, on this day i.e. 21st April, in the battle of Panipat, Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi Sultanate was defeated by Babar, the ruler of Kabul. In this war, Lodi came to an end and the foundation of Mughal rule in India was laid. This date holds a very important place in history. The foundation laid by Babar on this day could not be established in front of Babar and his son Humayun, but when Akbar ascended the throne, due to his policies, he ruled continuously for 50 years. In this way the Mughals ruled India continuously for 330 years.

The British weakened the Mughals through diplomatic moves and then exiled the last Mughal emperor Bahadur Shah Zafar and themselves ascended the throne. Come, let us know the reasons behind how the Mughals established their foothold in India after that war that took place five hundred years ago.

Ibrahim Lodi was betrayed by his own people

At that time Delhi was ruled by the Lodi dynasty. Ibrahim Lodi was a harsh ruler. He did not trust his own rich people and courtiers. Mutual disunity had increased in the last years of Lodi rule. Daulat Khan, the governor of Punjab, was very angry with Lodi Sultan. He invited Babar to attack India. Ibrahim Lodi’s uncle Alam Khan also supported Babar.

Internal conflicts within the state made the way for foreign invasion easier. The morning of 21 April 1526 was a major turning point in Indian history. On this day, two huge armies were face to face in the field of Panipat. On one side was Sultan Ibrahim Lodi of Delhi. On the other hand, the ruler of Kabul was Babar. This war ended the Delhi Sultanate in India. With this the Mughal Empire began, which ruled the country for the next 330 years.

Babar was a descendant of Genghis Khan

Babar was a resident of Central Asia. He was a descendant of Taimur and Genghis Khan. He was dreaming of conquering India for a long time. Babar writes in his autobiography Baburnama that he tried to invade India five times but he did not succeed. For him India was not just a source of money and wealth. He wanted to create a permanent empire here. At the end of the year 1525, he moved towards India with his small but trained army. He was helped by some special people of Ibrahim Lodi and he not only emerged victorious but also succeeded in establishing the Mughal rule in India.

Lodi’s big army was of no use

There was a lot of difference between the two armies in the field of Panipat. Ibrahim Lodi had up to one lakh soldiers. Hundreds of elephants were also included in his army. On the other hand, Babar had only 15 thousand soldiers. Lodi had the upper hand in terms of numbers. But Babar had one thing which was not there in India at that time, that was artillery. Historians believe that Babar’s army was disciplined and better equipped and because of this Ibrahim Lodi had to face defeat.

Babar’s unique war strategy worked

Babar made a brilliant move to win the war. He organized his army according to the Tulugama system. In this, the army is divided into small pieces and the enemy is surrounded from all sides. Babar used another technique called Araba. He tied hundreds of bullock carts with leather ropes. He placed his cannons behind them. It was like a strong protective wall. Due to this the enemy army could not attack directly.

The elephant soldiers ran away after hearing the noise of the cannons.

The war started on 21 April. Lodi’s army attacked rapidly. As soon as they reached Babar’s protective wall, the cannons started firing. Indian soldiers had never heard the roar of cannons before. There was a stampede among the elephants. They started crushing their own army. Babar’s skilled shooters showered arrows on Lodi’s soldiers. Within a few hours Lodi’s huge army got scattered. Ibrahim Lodi was killed on the battlefield itself.

This is how the foundation of Mughal rule was laid

The victory of Panipat was not just a military victory. This was the victory of scientific warfare method. The major reason for Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat was his lack of leadership. Babar was a skilled commander. After the war, Babar captured Delhi and Agra. He declared himself the emperor of India. He distributed the won money among his soldiers and the people of Kabul. This increased his popularity. The number of his loyalists increased rapidly.

How did you rule for 330 years?

The Mughal Empire did not survive only through war. Babar had a vision. He created new systems of administration. However, he could rule only for four years. Babar died in the year 1530, but he had laid the foundation strong. After that, powerful rulers like Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shahjahan and Aurangzeb took it forward.

According to historian Irfan Habib, the Mughals organized land reforms and tax systems. This gave economic strength to the empire. His army and strong intelligence system suppressed the rebellions.

Mughals started central government system

The first battle of Panipat changed the course of the medieval era in India. The Delhi Sultanate, which had been in existence since 1206, came to an end. In this way, it can be said that the Lodi dynasty ruled the throne of Delhi for about 320 years. After him, a power came to India which left a deep mark in art, architecture and culture. With the arrival of the Mughals, a central government system started in India. New avenues of trade opened and India became one of the largest economies of the world.

In simple words, this one battle of the year 1526 gave the Mughals an opportunity to establish a foothold in India. Ibrahim Lodi’s political mistakes and Babar’s war art together wrote a new chapter of history. This war proves that victory is not achieved only by a large army, but by better strategy and new technology. This is why even today the first battle of Panipat is considered the most decisive battle in history books.

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