Who among the following emperors was famous as 'Qalandar'?
2018
Who among the following emperors was famous as 'Qalandar'?
- A.
Humayun
- B.
Akbar
- C.
Babar
- D.
Shah Jahan
Attempted by 3 students.
Show answer & explanation
Correct answer: C
Concept: 'Qalandar' is a Persian-origin term for a wandering Sufi dervish or mendicant -- a mystic known for renouncing all worldly wealth and possessions, embracing extreme material simplicity regardless of one's actual worldly rank. Application: Among the Mughal emperors, Babur -- founder of the Mughal Empire -- earned exactly this epithet after his decisive victory at the First Battle of Panipat (1526). He captured the vast treasury that Ibrahim Lodi had accumulated at Agra, and distributed it so completely among his soldiers, nobles, and even ordinary subjects that he retained almost nothing for himself. The contemporary Persian chronicler Firishta records that this extraordinary act of generosity is why Babur came to be nicknamed 'Qalandar'. Cross-check (by contrast): Humayun's reign is defined by the loss of the throne to Sher Shah Suri and his 15-year exile before retaking Delhi in 1555. Akbar's legacy centres on religious pluralism (Din-i-Ilahi, Sulh-i-Kul) and administrative reform. Shah Jahan is remembered chiefly for architectural patronage -- the Taj Mahal and the Peacock Throne. None of these three carry the historical association with the 'Qalandar' nickname; only Babur does, for the treasure-distribution episode above.