Shah Jahan

21. Which Mughal ruler patronaged Kavindra Acharya Saraswati of Banaras, a great scholar of Sanskrit and Hindi ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Pre) 2022]

(a) Jahangir
(b) Humayun
(c) Shahjahan
(d) Akbar

Correct Answer: (c) Shahjahan

Solution:Kavindracharya had led a delegation of Banaras pandits before the Mughal Emperor to seek the abolition of pilgrim tax on Banaras and Allahabad (Prayagraj). Kavindracharya was a dependent poet of Shah Jahan and had the perfect combination of Awadhi and Braj in his language.

22. The motive behind Shah Jahan's Balkh campaign was to : [I.A.S. (Pre) 2002]

(a) Secure a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakshan which bordered Kabul
(b) Conquer Samarqand and Ferghana, the Mughal homelands
(c) Fix the Mughal frontier on the 'scientific line' the Amu Daria
(d) Expand the Mughal Empire beyond the sub-continent

Correct Answer: (a) Secure a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakshan which bordered Kabul

Solution:The motive behind Shah Jahan's Balkh and Badakshan campaign was not to conquer Samarqand and Ferghana, the Mughal homeland but to remove the Persian representative and secure a friendly ruler in Balkh and Badakshan which bordered Kabul. This would help him in controlling the rebel Afghan tribes living near Ghazni and Khyber. So, it became a buffer state between Mughals and Persians.

23. Who was the 'Poet-Laureate' of Shah Jahan's reign ? [U.P.P.C.S. (Mains) 2015]

(a) Kaleem
(b) Kashi
(c) Qudsi
(d) Munir

Correct Answer: (a) Kaleem

Solution:Poet Kaleem (Abu Jalih) became a member of the court of Shah Jahan.

24. The actual name of Mumtaz Mahal was : [Jharkhand P.C.S. (Pre) 2003]

(a) Arjumand Bano Begum
(b) Ladli Begum
(c) Mehrunnisa
(d) Roshan Ara

Correct Answer: (a) Arjumand Bano Begum

Solution:Arjumand Bano Begum, the daughter of Asaf Khan, was married Prince Khurram, the son of Mughal Emperor Jahangir. Later on, Arjumand Bano Begum was known as Mumtaz Mahal.

25. The coordination of Hindu and Iranian architecture can be seen in - [R.A.S./R.T.S. (Pre) 1992]

(a) Taj Mahal
(b) Red Fort
(c) Panch Mahal
(d) Tomb of Sher Shah

Correct Answer: (a) Taj Mahal

Solution:Shah Jahan had gathered engineers and architects from India, Persia, Middle Asia for the construction of Taj Mahal which is the best example of a balanced combination of Indian, Persian and Middle Asian architecture.