July 29, 2025
This page offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of Babur, the founder of the Mughal Empire in India. Designed specifically for students preparing for competitive exams like UPSC, SSC, State PSCs, and railways, the content here covers Babur’s early life, major battles, conquests, administrative efforts, and his literary work Baburnama. Each fact is presented in a simple, exam-ready format to help aspirants quickly revise and retain key information.
Understanding Babur’s role is crucial in medieval Indian history, especially as his victories at Panipat and Khanwa laid the foundation for over 300 years of Mughal rule in the subcontinent. This page not only helps you grasp Babur’s legacy but also connects the dots for questions related to dynastic shifts, central Asian influences, and Mughal administration—all essential for MCQs and long-answer type questions in exams.
Babur was born on February 14, 1483, in Andijan (present-day Uzbekistan). He was a descendant of Timur on his father's side and Genghis Khan on his mother’s side. At the age of 12, he became the ruler of Fergana, a small principality in Central Asia. However, his early rule was marked by struggles to hold and expand his territory.
Driven by ambition and repeated setbacks in Central Asia, Babur turned his attention toward India. His military experience and lineage gave him the confidence to challenge the powerful Delhi Sultanate and lay the foundation of a new empire in the Indian subcontinent.
Babur invaded India five times between 1519 and 1526. The most significant was his final invasion, which led to the historic First Battle of Panipat (1526), where he defeated the Lodi Sultan, Ibrahim Lodi. This battle marked the beginning of the Mughal Empire in India.
Babur’s victory was aided by the use of advanced tactics, such as the Tulughma strategy and the effective use of gunpowder and field artillery, which were relatively new to Indian warfare at the time.
Babur ruled India for only four years (1526–1530), but he laid the foundation of centralized governance. He distributed jagirs to his nobles and focused on stabilizing the newly acquired territories. His administrative system influenced future Mughal rulers like Akbar.
Babur was also a noted writer and poet. He wrote his memoirs in Chagatai Turkish, known as the Baburnama. This autobiography provides deep insights into his life, battles, personality, and the cultural setting of Central Asia and India during his time.
Babur died in 1530 in Agra. He was initially buried there, but later his remains were moved to Kabul, Afghanistan, as per his wishes. Despite his short reign, Babur's military strategy, leadership, and literary contribution laid the groundwork for one of India’s greatest dynasties – the Mughals.
Babur had a deep appreciation for nature and Persian-style garden architecture. Inspired by the gardens of Central Asia, he introduced the concept of the Charbagh (four-part garden) in India. These were geometrically aligned gardens divided into four sections by water channels or walkways.
One of the most famous gardens attributed to him is the Ram Bagh in Agra (also called Aram Bagh), considered the oldest Mughal garden in India. His efforts laid the foundation for the grand Mughal landscaping tradition that flourished under later emperors like Akbar and Shah Jahan.
After Babur’s death in 1530, the throne passed to his eldest son Humayun. Babur had several sons, including Kamran, Askari, and Hindal. While Humayun was declared the successor, he faced internal challenges from his brothers who were given regional governorships.
This lack of unity among Babur’s sons later weakened the empire during Humayun's early rule. Despite these challenges, the Mughal legacy continued under Humayun and was later greatly expanded by his son, Akbar.