Q. With reference to the Battle of Chausa (1539 CE), which led to Sher Khan’s ascendancy, consider the following statements:
1.The battle was precipitated by Humayun’s prolonged but strategically hollow occupation of Gaur (Bengal), leaving his lines of communication vulnerable.
2.Sher Khan utilized the beginning of the monsoon season and a sudden attack to defeat the complacent Mughal army, forcing Humayun to flee across the Ganga river.
3.Following the victory, Sher Khan adopted the imperial title Sher Shah and issued coins in his own name, marking the formal end of the Mughal rule in the East.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: D
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. Humayun’s overextended campaign in Bengal without securing his rear (Bihar) allowed Sher Khan to cut off his supply lines.
- Statement 2: Correct. The timing of the attack (the monsoon rains) and the ensuing chaos in the Mughal camp led to Humayun’s humiliating retreat, where he nearly drowned in the Ganga.
- Statement 3: Correct. The victory at Chausa was so decisive that Sher Khan immediately assumed the imperial title Sher Shah, solidifying his claim over the erstwhile Mughal territory.
