Introduction

• Sher Shah Suri was the founder of the Sur Empire in North India, with his capital in Delhi.
• His birth name was Farid Khan, and he was also known as Sher Khan.
• He took control of the Mughal Empire in 1540, when Humayun was on an expedition.
• Sher Shah overran the State of Bengal and established the Sur Dynasty.
• A brilliant strategist, Sher Shah proved himself to be a gifted administrator and able general.
• His reorganization of the empire laid the foundation for the future Mughal Empire, notably under Akbar the Great, the son of Humayun.
• During his five-year rule (1540-1545), he set up new civic and military administration.
• He issued the first rupee and reorganized the postal system.
• He further developed Humayun’s Dina-Panah and revived the historical city of Pataliputra.
• Sher Shah extended the Grand Trunk Road from Chittagong in Bangladesh to Kabul in Afghanistan.

Accession of Sher Shah

• Sher Shah ascended the throne of Delhi at the age of 67.
• Not much is known about his early life; his father was a small jagirdar at Jaunpur.
• Farid, later known as Sher Shah, gained rich administrative experience by managing his father’s jagir.
• After the defeat and death of Ibrahim Lodi and confusion in Afghan affairs, Sher Shah emerged as one of the most important Afghan Sardars.
• The title of Sher Khan was given to him by his patron for killing a tiger (Sher).
• Sher Khan soon became the right hand of the ruler of Bihar, and its master in all but name.
• His rise to prominence occurred before the death of Babur, indicating it was not sudden.