Transoxiana, including Balkh and Samarkand, was the ancestral homeland of the Mughals, once ruled by Amir Timur. In the context of Shah Jahan’s Balkh campaign, consider the following statements:
1. Shah Jahan successfully captured Balkh during a military expedition and successfully retained control over it.
2. The Balkh campaign is documented in Padshahnama by Abdul Hamid Lahori.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a). 1 only
(b). 2 only
(c). Both 1 and 2
(d). Neither 1 nor 2
Explanation
In the 17th century CE, Balkh was coveted and was tried to be captured by Mughal and Rajput princes. It was the only time, possibly in all of history, that an Indian army was to go on the offensive beyond the Hindu Kush. This was the Balkh-Badakhshan campaign of 1646-1647 CE, which would finally bring to end the Mughal dream of reconquering their homeland in the Ferghana Valley (in present-day Uzbekistan), the region from where Babur (r. 1526-30 CE)—the first Mughal Emperor and founder of the dynasty in India hailed from.
Statement 1 is not correct: While Shah Jahan's 1646-1647 campaign to capture Balkh and Badakhshan initially saw Mughal forces succeed in occupying the territories, they were ultimately unable to hold them, and the campaign ended in a stalemate, with Balkh and Badakhshan returning to Uzbek control.
Statement 2 is correct: The Padshahnama, an official chronicle of Shah Jahan’s reign written by Abdul Hamid Lahori, provides a detailed account of the Balkh expedition, including the Mughal conquest, administrative difficulties, and eventual retreat.
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