SSC
The Mughal emperor Shah Alam II, who had been living under the Company's protection at Allahabad, returned to Delhi in 1772 under the protection of:
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Answer: Option B — Mahadji Scindia and the Marathas
Detailed Solution
In 1772, the Mughal emperor Shah Alam II left Allahabad, where he had been living under the protection of the English East India Company, and returned to Delhi under the protection of the Marathas, led by Mahadji Scindia.
About Shah Alam II:
- His original name was Ali Gauhar; he was the son of the Mughal emperor Alamgir II.
- He fled Delhi as a prince because of the hostility of the powerful minister Imad-ul-Mulk, who controlled his father.
- After his father was murdered in 1759, he proclaimed himself emperor while in Bihar.
- He joined Mir Qasim and Shuja-ud-Daula against the English, but they were defeated at Buxar (1764).
- He granted the Company the right to collect revenue in Bengal, and in return received Kora and Allahabad and an annual tribute.
- He lived at Allahabad under English protection from 1765 to 1771.
Return to Delhi:
- He wanted to return to his capital, Delhi.
- Since the English would not help him, he turned to the Marathas, who had recovered their strength in the north after their defeat at Panipat (1761).
- The Marathas escorted him to Delhi, where he reached in January 1772.
- In return, he gave Kora and Allahabad to the Marathas, which angered the English, who stopped paying him the tribute.
Later life:
- He became a puppet in the hands of different powers.
- In 1788, the Rohilla chief Ghulam Qadir captured Delhi and blinded Shah Alam II.
- Mahadji Scindia recaptured Delhi and restored him to the throne.
- After the British captured Delhi in 1803, he lived under British protection until his death in 1806.
- A famous Persian saying described his reduced empire: "Sultanat-e-Shah Alam, az Dilli ta Palam" ("The empire of Shah Alam extends from Delhi to Palam").
About Mahadji Scindia:
- He was the most powerful Maratha chief in north India in the late 18th century.
- He was appointed the "Vakil-i-Mutlaq" (regent) of the Mughal empire in 1784.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The English refused to escort him.
- ✗Ahmad Shah Abdali and the Nawab of Awadh did not escort him.
Quick tip
Remember: Shah Alam II returned to Delhi in 1772 under Maratha protection (Mahadji Scindia); blinded by Ghulam Qadir (1788); "from Delhi to Palam".
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Mughal Empire — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Mughal Empire, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
The Mughal Empire was founded by Babur in 1526 and reached its height under Akbar. This topic covers the Mughal emperors from Babur to Aurangzeb and the later Mughals, the Sur interlude under Sher Shah Suri, Mughal administration (the mansabdari and jagirdari systems), revenue systems, architecture, painting and literature. Common questions ask about important battles (Panipat, Khanwa, Haldighati), Akbar's policies such as Din-i-Ilahi and the abolition of the jizya, Sher Shah's reforms such as the rupiya coin and the Grand Trunk Road, and the builders of famous monuments. For example, Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort in Delhi. Practise the Mughal Empire questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.