State PCS
The Sikhs under Guru Hargobind fought and won several battles against Mughal forces during the reign of:
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Answer: Option D — Shah Jahan
Detailed Solution
The Sikhs under Guru Hargobind, the sixth Sikh Guru, fought and won several battles against Mughal forces during the reign of Shah Jahan, between about 1628 and 1634.
Background:
- After the execution of his father, Guru Arjan Dev, Guru Hargobind decided that the Sikhs must be able to defend themselves.
- He adopted the concept of "miri and piri": he wore two swords, one representing temporal (worldly) power (miri) and the other spiritual authority (piri).
- He built the Akal Takht in Amritsar (1606), as the seat of temporal authority.
- He maintained a small army, horses and weapons, and encouraged his followers to train in martial arts.
Relations with Jahangir:
- Jahangir imprisoned him for some time in the Gwalior fort.
- According to Sikh tradition, when he was released, he secured the release of 52 Hindu rajas imprisoned with him; this is celebrated as "Bandi Chhor Divas".
- Later, his relations with Jahangir improved.
Battles under Shah Jahan:
- Relations with the Mughals worsened under Shah Jahan.
- The first battle took place at Amritsar in 1628 (or 1629), over a hawk belonging to Shah Jahan, which was caught by the Sikhs during a royal hunt.
- Other battles were fought at Hargobindpur, Lahira (Gurusar) and Kartarpur.
- The Sikhs won these battles, though they suffered losses.
- In the battle of Kartarpur (1634), the Guru's son Tyag Mal (later Guru Tegh Bahadur) showed great bravery.
- Guru Hargobind later moved to Kiratpur, in the Shivalik hills, where he spent his last years.
About Guru Hargobind:
- He was born in 1595 at Guru ki Wadali (near Amritsar).
- He became the sixth Guru in 1606, at the age of eleven.
- He died in 1644 at Kiratpur.
Importance:
His policy changed the Sikh community into a body able to defend itself, preparing the ground for the later Khalsa.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Akbar had friendly relations with the Sikh Gurus.
- ✗Aurangzeb and Bahadur Shah I ruled later.
Quick tip
Remember: Guru Hargobind (sixth Guru) = miri and piri; Akal Takht (1606); imprisoned at Gwalior (Bandi Chhor Divas); fought Mughal forces under Shah Jahan (1628-1634).
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Sikh Gurus & Maratha Empire — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Sikh Gurus & Maratha 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.
This topic covers the ten Sikh Gurus, from Guru Nanak Dev to Guru Gobind Singh, and their contributions, the rise of the Sikh state under Maharaja Ranjit Singh, and the Maratha Empire from Shivaji to the Peshwas, including Maratha administration and the Anglo-Maratha wars. Questions often ask which Guru compiled the Adi Granth (Guru Arjan Dev), founded the Khalsa (Guru Gobind Singh, 1699) or introduced the Gurmukhi script (Guru Angad Dev). On the Marathas, expect questions on Shivaji's Ashtapradhan council, his coronation at Raigad in 1674, the Peshwas, and the Third Battle of Panipat (1761). Practise the Sikh Gurus and Maratha 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.