SSC
The city of Khadki, later renamed Aurangabad, was founded in 1610 by:
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Answer: Option B — Malik Ambar
Detailed Solution
The city of Khadki (Khirki), later renamed Aurangabad, was founded in 1610 by Malik Ambar, the powerful minister (Peshwa) of the Nizam Shahi kingdom of Ahmadnagar.
About Malik Ambar:
- He was born in Ethiopia (Abyssinia) around 1548, and was sold as a slave in his childhood.
- He was brought to the Deccan and bought by Chengiz Khan, a minister of Ahmadnagar.
- After his master's death, he became a soldier, and rose through his ability.
- He became the regent and prime minister of the Nizam Shahi kingdom, ruling on behalf of puppet Sultans.
His achievements:
- He resisted the Mughals for more than 20 years, during the reigns of Akbar and Jahangir.
- He used guerrilla warfare (bargi-giri) with the help of Maratha soldiers, and is regarded as one of the pioneers of this method in the Deccan.
- He reformed the revenue system of Ahmadnagar, based on the measurement of land and the fixing of revenue in cash; this was later adopted by the Marathas.
- He built a strong army and administration.
The founding of Khadki:
- He founded the city of Khadki in 1610, and made it the capital of the Nizam Shahi kingdom.
- He built canals (the "nahar" water system) to supply water to the city.
- The city was later renamed Fatehnagar and then Aurangabad, after Aurangzeb, who lived there as viceroy of the Deccan.
- In 2023, it was renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
His death and legacy:
- He died in 1626, at the age of about 78.
- After his death, the Nizam Shahi kingdom declined, and was annexed by the Mughals.
- Jahangir disliked him so much that he had a painting made of himself shooting at Malik Ambar's severed head.
Africans in the Deccan:
- Many Abyssinians (Habshis or Siddis) rose to high positions in the Deccan Sultanates.
- The Siddis of Janjira were a powerful naval force on the western coast.
Why not the other options?
- ✗Aurangzeb gave the city its later name.
- ✗Shahji Bhonsle served Ahmadnagar later.
- ✗Murtaza Nizam Shah was a Nizam Shahi Sultan.
Quick tip
Remember: Khadki (later Aurangabad) founded by Malik Ambar in 1610 (Abyssinian regent of Ahmadnagar; guerrilla warfare; revenue reforms); renamed Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (2023).
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Vijayanagara & Bahmani Kingdoms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Vijayanagara & Bahmani Kingdoms, 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 Vijayanagara Empire, founded by Harihara and Bukka in 1336, and the Bahmani Sultanate, founded by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah in 1347, along with the Deccan sultanates that followed. It includes their rulers, administration, architecture and the accounts of foreign travellers. The most tested ruler is Krishnadevaraya of the Tuluva dynasty, a patron of Telugu literature and author of Amuktamalyada. Other common questions cover the Battle of Talikota (1565), the Vijayanagara capital Hampi, and the foreign travellers who visited, such as Nicolo Conti, Abdur Razzaq and Domingo Paes. Practise the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms 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.