A History of Agriculture in India v2.c67.s2: Three Expeditions into India
A History of Agriculture in India v2.c67.s2
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Three Expeditions into India
v2.c67.s2.1
Babur now diverted his restless ambition to India. To be sure of success he took one of the most important steps of his life. Profiting from the example of Shah Ismael, he began building up an effective artillery and some time between A.D. 1514 and 1519 secured the services of an Ottoman Turk, named Ustad Ali, who became his master of ordnance.
v2.c67.s2.2
Having, thus, strengthened his fighting machine a great deal, Babur started his probe into Hindustan. Early in A.D. 1519, he went in for what is called his first expedition in India. He stormed Bajaur, which offered a spirited resistance but was ultimately forced to accept defeat before Babur’s artillery. Babur massacred the population of the city to avenge the losses he had suffered as a result of the unexpected resistance of the people of Bajaur, but more so to warn the people of other cities of the fate awaiting them if they chose to resist his army. His purpose was well served. When he reached Bhera on the Jhelum, no resistance was offered. That encouraged him to claim for the first time entire north-western India on the plea that it once formed part of Timur’s empire. Perhaps he would have followed this claim with a deeper penetration in the interior of the Punjab if he was not told that back home a conspiracy was being hatched against him.
v2.c67.s2.3
In September 1519 Babur invaded Hindustan again. This was his second expedition to Hindustan. He marched through Khyber, subdued the turbulent Yusafzai tribe and provisioned the Peshawar fort for future operations. He was forced to give up his ambition of going further at this stage because of disturbing news from Badakshan.
v2.c67.s2.4
After taking possession of Badakshan, Babur marched into India on his third expedition early in A.D. 1520. As in his first expedition, now also he first went to Bajaur and from there proceeded to Bhera. But this time he did not stop at Bhera. Subduing the recalcitrant Afghan tribes, he proceeded to Sialkot, which submitted without striking a blow. When he moved on to Saiyidpur, he met a tough resistance but ultimately succeeded in subduing the place. Perhaps with the same object in view that has motivated his massacre of the people of Bajaur two years ago, he mercilessly massacred the people of Saiyidpur. That could have been a prelude to his moving into Lahore but on hearing that the ruler of Kandahar, Shah Beg Khan, was marching on Kabul, he hastily returned to Kabul.
v2.c67.s2.5
Babur did not invade India for the next four years. Between A.D. 1520 and 1522 he was busy subduing Shah Beg. In the following two years he strengthened his position in Kandahar. But he had by no means given up the Indian project. He further improved his artillery by securing the services of Mustafa, another Turkish expert.
v2.c67.s2.6
Babur embarked on his fourth expedition to India in A.D. 1524 on the invitation of Daulat Khan Lodi, the powerful Wazir of the Punjab. He marched into the valleys of the Jhelum and the Chenab, and became the master of both Lahore and Dipalpur. Much to the disappointment of Daulat Khan, who had invited Babur to serve his political ends, Babur now proclaimed the major part of what subsequently became the Lahore and Multan subas of the Mughal Empire as part of his Kabul kingdom. He appointed his own governors over these areas and offered Daulat Khan the petty governorship of the Jullundur doab. Little wonder that no sooner Babur went back, Daulat Khan raised a big army to fight him.