A History of Agriculture in India v2.c67.s3.2

v2.c67.s3.2

The first battle of Panipat began the last phase of Babur’s life. It is well known in all its details to the students of Indian history and may be briefly told. Babur states, ‘I placed my foot in the stirrup of resolution, and my hand on the reins of confidence in God, and marched against Sultan Ibrahim, the son of Sultan Sikandar, the son of Sultan Bahlol Lodi Afghan, in whose possession the throne of Delhi and the dominions of Hindustan at that time were; whose army in the field was said to amount to a hundred thousand men, and who, including those of his Amirs, had nearly a thousand elephants. For the first time in the history of India artillery was used in warfare. Ustad Kuli Khan was the master gunner of Babur. Indian elephants fled in terror on hearing the sound of artillery, trampling Ibrahim’s soldiers. By mid-day the battle was over. Ibrahim Lodi lay dead with 30,000 of his soldiers.