Medieval and Islamic History

Nadir Shah, the Persian ruler, invaded India in 1739 and took away the Peacock Throne (Takht-i-Taus) of Shah Jahan after his victory in the Battle of Karnal. The throne was adorned with precious jewels including the Kohinoor diamond. Ahmed Shah Abdali and Mahmud Ghazni also invaded India but came earlier, while Changez Khan (Genghis Khan) was a Mongol invader from an earlier period.

Dara Shukoh (also called Dara) was the eldest son of Shah Jahan and distinctly known for his deep religious interest and syncretic philosophy. He sponsored the translation of the Upanishads from Sanskrit to Persian, earning the title 'Sirr-i-Akbar' and promoting Hindu-Muslim religious understanding. His brothers Shuja, Murad, and Aurangzeb were known for military ambition and orthodox Islamic views rather than scholarly translation of Hindu texts.

Din-i-Illahi (Divine Faith) was initiated by Akbar in 1582, blending elements of Hinduism, Islam, Zoroastrianism, and Christianity. It emphasized tolerance and rationalism. It didn't survive Akbar's death. Aurangzeb was orthodox, Shah Jahan focused on architecture.

Qutubuddin Aibak, the founder of the Slave Dynasty in India, was known as 'Lakh Baksh' (giver of lakhs) because of his generosity in giving charitable donations. He was famous for his patronage and distributed large sums to the poor and scholars.

Wali is someone who has “walayah”, which is the authority or guardianship over property. He takes care of the property as a man of ordinary prudence would deal with it if it were his own.

The Shahnameh (Book of Kings) is the world's longest epic poem written by the Persian poet Ferdowsi (also spelled Firdausi). It chronicles the history and mythology of Persian kings from creation to the Arab conquest of Persia in the 7th century. Ibn-Batuta was a traveler, Alberuni a scholar, and Chand Bardai a poet.

Al-Biruni (Alberuni) was a Persian scholar who accompanied Mahmud of Ghazni during his invasions of India in the 11th century. He wrote the famous 'Tarikh Al-Hind' (History of India) based on his observations. He was not associated with Mohamed Ghouri, Qutubuddin Aibak, or Babur who came later.

Aurangzeb is historically noted for his strict adherence to Islamic law and his often adversarial relationship with the established clergy, particularly when their interests conflicted with his state policies.

Chand Bardai was the court poet of Prithvi Raj Chauhan III (also known as Prithviraj Chauhan), the last Hindu king of Delhi. He composed the Prithviraj Raso, an epic poem chronicling the life and exploits of his patron. Chand Bardai was not associated with Mahmud of Ghazni, Harshvardhan, or other rulers mentioned in the options.

Jehangir (also known as Jahangir) was the fourth Mughal emperor who succeeded his father Akbar the Great in 1605. Akbar's death marked the end of his 49-year reign (1556-1605), and Jehangir ascended the throne as his eldest surviving son. This is a standard historical fact about Mughal succession.

Daultabad (Devagiri) occupied a more central and strategic location within the Delhi Sultanate territories compared to Delhi, making it easier to control both northern and southern regions of the empire.

Alauddin Khilji established an extensive market control system and appointed 'Shahanas' (market officers) to regulate prices and prevent hoarding. This was part of his administrative reforms to ensure fair prices for his soldiers.

The 'Chain of Justice' (Zanjir-i-Adl) was installed by Mughal Emperor Jahangir. It was a golden chain with bells that common people could ring to seek justice directly from the Emperor. Option A is correct.

Humayun, the second Mughal emperor, died in 1556 when he accidentally fell down the stairs of his library in Delhi while responding to the call for prayer. His death is historically significant as it led to the succession of Akbar the Great. This incident highlights the accidental nature of many historical events that shaped dynastic successions.

Mohammad Muazzam took the title Bahadur Shah I upon succeeding his father Aurangzeb in 1707. He was the eldest surviving son of Aurangzeb and ruled briefly from 1707-1712.