Key Points of Muhammad Shah
Muhammad Shah: Important general knowledge points for competitive government job examinations and UPSC prelims.
- Muhammad Shah’s real name was Roshan Akhtar.
- His full name was Mirza Nasir-ud-Din Muḥammad Shah.
- His father was Jahan Shah and his grandfather was Bahadur Shah I.
- He ascended the throne with the help of the Sayyid brothers.
- The Sayyid brothers gave him the title of Shah Jahan II.
- Initially, Muhammad Shah was a puppet ruler of the Sayyid brothers. Sayyid brothers (Abdullah Khan and Hussain Ali Khan) had controlled the entire administrative power.
- 1724: Muhammad Shah started to rule independently after removing the Sayyid Brothers by conspiracy.
- 1720: With the help of Chin-Qilich Khan (Nizam-ul-Mulk), the leader of the Turani faction, he killed the Syed brothers in 1720. Chin-Qilich Khan was appointed as Vizier.
- During his reign, Qilich Khan established independent kingdoms in Hyderabad, Murshidquli Khan in Bengal and ‘Burhan-ul-Muk Sadat Khan in Ayodhya.
- 1721: Muhammad Shah suppressed the Kolis rebels with his commander Kasim Ali Khan.
- Muhammad Shah suppressed the Kolis revolts multiple times (1719, 1729, 1738, 1740 and 1747).
- 1724: He had lost the Deccan subahs in 1724.
- 1737: In March 1737 Peshwa I Bajirao invaded Delhi.
- 1739: Nadir Shah of Persia (Iran) invaded India and defeated the Mughal army at the Battle of Karnal.
- Nadir Shah looted Delhi and took the Peacock Throne and Kohinoor Diamond to Persia.
- Muhammad Shah was called ‘Rangila Badshah‘ (“colorful” or “pleasure-loving”) for his addiction to women and Sura (alcohol).
- 1748: Afgan leader Ahmad Shah Durrani of Afghanistan invaded the Mughal Empire.
- 1748: Battle of Manupur: He sent Vizier Qamaruddin Khan, Ahmad Shah Bahadur, his son Moin-ul-Mulk and a few other nobles to Sirhind with 75 thousand troops against Aḥmad Shah Durrani. Durrani had only 12 thousand soldiers and was defeated brutally.
- 1748: Muhammad Shah died on April 26, 1748 (age 45 years). His reign was long, nearly 30 years.
Extra Info: Muhammad Shah was a ‘Kathaka‘ dancer. He was a great patron of the arts, music, and cultural activities.
Extra Info: Muhammad Shah’s pen-name was “Sadrang“.
Extra Info: Muhammad Shah reintroduced Qawwali in his imperial court. He spread Islamic education by Maktabs.
Extra Info: For the first time, the Quran was translated into Persian and Urdu during Muhammad Shah’s reign.
Scientific Work: The 400-page astronomical book Zij-i Muhammad Shahi was written during the reign of Muhammad Shah (between 1727 and 1735) by Jai Singh II of Amber. The book was titled after Mughal king Muhammad Shah.