After his defeat, Humayun came to Agra but left soon after. He tried to go to Kashmir but Kamran blocked his way. Ultimately, he decided to go to Sindh. Humayun was invited by Maldeo of Marwar and he accepted the invitation. On the way, he came to know that Maldeo had changed his mind and really wanted to arrest him with a view to pfease Sher Khan. Under the circumstances, he had to retrace his steps to Sind. He got shelter from the Raja of Amarkot. In 1542, Akbar was born there.

Finding his position difficult and no prospects of success in the future, Humayun left India. He tried to get help from his brother Kamran but failed. The latter tried to arrest him. Ultimately, Humayun went to Persia where Shah Tahmasp welcomed him. The Shah insisted that Humayun must become a Shah and ultimately Humayun accepted the condition. The Shah agreed to give 14,000 men to’Humayun on the condition that Kandhar was to be given to him.

With the help of the Persian Troops, Humayun captured Kandhar and handed over the same of the Persians. However, Humayun occupied the same after the death of Shah Tahmasp. He also captured Kabul in November 1544 and Kamran ran away to Sindh.

Although Humayun had got Kabul and Kandhar, his difficulties were not over. He fell ill and Kamran took advantage of the situation and recaptured Kabul in 1546. The followers of Humayun deserted him. But when he himself recovered from his illness he was able to recapture Kabul after a siege in 1547. Kamran managed to slip away. He appeared on the scene once again in 1548, but was defeated.

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Once again, Humayun forgave Kamran, but the latter managed to occupy Kandhar again in 1549. Humayun had to struggle very hard this time to recapture Kabul. As a matter of fact, he was himself severely wounded. Kamran ran away but was captured. Humayun ordered his eyes to be taken out. Kamran went on a pilgrimage to Mecca and he died there in 1557. Askari was also sent to Mecca and he never returned. Hindal was killed.

After securing his position, Humayun continued to follow a policy of waiting for a favourable opportunity to attack India and recover his previous territory.

Sher Shah, the victor of Kanauj, died in 1545. He was succeeded by his son, Islam Shah, who ruled up to 1553. He was succeeded by Muhammad Adil Shah. He was very fond of pleasures and left the affairs of his Government into the hands of Hemu, his Minister. His authority was challenged by Ibrahim Shah and Sikandar Shah. There were a large number of bloody battles among the various rivals. The net result of all this was that the Sur Empire was broken up.

Humayun made preparations for his attack on India. He reached Peshwar in December 1554, He occupied Lahore in February 1555. Dipalpur was occupied in March 1555. The Battle of Machiwara was fought in May 1555 between the Mughals and the Afghans and ended in the victory for the Mughals.

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The following is a contemporary account of Battle of Machiwara: “The Afghans began the battle with their archers, but as it was getting dark, the arrows took little effect on the Mughals, but the Afghans being greatly annoyed by the fire (atashi) threw themselves in*o a neighbouring village.

As most of the houses in the village of Hindustan are thatched, a fire broke out, lighting up the field of battle, the (Mughal) archers came out and plied their weapons heartily by the light of the burning village. The enemy, in the glare of the fire, presented a fine mark for their shafts, and being unable to endure longer, took to flight.”

In June 1555 was fought the Battle of Sirhind in which Sikandar Sur was defeated. After his defeat, Sikandar Sur ran away to Mankot and from there to The Hills of the North-Western Punjab. Humayun entered Delhi in July 1555 after an interval of about 15 years. He deputed his son, Akbar, to pursue Sikandar Sur.

The following is the contemporary account of Battle of Sirhind: “On hearing of this defeat, (Sultan) Sikander Afghan marched forth to take his revenge, with 80,000 horsement and elephants and artillery. He marched to Sirhind and there he entrenched and fortified his camp.

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The Chaghatai general strengthened the fortifications of Sirhind, and making a good show of resistance, they wrote letters to Humayun for reinforcements. Thereupon, he sent Prince Akbar towards Sirhind, and as he approached, the generals came out to meet him. The forces were drawn out in array with the greatest show against the enemy, who were four times more numerous than the Mughals.

“For some days the daring spirits in both armies challenged each other to combat and displayed their valour, till at length the vanguard of Prince Akbar was drawn up for battle. A second division under Bairam Khan (Khan-Khanan) on the one side and on the other a third division under Iskandar Khan …. attacked the enemy. In the engagement all the nobles exhibited dauntless courage and the most determined resolution. The Afghans 100,000 in number, were defeated, being inferior in courage, and (Sultan) Sikander fled.

“The victors pursued the enemy and put many of them to death; and having secured an enormous booty, returned triumphant to wait upon the Emperor and congratulate him. Under his orders a despatch of the victory was drawn, in which the honour of the victory was ascribed to Prince Akbar and this was circulated in all directions.”

After recovering his throne, Humayun “devoted himself to a general superintendence of the affairs of his kingdom, and to watching the progress of his armies which he had sent in various directions to the different provinces. He saw clearly that there were great defects in the system of government of the Empire, and set himself to devising means improving it. The plan which he projected was to separate the Empire into several great divisions, each of them to have a local capital, and a board of administration for directing local affairs.

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Delhi, Agra, Kanauj, Jaunpur, Mandur, and Lahore were among the capitals fixed upon. To each of them was to be assigned a considerable military force, under an able General so as to render it independent of assistance from the others; while the Emperor was to give unity to the whole, by visiting them in turn with an army of about 12,000 horses which were to be under his own immediate command, and at all times ready to move in any direction. This plan, however, he never had time, had he even possessed sufficient steadiness, to carry into execution.”

Although Humayun had recovered his kingdom he was not destined to rule the same for long. In January, 1556, he met his tragic end by slipping from the famous building known as Din Panah. It is stated that before his death Humayun used to repeat with great emotion the following mystical verses which he had heard from a supernatural voice:

“O Lord, of Thine infinite goodness make me Thine own; Make me a partner of the Knowledge of Thy attributes; 1 am broken-hearted from the cares and sorrows of life; O call to Thee Thy poor Madman (lower) O grant me my release.”

According to Lane-Poole, “Humayun tumbled through life and he tumbled i t of it.” What Lane-Poole wanted to convey was that first of all Humayun lost everything and .ater on regained what he had lost. It can be pointed out that Humayun had to meet many difficulties at the time of his succession to the throne. He could not overcome those difficulties and became a fugitive after the Battle of Kanauj in 1540. Later on, with the help of the King of Persia, he recaptured Kabul and Kandhar and ultimately was able to re-ascend the throne of Delhi and Agra after defeating Sikandar Sur.