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VOL. 12, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Sher Shah Suri and age of reforms: Reflecting the various dimension of reign, reforms and shadow of Mughal administration, rejecting notion of dark age
Authors
Ayush Kumar Singh
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to examine how the
historiography has ignored the positive aspects of Medieval India and
understood in notion of dark age which is infamous epithet of medieval period
in India. This discussion would demonstrate another aspects of medieval India
where development and reforms took place with mention of Sher Shah Suri as
ruler. the reign of Sher Shah Suri, a ruler whose presence in medieval history
of India remarks a significant phase. The age of sixteenth century and its
beginning period witnessed a remarkable turbulence when Sultanate was
overthrown at back and Mughal dominion led by Babur has not expanded in
countryside. Humayun who has succeeded Babur did not made his space and his
court politics and other circumstances went against him causing his defeat in
hands of Sher Shah Suri. Sher Shah Suri (1540–1545) was one of medieval India's
most capable kings. He made significant military, administrative, and economic
improvements that affected the Mughal Empire's future government, despite his
short five-year reign. After defeating the Mughal emperor Humayun at the Battle
of Kannauj in 1540, Sher Shah established the Sur Empire and put laws in place
for efficient management, revenue collection, road construction, currency
standardization, and maintaining law and order. His reforms created a strong
administrative structure that was eventually inherited and enhanced by the
Mughal rulers, especially Akbar. This essay examines Sher Shah Suri's
leadership achievements and evaluates the impact of his innovations on medieval
Indian governance. The core structure of this paper is to demonstrate how Sher
Shah Suri has initiated various reforms ahead of his time and how the empire
grew signifying the administrative skill, further its result will be analysed
in positive and negative aspects creating the roadmap for Mughal Empire.
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Pages:408-410
How to cite this article:
Ayush Kumar Singh "Sher Shah Suri and age of reforms: Reflecting the various dimension of reign, reforms and shadow of Mughal administration, rejecting notion of dark age". International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research, Vol 12, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 408-410
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