Mughal emperor Aurangzeb kept his father under house arrest in the Agra Fort. Which emperor was thus confined by Aurangzeb?

Introduction / Context:
Later Mughal history includes episodes of conflict within the royal family. One famous incident involves Aurangzeb seizing power and confining his own father in the Agra Fort. Knowing which emperor was placed under house arrest helps understand the nature of Mughal succession struggles and Aurangzebs rise to power.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The emperor who ordered the confinement is Aurangzeb.
- The place of confinement is Agra Fort.
- The question asks which emperor father was kept under house arrest there.
- The options list several Mughal emperors, including Shah Jahan.

Concept / Approach:
Shah Jahan, known for building the Taj Mahal, was Aurangzebs father. During the war of succession among Shah Jahans sons, Aurangzeb emerged victorious and eventually placed Shah Jahan in comfortable but strict confinement in the Agra Fort, where he spent his final years. The approach is simply to recall the father son relationship and this historical episode.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Shah Jahan was the fifth Mughal emperor and father of four major princes, including Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb.
Step 2: During the succession struggle, Aurangzeb defeated his brothers and took control of the empire.
Step 3: After gaining power, Aurangzeb kept his father Shah Jahan under house arrest in the Agra Fort.
Step 4: Check the options and confirm that Shah Jahan is listed among them.
Step 5: Select Shah Jahan as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative check is to think of the Taj Mahal story. Many accounts describe Shah Jahan spending his last years in Agra Fort with a view of the Taj Mahal across the river. Since Aurangzeb was the ruling emperor at that time, it is clear that he was the son who confined Shah Jahan. None of the other listed emperors fit this narrative.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a is wrong because Humayun lived much earlier and was never confined by Aurangzeb.
Option c is wrong as Akbar was a sixteenth century emperor and an ancestor, not a contemporary of Aurangzeb.
Option d is wrong since Bahadur Shah refers to later Mughal emperors and was not Aurangzebs father.
Option e is wrong because Jahangir was Shah Jahans father, not his son, and he died before Aurangzebs time as emperor.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the relationships among Mughal emperors or think that any older famous figure might have been imprisoned by a later ruler. Another error is to mix up the roles of Jahangir and Shah Jahan. Remembering the order Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb and the Taj Mahal story helps keep the family connections clear.

Final Answer:
The emperor placed under house arrest in Agra Fort by Aurangzeb was Shah Jahan.