The Battle of Kanauj, also known as the Battle of Bilgram, was fought in 1540 between Sher Shah Suri and which Mughal emperor?

Introduction / Context:
The Battle of Kanauj, also called the Battle of Bilgram, was a crucial turning point in Mughal Afghan conflicts in sixteenth century North India. It led to the temporary loss of the Mughal throne and the rise of Sher Shah Suri. Competitive exams frequently ask about the Mughal ruler who faced Sher Shah in this battle, because it helps students place the event in the sequence of Mughal emperors and understand the political instability of the time.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The battle took place at Kanauj or Bilgram in 1540.
• Sher Shah Suri was one of the two main rivals.
• The question asks which Mughal emperor fought against Sher Shah.
• Options list several well known Mughal emperors and one non Mughal ruler.

Concept / Approach:
This is a factual question from the chronology of Mughal history. The approach is to recall that Babur founded the Mughal Empire, his son Humayun succeeded him, and that Humayun was defeated by Sher Shah Suri, which led to a period of Sur rule. Later, Akbar restored Mughal power. By understanding this sequence, we know that the emperor who fought Sher Shah at Kanauj in 1540 was Humayun, not Babur, Akbar, or Aurangzeb.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the basic order of Mughal emperors in the early period: Babur, Humayun, Akbar, and so on. Step 2: Remember that Babur won the Battle of Panipat in 1526 and established Mughal rule in North India. Step 3: Identify that his son Humayun inherited the throne but faced strong opposition from Afghan chiefs, especially Sher Shah Suri. Step 4: Recall that Humayun suffered a decisive defeat at the Battle of Kanauj or Bilgram in 1540, after which he was exiled and Sher Shah established the Sur Empire. Step 5: Match this information with the options and select Humayun as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification can be done by looking at any standard Mughal history timeline. All reliable texts show that Humayun fought two major battles against Sher Shah, at Chausa in 1539 and at Kanauj in 1540, and lost both. These defeats caused him to lose the Mughal throne until he returned later to re establish his rule just before Akbar. This consistent chronology in different books confirms that Humayun, not Babur or Akbar, was Sher Shah's opponent at Kanauj.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Babur died in 1530, long before the Battle of Kanauj in 1540, so he could not have fought Sher Shah in that battle. Akbar came to the throne later, in 1556, and is associated with consolidating Mughal power, not with the loss at Kanauj. Aurangzeb was a much later Mughal ruler of the seventeenth century, long after the time of Sher Shah Suri. Bahadur Shah refers to different later rulers and is not connected with this specific battle. Therefore, only Humayun fits the historical context of the question.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the battles fought by Babur and Humayun or mix up Kanauj with Panipat. Another pitfall is choosing Akbar simply because he is the most famous Mughal emperor, without checking the date 1540 mentioned in the question. To avoid such errors, learners should memorise a clear timeline of major battles and link each one with the correct emperor and opponent. Regular revision of this timeline greatly reduces confusion in exam situations.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Humayun.