The tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun in Delhi was commissioned as a grand mausoleum by which royal patron?

Introduction / Context:
Humayun tomb in Delhi is an important landmark in the history of Mughal architecture. It is often described as a forerunner of the Taj Mahal because it combines Persian garden traditions with Indian building materials and techniques. Competitive exams frequently test which royal personality is traditionally credited with commissioning this splendid mausoleum, so knowing the correct patron and the broader context of Mughal funerary architecture is very useful for general studies and history aspirants.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The question refers to the tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun in Delhi. • It asks which royal patron commissioned or caused the monument to be built. • The options are Humayun, Hamida Banu Begum, Babur, and Akbar. • We follow the standard general knowledge convention used in many exam sources.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this type of question, you recall key facts about major Mughal monuments and who built or commissioned them. Humayun tomb is associated with the second Mughal emperor Humayun, but the commissioning patron was a royal family member rather than the emperor himself. Many general knowledge and exam oriented books state that Hamida Banu Begum, a prominent Mughal royal lady, was the main patron behind this mausoleum. Even though some historians emphasise the role of Haji Begum or Bega Begum, exams usually accept Hamida Banu Begum as the correct choice among the given options. The approach in multiple choice questions is therefore to match standard exam convention while also understanding the historical background in more detail.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Identify that Humayun tomb is a Mughal structure from the sixteenth century, located in Delhi. Step 2: Recall that the tomb was not built by Humayun himself, because it is a mausoleum completed after his death. Step 3: Among the royal family, the project is traditionally linked with a senior Mughal royal lady who wanted to honour Humayun memory with an impressive funerary monument. Step 4: Standard general knowledge sources commonly state that Hamida Banu Begum, a Mughal princess and an important royal consort, commissioned or sponsored the construction of the tomb. Step 5: Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty, died earlier and is associated with a tomb at Kabul, not the Delhi monument. Step 6: Akbar, the third Mughal emperor, certainly sponsored many constructions but is not usually given as the commissioning patron of Humayun tomb in exam keys. Step 7: Therefore, within the framework of typical exam answers, Hamida Banu Begum is selected as the correct option.

Verification / Alternative check:
A good way to verify is to remember paired facts for major Mughal monuments. For example, the Taj Mahal is linked with Shah Jahan and his queen Mumtaz Mahal, while Humayun tomb is linked with the emperor Humayun and a royal patron from his family. Cross checking with standard exam preparation books shows that they consistently mark Hamida Banu Begum as the answer when these four options are given. This confirms that, for the purpose of competitive exams and objective questions, Hamida Banu Begum is the expected choice and will fetch marks in tests.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Humayun: A person is not usually described as building their own tomb, especially when the construction is completed after their death, so this is not treated as correct in exams. Babur: Babur tomb is associated with Kabul and he belongs to an earlier generation, so he is not connected with the Delhi monument of Humayun. Akbar: Although Akbar sponsored many buildings and consolidated the empire, Humayun tomb patronage is not usually attributed to him in general knowledge questions.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners confuse the roles of various Mughal royals and assume that any large building must have been directly ordered by the reigning emperor. Another pitfall is to confuse different royal women in the Mughal household, such as Bega Begum and Hamida Banu Begum, or to mix up the stories of the Taj Mahal and Humayun tomb. In exam conditions, candidates sometimes select Akbar because he is a famous builder, but that answer does not match the standard key for this specific monument. The safest strategy is to memorise conventional exam pairings of monument and patron so you can answer quickly under time pressure.

Final Answer:
The tomb of the Mughal emperor Humayun in Delhi is traditionally credited in general knowledge references as having been commissioned by Hamida Banu Begum.