The Jama Masjid in Delhi, one of the largest mosques in India, was built under the rule of which Mughal emperor?

Introduction / Context:
The Jama Masjid of Delhi is one of the largest and most famous mosques in India. It stands close to the Red Fort and is an important landmark of Mughal architecture. Exam questions often ask which ruler built this mosque, because it helps students connect specific monuments with particular Mughal emperors and understand the cultural achievements of their reigns. Identifying the correct emperor also reinforces the broader narrative of Mughal art and architecture.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The monument in question is the Jama Masjid in Delhi.
• We must identify the Mughal emperor under whose rule it was built.
• Options include two Mughal emperors and some unrelated figures.
• Only one of these rulers is historically associated with the construction of this mosque.

Concept / Approach:
This is a direct recall question from the topic of Mughal architecture. The approach is to remember that Shah Jahan, the fifth Mughal emperor, is famous for building several grand monuments, including the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort in Delhi, and the Jama Masjid. The construction of Jama Masjid took place during his reign in the seventeenth century. By linking the monument with the emperor whose period emphasised large scale architectural projects, we arrive at the correct answer.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that the main builders among the Mughals in terms of famous monuments were Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb. Step 2: Remember that Shah Jahan is especially associated with white marble and grand mosques and palaces, including the Taj Mahal and the Red Fort. Step 3: Note from history that the Jama Masjid in Delhi was commissioned by Shah Jahan and completed around the mid seventeenth century. Step 4: Examine the options and identify Shah Jahan as one of the choices. Step 5: Select Shah Jahan and reject other names that are not connected with this particular monument.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is straightforward, as almost every guidebook and history text on Delhi mentions that Jama Masjid was built by Shah Jahan. Monument plaques and tourism websites also attribute this mosque to him, usually giving the years of construction as 1650 to 1656. Cross checking multiple independent references confirms this association, while no credible source credits Aurangzeb, Guru Ramdas, or Rao Jodha with building this particular mosque in Delhi.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Aurangzeb did commission some mosques and other structures, but he is not associated with the Jama Masjid of Delhi. Guru Ramdas was a Sikh Guru and not a Mughal emperor, so this option is historically misplaced. Rao Jodha was a Rajput ruler and the founder of Jodhpur, not a Mughal patron of Delhi mosques. Mahatma Gandhi was a twentieth century leader of the freedom movement and lived centuries after the mosque was built. These names are included only as distractors and are not connected to the construction of Jama Masjid.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to confuse monuments in Delhi that were built by different rulers, such as mixing up structures of the time of Shah Jahan with those from Aurangzeb's or Akbar's reign. Some students also assume that any large mosque in North India must be linked with Aurangzeb because of his religious policies. To avoid such confusion, students should prepare a table linking key Mughal emperors with their major monuments and revise it regularly before exams.

Final Answer:
The correct answer is Shah Jahan.