Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Shah Jahan
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Mughal emperors often had personal names that were different from the imperial titles they used after ascending the throne. Understanding these alternative names is very important for questions on medieval Indian history. Prince Khurram is one such well known example, and he is closely linked with the flowering of Mughal architecture in the seventeenth century. This question checks whether the learner can correctly associate the personal name Khurram with the imperial title that he later adopted as emperor.
Given Data / Assumptions:
We are told that Prince Khurram later became a Mughal emperor. The options list several major Mughal rulers such as Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, and Babur. There is no numerical or date based information here. The question assumes that the learner knows basic Mughal genealogy and is aware that Khurram is a personal name rather than a throne name. Our task is to map Prince Khurram to the correct well known emperor name.
Concept / Approach:
The key concept is that the future Shah Jahan was born as Prince Khurram, the son of Emperor Jahangir. When he ascended the Mughal throne, he adopted the regal title Shah Jahan, which literally means King of the World. He is famous for commissioning the Taj Mahal, the Red Fort in Delhi, and many other monuments. By contrast, Akbar, Jahangir, Aurangzeb, and Babur already have widely known birth names that do not match Khurram. Remembering this mapping helps answer many factual questions in Indian medieval history.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Prince Khurram was the favourite son of Jahangir and a powerful Mughal prince.
Step 2: Remember that after winning the succession struggle he took the imperial title Shah Jahan.
Step 3: Check each option. Akbar was originally named Jalaluddin Muhammad. Jahangir was born as Prince Salim. Aurangzeb was called Muhiuddin. Babur was Zahiruddin Muhammad.
Step 4: Note that only Shah Jahan matches Prince Khurram as his earlier personal name.
Step 5: Therefore the correct answer must be Shah Jahan.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify this by remembering monuments. The emperor responsible for the Taj Mahal, the Jama Masjid of Delhi, and parts of the Agra Fort is always identified as Shah Jahan. Historical biographies and textbooks mention that this ruler was born Prince Khurram. School level history books also often include direct statements that Prince Khurram became Emperor Shah Jahan, making this mapping very reliable and widely confirmed.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Akbar is wrong because he was born Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar, not Khurram. Jahangir is incorrect since his personal name was Prince Salim before he became emperor. Aurangzeb is not right because his full original name was Muhiuddin Muhammad Aurangzeb. Babur is also incorrect because his name was Zahiruddin Muhammad Babur. None of these emperors used Khurram as a personal name before accession, so they cannot be the correct match for Prince Khurram.
Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake is to confuse the relationships among the Mughal rulers and think that Khurram might refer to Jahangir or Aurangzeb. Another pitfall is to guess based only on fame and choose Akbar because he is very prominent in Mughal history. To avoid such errors, learners should remember the simple genealogy sequence Babur, Humayun, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, and Aurangzeb and learn at least one key fact about the birth name of each emperor. Linking Prince Khurram to the Taj Mahal and Shah Jahan can act as a powerful memory aid.
Final Answer:
Prince Khurram later became the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan.
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