In which year did Sher Khan (later Sher Shah Suri) attack Bengal and defeat Sultan Ghiyasuddin Shah, marking an important step in his rise to power?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to the rise of Sher Shah Suri, an important ruler who briefly displaced the Mughal emperor Humayun and established the Sur Empire in North India. Before becoming emperor, Sher Khan (as he was then known) had to defeat regional rulers, including the Sultan of Bengal. Knowing the year in which he defeated Ghiyasuddin Shah of Bengal helps place his career in the correct historical sequence.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The figure in question is Sher Khan, later known as Sher Shah Suri.
- The event mentioned is his attack on Bengal and defeat of Sultan Ghiyasuddin Shah.
- The options list years: 1358, 1583, 1538, 1540 and 1556.
- We assume familiarity with the fact that Sher Shah s main rise against the Mughals took place in the late 1530s and early 1540s.

Concept / Approach:
Sher Shah s struggle for power involved conflicts both with regional sultans and with Humayun. His victory over the Sultan of Bengal was an important step in consolidating his position in eastern India before his final clashes with Humayun. Historically, Sher Khan defeated Ghiyasuddin Mahmud Shah of Bengal around 1538. Later, in 1540, he defeated Humayun at the Battle of Kanauj (also called Bilgram), forcing the Mughal emperor into exile. Therefore, among the given years, 1538 is the correct one for the Bengal victory.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Sher Shah s rise is usually dated to the late 1530s, culminating in his defeat of Humayun in 1540. Step 2: Understand that before confronting Humayun, Sher Khan strengthened his position by defeating regional powers like the Sultan of Bengal. Step 3: Remember that historians place his defeat of Ghiyasuddin Shah of Bengal in the year 1538. Step 4: Note that 1540 is associated with his major victory over Humayun at Kanauj, not with the Bengal campaign. Step 5: Eliminate the obviously incorrect years 1358, 1583 and 1556, which lie far outside Sher Shah s lifetime, and select 1538.

Verification / Alternative check:
A good way to verify is to construct a brief timeline: Babur s victory at Panipat in 1526, Humayun s rule and challenges in the 1530s, Sher Shah s rise and the defeat of Humayun in 1540, followed by Sher Shah s own death in 1545. The defeat of the Bengal Sultan fits logically before the decisive battle with Humayun and is generally placed in 1538. Most exam oriented history books confirm this date for Sher Khan s Bengal victory, giving further confidence in the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1358: This is more than a century before Sher Shah s time and clearly does not match his career.
1583: This is several decades after Sher Shah s death in 1545 and belongs to the later Mughal period.
1540: This year is correctly linked with Sher Shah s defeat of Humayun at the Battle of Kanauj, not with his attack on Bengal.
1556: This year is famous for the second Battle of Panipat and Akbar s early reign, long after Sher Shah s death.

Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes remember only the year 1540 when thinking of Sher Shah Suri, because that is when he defeated Humayun and became emperor. Consequently, they may mistakenly choose 1540 for every question related to his victories. Another pitfall is not checking whether the dates fall within Sher Shah s lifetime. Creating a rough mental timeline of key events—1538 for Bengal, 1540 for Kanauj, mid 1540s for his reforms—helps avoid such mistakes.

Final Answer:
Sher Khan (later Sher Shah Suri) attacked Bengal and defeated Ghiyasuddin Shah in 1538.