Sher Shah Suri: A Fresh Perspective

by Basheer Ahmad Khan Matta

This is an account of Sher Shah Suri--a man of surpassing personal excellence, a great and exemplary ruler, and the greatest leader ever produced by the Afghans. The book seeks to examine and evaluate his performance in all these to explore the pith and essence of the man and
determine his place in the currents of Indian history, as well as in the independent stream of Afghan history. At his death in 1545, Sher Shah left behind an empire stretching from the Indus to the Bay of Bengal. However, Sher Shah's place in history rests not on his military exploits alone, but on
the exemplary efficiency of his rule, the many far-reaching improvements that he effected in all spheres of government, and the splendid measures that he instituted for the good of the general public. This is a history of Sher Shah and the interrelatioship between India and the Afghans, and the
great currents and countercurrents of events pertaining in the age. Moreover, and most significantly, its conclusions are drawn from the cardinal lessons ingrained in Indian history.

245 pages, Hardcover

First published October 20, 2005

Reviews

[Varsha Bang · Rating 3 out of 5]

Though I was aiming for Abbas Sarwani's Tarikh-e-Sher Shahi, I had to settle for this book on account of the unavailability of the former. The decision turned out to be a good one. The book can be a starting point for anybody remotely curious about the greatest Afghan ruler India ever saw. Sher Khan later came to be known as Sher Shah Suri was a man of many dexterities. No wonder, he surpassed the likes of Mohammed Ghuri, Bahlol, and Sikander Lodi. The boundaries of Hindustan were spread out the most during his rule, a feat that was then later broken by only Alauddin Khilji. I wish the author could discuss in detail the currency systems introduced by this great ruler that was adopted by Akar and then by the Britishers, the cultural and societal reforms, and the excellent network of roads that was built by Sher Shah.

[Khalid Khan · Rating 5 out of 5]

ambition meets action. He nearly ended the Mughal Empire and planned to distroy Lahore.

[Rather Ajaz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing