Question

Who invited Babur to invade India?
a.Alam Khan Lodhi
b.Daulat Khan Lodhi
c.Ibrahim Lodhi
d.Mahmud Lodhi

Answer 1

Hint: Babur was invited by the cousin of Ibrahim Lodi who was the governor of Punjab during the Lodi Dynasty’s rule in the Delhi Sultanate.

Complete answer: The names mentioned in the options are all the names of the Afghans who had direct links with Babur. Therefore, we shall take a close look at the options to reach the correct option.
a. Alam Khan Lodhi: Alam Khan Lodi was an Afghan ruler who was also an uncle to Ibrahim Lodi. However, he was faithful to the throne of Delhi and had no links with Babur whatsoever. So, it is an incorrect option.
b. Daulat Khan Lodhi: Daulat Khan Lodi was the Afghan governor of Punjab during the rule of the Lodi Dynasty in the Delhi Sultanate. The Afghan governor was behind the invitation of Babur to attack India. So, it is the correct option.
c. Ibrahim Lodhi: Ibrahim Lodi was the ruler of Delhi during the time of the First battle of Panipat in 1526. He faced Babur in the first battle of Panipat and was killed after Babur had emerged victorious in the battle. So, it is an incorrect option.
d. Mahmud Lodhi: Mahmud Lodi was the uncle of Daulat Khan Lodi who was living in Gujarat in the 1520s. He aspired for the throne of Delhi and was declared the ruler of the Afghans after the defeat of Medini Rai at Chanderi. Also, he had helped Rana Sanga of Mewar in the Battle of Khanwa. So, it is an incorrect option.

Thus, Option b is the right answer.

Note: It is misrepresented that Rana Sangram Singh of Mewar had invited Babur to invade Delhi from Kabul to defeat Ibrahim Lodi. However, Rana Sanga had already defeated Ibrahim Lodi twice in 1518 and 1519 at the Battles of Khatoli and Dholpur, so he did not need the help of a mere Turk to defeat him.