Category: Biography Story

Tantia Tope was a member of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. He served as a commander and led an army of Indian soldiers against the British. He was an ardent devotee of Nana Sahib of Bithur and continued to fight for him even after Nana was forced to leave by the British army. Tantia even pushed General Windham to flee Kanpur and helped Rani Lakshmi of Jhansi in retaining Gwalior.

Tatya Tope is considered one of the country’s best rebel generals and a significant name in Indian history certainly left his mark on the entire nation with his courage and actions for the country. Let us learn more about Tatya Tope’s life and his connection to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, as he is known as an Indian Superhero.

 

Who was Tantia Tope?

Tantia Tope, also spelt Tatya Tope or Tantia Topi, was a leader of the Indian Mutiny of 1857–58. His real name was Ramchandra Panduranga. Despite his lack of formal military training, he was perhaps the rebels’ best and most efficient general. Tantia Tope was a Maratha Brahman in the service of Baji Rao, the Maratha confederacy’s former Peshwa (ruler), and his adopted son Nana Sahib, who was also a key figure in the mutiny. He was present at Nana Sahib’s massacre of the British colony in Kanpur, and he had taken command of the rebel forces of the state of Gwalior in early November 1857, forcing Gen. C.A. Windham into his Kanpur entrenchments on November 27–28.

 

Sir Colin Campbell defeated Tantia Tope on December 6, but he stayed at Kalpi, the site of his loss. He came to Jhansi’s support in March 1858, when the city’s rani (queen) Lakshmi Bai was besieged by British forces. He welcomed the escaping rani at Kalpi after being defeated yet again, and then made a successful dash to Gwalior on June 1. On June 19, his forces were defeated, but he fought on as a guerrilla fighter in the jungle until he was betrayed the following April. At Shivpuri, he was tried and executed. 

 

Tatya Tope Real Name

Tatya Tope, also known as Ramachandra Pandurang Tope, was a key figure in the Indian Rebellion of 1857, also known as the First War of Independence. The uprising was one of the most dramatic examples of India’s resistance to British rule.

 

Personal Life

Who is Tatya Tope, and how was his personal life? Except for short stories in Hindi and Marathi, little is known about Tantia Tope’s personal life. The ones written in English are mainly accounts of the 1857 Indian Rebellion. Tantia Tope was born Ramachandra Panduranga and was given the title Tope, which means commanding officer and is most likely derived from the Hindi word Tope, which means cannon or artillery. Tantia Tope’s father, according to an official statement, was Panduranga, a resident of Jola Pargannah, Patoda Zilla Nagar in present-day Maharashtra. By birth, Tope was a Maratha Vashista Brahman. In one government note, he was referred to as the minister of Baroda, while in another, he was referred to as Nana Sahib. Tantia Tope was described as “a man of average height, with a wheat complexion, and always wearing a white chukri-dar turban” by a witness at his trial.

 

The First War of Independence

Tatya Tope secretly orchestrated an anti-British rebellion with Nana Sahib’s support. Tatya was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the East India Company’s Bharatiya troops stationed at Kanpur in May 1857. With his impressive guerrilla warrior feats, Tatya emerged triumphant in military encounters. Later, he moved his headquarters to Kalpi and occupied Gwalior with Rani Lakshmi Bai’s support. However, before he could secure his place, he was defeated by General Rose, resulting in Rani Lakshmi Bai’s martyrdom. It was a watershed moment in his life. Since then, he’s been harassing the British and their allies with his infamous guerrilla tactics. Tope performed several surprise attacks on the British army, then slipped away to form a new army after his army was defeated. From June 1858 to April 1859, British forces followed him, but he still outsmarted them. In the 2,800-mile marathon that passed through many hills, rivers, trees, and mountains, the army could not apprehend Tope.

 

Role of Tatya Tope in Revolt, 1857

In this article, where we cover Tatya Tope information, we will discuss the Revolt of 1857, of which valour and courage inspire Indians to this day. Nana Sahib became the leader of the rebels after the rebellion in Cawnpore on June 5, 1857. On the 25th of June 1857, the British forces surrendered and were evacuated to the Satichaura Ghat on the river, where they were massacred. Late in June, Nana was declared Peshwa. General Havelock engaged Nana’s forces in battle twice, was defeated the third time, and withdrew to Bithur before crossing the Ganges and relocating to Awadh. From Bithur, Tantia Tope started acting in Nana Sahib’s name. 

 

Nana Sahib agreed to negotiate with the British using the captives. Under the command of General Henry Havelock, the Company forces from Allahabad marched relentlessly towards Cawnpore. Nana Sahib’s forces sent to check their advance were defeated. When it became clear that the bargaining efforts had failed, the women and children imprisoned at Bibighar were ordered to be murdered on July 15th. The incident’s particulars, such as who ordered the massacre, are unknown, but Tantia Tope is generally believed to have given the order. Few historians, on the other hand, accepted that he should not be held responsible for the suspected murders. According to Christopher Hibbert, Tantia rescued 53 British women and children from the rebels.

 

Tope and Rao Sahib, Nana Sahib’s nephew, fled to Rajputana after the British captured Gwalior. He was able to persuade Tonk’s army to join him. He was unable to reach Bundi and, after declaring that he would fly south, instead travelled west to Nimach. Colonel Holmes led a British flying column in search of him, and General Abraham Robert, the British commander in Rajputana, was able to assault the rebels when they reached a point between Sanganer and Bhilwara. Tope fled the field once more, this time to Udaipur, where he drew up his forces on the Banas River after visiting a Hindu shrine on August 13th. Roberts’ forces defeated them again, and Tope fled. He arrived in Jhalrapatan, in the state of Jhalawar, after crossing the Chambal River. He was able to replace the weapons he had lost at the Banas River by inducing the state forces to revolt against the raja. 

 

Tope then led his forces to Indore, but he was pursued by the British, who were now led by General John Michel, as he fled to Sironj. He was still accompanied by Rao Sahib, and the two agreed to split their armies, with Tope going to Chanderi and Rao Sahib going to Jhansi with a smaller force. However, they reunited in October and were defeated once more at Chota Udaipur. They were in the state of Jaipur by January 1859 and had suffered two more defeats. Tope then fled alone into the Paron jungles. He met Man Singh, Raja of Narwar, and his family at this point and decided to stay with them. Man Singh was involved in a conflict with the Maharaja of Gwalior, and the British were successful in persuading him to surrender in exchange for his life and the safety of his family from the maharaja’s vengeance. Tope was left alone after that.

 

Tatya’s Plan

On June 20, 1858, Tatya left Gwalior. He lacked both an army and equipment worthy of the name. Rao Sahib and the Nawab of Banda were his only remaining colleagues, and his followers were few. He did not, however, give up hope. He wanted to fly south and enlist the rulers and citizens of southern India’s active support for the revolt in Peshwa’s name. To carry out the mission, he headed for the Narmada, which he planned to cross and travel south. He couldn’t do it because the English wouldn’t let him.

 

Battle at Kotra and After

The pursuing English force finally caught up with Tatya at Kotra on August 14. Tatya was defeated in the ensuing battle and had to surrender her arms. The English army followed him as he fled. Tatya set off for the Chambal once more. A second force was marching on him on his right, in addition to the English force that was chasing him. A third force stood on the Chambal’s bank, facing him directly. But, with remarkable skill and pace, he eluded them all, reaching and crossing the Chambal just a short distance from the English force’s position.

 

Tatya and the pursuing English forces were now separated by the Chambal River. Tatya, on the other hand, had misplaced his weapons and was without supplies. He left right away for Jhalrapatan. The Raja of Jhalrapattan marched out with his army and weapons to assault Tatya; however, when his army came face to face with Tatya, it surrendered.

 

Tatya was able to acquire more men, guns, and supplies as a result of this. When he left for Jhalrapatan, he didn’t have a single gun; now he had 32. He had secured a bloodless victory, and for his war chest, he demanded Rs 15 lakh from the powerless Raja. He stayed five days at Jhalrapatan to pay his soldiers. He then decided to try again to cross the Narmada, after consulting with Rao Sahib and the Nawab of Banda, who was with him. The English cast a large trap to catch Tatya, who was now on his way to Indore.

 

Six of the most competent English generals, Roberts, Holmes, Parke, Mitchell, Hope, and Lockheart, were now attempting to round up Tatya at the same time. Tatya and his force were pursued by English pursuers on many occasions, but Tatya still managed to escape.

 

Mitchell’s English force assaulted Tatya near Raigarh. Tatya abandoned 30 of his weapons after a brief struggle and made good his escape. Later, while moving north, he acquired four weapons. He crossed into Sindhia’s territory and invaded Isagarh, seizing light weapons. Tatya’s ultimate goal and mission were to cross the Narmada in any situation, and the English were doing all they could to avoid him by encircling him over and over.

 

Tatya Crosses the Narmada at Last

Tatya then split his army into two different detachments. He personally led one, while Rao Sahib was in charge of the other. Both progressed but in different ways. Their route was blocked by English forces at many stages, but they battled their way through to Lalitpur, where they entered. They were, however, surrounded by five English army detachments. Mitchell’s force was on the south, Col Liddell’s force on the east, Col Meade’s force on the north, Col Parke’s force on the west, and General Roberts’ force on the direction of the Chambal.

 

Tatya then used a ruse to trick the English. He came to a halt southwards, turned around, and resumed his march northwards. The English were duped into thinking Tatya had given up on his attempt to travel to the south, so they relaxed. Tatya abruptly turned around and crossed the Betwa River with incredible speed. At Khajuri, he fought an opposing English detachment before going on to Raigarh. He sped south from Raigarh like an arrow fired from a bow.

 

These strategies confused the English people. Mitchell rushed from behind Tatya, while Gen Parke rushed from one direction. None of them, on the other hand, were able to stop Tatya from reaching the Narmada and crossing it near Hoshangabad. He had confused some of the world’s most respected war strategists. According to historian Malleson, it is difficult not to be impressed by the scheme’s persistence.

 

Betrayal and Death

He met Man Singh, King of Narwar, during one of his escapes and quickly became his friend. Man Singh had conflicted with the Maharaja of Gwalior, and the British were able to convince him to hand over Tope in return for protection from the Maharaja.

 

Finally, Tope was betrayed by Man Singh, one of his closest associates, and defeated by General Napier’s British Indian troops. On April 7, 1859, he was captured by the British Army. Tope boldly admitted his actions after his arrest and claimed that he had no regrets because all he did was for the mother. On April 18, 1859, he was hanged in Shivpuri.

 

Here are some interesting facts about Tantia Tope :

• Tantia Tope was the only son of Pandurang Rao Tope and his wife Rukhmabai and was born in Nashik, Maharashtra, in 1814.

• Tantia Tope was a close friend and right hand of Nana Sahib, Peshwa’s adopted son.

• Tantia Tope defeated the Indian troops of the East India Company at Kanpur in May 1857.

• He led the Indians in the 1857 Rebellion and was noted for his guerilla tactics, which terrified the British.

• General Windham was forced to leave the city of Gwalior by him.

• To take Gwalior, he worked with Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi.

• Tantia’s childhood playmate was Rani Lakshmi Bai of Jhansi. When she was killed by a sword, he cremated her body and performed the last rites.

• During his lifetime, he fought 150 battles against the British and killed 10,000 British soldiers.

• Man Singh, a former Gwalior army Sardar, betrayed Tatia Tope’s trust by succumbing to the ‘Jagir’ and the Englishmen’s proposals.

• Sir Colin Campbell (later Baron Clyde) defeated Tantia Tope on December 6, 1857.

• On April 18, 1859, he was hanged in General Meade’s camp at Shivpuri.

 

Honours

• Nana Rao Park, a park in Kanpur, honours famous personalities from India’s freedom struggle. Tatya Tope’s statue, along with those of Nana Saheb and Rani Lakshmi Bai’s statues, can be seen in the park. Another statue of his may be found in Yeola, Maharashtra, in the Nasik district.

• In Tantia Tope’s honour, the then-Union Culture Minister, Mahesh Sharma, issued a commemorative coin with a value of Rs 200 and a circulation coin with a value of Rs 10 in 2016.

 

Conclusion

The biography of Tatya Tope is fascinating. He was a warrior who is credited for starting the First War of Independence. He was a supporter of Nana Sahib, who was another rebel Indian leader. The Sepoy Mutiny of 1857, which shook the foundations of British rule in the Indian subcontinent, is important in Tatya Tope’s biography.

Abraham Lincoln full name doesn’t include middle name, his name was given in to honour his paternal grandfather. Abraham Lincoln life is a true rag to riches story with lots of perseverance and hard work he went on to become the President of the United States. He was the 16th president and to date considered one of the greatest political leaders. He was a lawyer, and when he took on the role of the presidency, his leadership and championing for liberty stood out. He was also good in crisis management who led the country amid the American Civil war. He was known to perform all his duties with integrity and he always displayed a strength of character. He was also successful in ending slavery that was still very prevalent during his rule. And due to all these brave steps, he was known as the Great Emancipator and Honest Abe, the Rail-Splitter.

Basic Information About Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Date of Birth – 12th February 1809

Birthplace of Abraham Lincoln – Sinking Spring Farm, Kentucky, USA. 

Profession – Lawyer and American Statesmen

Role In American History – 16th President Of America

Years served as President – 4th March 1861- 15th April 1865

Abraham Lincoln’s Death – 15th April 1865 in Washington DC, USA

Age of Death – 56 years old

Cause of Death – Assassination by gunshot in the head.

Abraham Lincoln Biography

About Abraham Lincoln

Abraham Lincoln Facts about his life will include his childhood, family life, his early influences, marital life, and his career as a lawyer before his foray into politics that catapulted the path to the presidency.

Childhood and Family Life

Abraham Lincoln was born to Thomas Lincoln and Nancy Hanks Lincoln, in a log cabin near Hodgenville, on Sinking Spring Farm, Kentucky in the year 1809 February 12th. Abraham Lincoln was named after his grandfather Captain Abraham Lincoln. He was the second born after his sister Sarah. Abraham Lincoln’s younger brother Thomas died an infant.

Abraham Lincoln’s father Thomas Lincoln was only a child, 8 years of age when he witnessed his father Captain Abraham Lincoln’s death, after an Indian raid in 1786. Thomas started working shortly after doing odd jobs to support his family and hence was always a believer in physical work rather than academics. Before settling in Kentucky they migrated to various different states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The family then moved to Indiana in 1816 after losing their land over property title disputes. In Indiana, they settled in Hurricane Township, Perry County in an ‘unbroken forest’. The main reason for this move was the more reliable land titles and surveys in Indiana and no slaveholding.

Early Impression and Influences

Abraham Lincoln lost his mother in 1818 when he was only 9 years old due to milk sickness. This left a void of an important figure in his life. His sister Sarah filled in as the caretaker of the family, and they formed a different closeness. Thomas Lincoln married a widow Sarah Bush Johnston the following year in 1819. Abraham was very close to his stepmother.

While others accused Abraham of being a lazy person due to his lack of interest and participation in helping the family in his family’s farming line. His stepmother truly saw him and acknowledged his love for reading, writing, and poetry writing which he was scribbling. His stepmother was the one who understood that Abraham was not a person who enjoyed physical labor; his interests were rather intellectual.

10 years later in the year 1828 on January 20th Abraham was left with a devastating mark and hollowness in his life when he lost his sister Sarah. Sarah lost her life during childbirth. The two most important people in his life were his sister and stepmother who valued him and saw his worth. This built confidence and self-belief.

Adult Life

Abraham Lincoln had some help from itinerant teachers, but he majorly was self-taught and educated himself. He was an avid reader from a young age and read many books like  The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, John Bunyan’s The Pilgrim’s Progress, Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, and King James Bible.

As a teenager, he did household chores and took responsibility for his family. He even took upon work outside his home and earned an income. And he gave all his earnings to his father customarily till he was 21 years of age.

From his use of an axe as he helped his family in his growing years he was strong and tall. He was even known for his athleticism after he won a wrestling match with a renowned leader. Due to another milk sickness outbreak when he was 21 in March 1830, Abraham with many other of his family members shifted to west Illinois settling in Macon County.

During these years Abraham and his father Thomas grew distant because there was no commonality. Because of the acquired education by Abraham and their lack of it in his father left no common ground of conversation which created a gap between them.

Thomas Lincoln along with other family members moved to Coles County, Illinois the following year in 1831. And Abraham Lincoln on the other hand moved to New Salem, Illinois. He lived there and began his adulthood.

Early Career

He dabbled into different paths before he became a lawyer. When the economy was booming in 1832, he purchased a general store on credit and decided to run it with a partner Denton Offutt, in New Salem. The business suffered which led to Lincoln selling his shares.

In March of the same year, he ran for the Illinois General Assembly, his first encounter with politics. He was campaigning and drew the attention of the crowds with his oratory skills for navigational improvements on the Sangamon River.

He lost due to a lack of connection with the powerful group who influence and swing these elections.

During his campaign, he also considered serving as a Captain during the Black Hawk War led by Black Hawk when there arose a conflict between the U.S and Native Americans.

After his unsuccessful initial foray into politics, he became a postmaster in New Salem and later also served as a County Surveyor. His love for reading remained intact and he self-taught the law, with Blackstone’s Commentaries, and became a lawyer.

Political Life

In the year 1834, Abraham Lincoln entered the statehouse campaign in Illinois as a member of the Whig Party one of the two most powerful political parties, and became a success. In the mid 19th century the 2 powerful and influential political parties were Whig and Democratic. He served the Illinois House of Representatives for Sangamon County for four terms.

In the year 1837, he extended support and echoed Henry Clay’s support for the American Colonization Society. This support was truly instrumental in his political career as it was queer for a man with such power to advocate for abolishing slavery and emancipating such discrimination. He was a disciple of Henry Clay and they favoured urbanization and economic modernization.

In the year 1836, he moved to Springfield after being admitted to the Illinois bar that allows for arguing on behalf of your representation or client and began to practice law under John T. Stuart, cousin of Mary Todd, the woman he was courting at the time.

Marital Life and Building a Family

Abraham Lincoln courted different women when he first moved to New Salem. However, none of his courtship led to marriage as one of the women lost her life due to typhoid fever. And separated from others and went on different paths in life.

Abraham married Mary Todd in the year 1842 on 4th November whom he met in Springfield, Illinois in the year 1839. She belonged to a wealthy family, her father was a lawyer and a businessman. Abraham Lincoln was practising law at the time and in two years, the couple bought a house near his office and Mary ran the house with the help of her relative and a hired servant.

He was a devoted husband and a family man who at best tried to keep a balance even with his busy work schedule. He was very fond of his children, he had 4 sons, Robert Todd Lincoln, Edward Baker Lincoln, Willie Lincoln, and Thomas Lincoln. He often let them accompany him to his law office and his partners found his liberal parenting unusual at the time very perturbing.

Path to Presidency

He was a strong supporter of the Wilmot Proviso, which was a failed proposal that put forth the ban of slavery in any U.S territory of Mexico. He also detested the glorification of military showered in blood in the Mexican-American War during that President James K. Polk imputed.

He declined the position of secretary or governor of Oregon Territory which was just offered as a consolation after his support to Zachary Taylor in the Whig Nomination led Taylor to a win in the year 1848. He contemplated the offer and thought it would interrupt his legal and political career and continued practising law.

He was an excellent lawyer who challenged the Judicial system that held the evidence of an eye witness with unquestionable facts and proofs and leading to the ultimate decision by the court favouring him and making his clients acquittal. This garnered him the name of ‘Honest Abe’. His success rate over a decade was remarkable.

In the year 1854, on 16th October, Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech in Peoria making his stance about his despise for the ingrained slavery and the injustices because of it very clear. He highlighted his efforts of the previous years and his mentor Henry Clay’s role in trying to abolish the same.

His statement was truly revolutionary and nullified the  Kansas–Nebraska Act of the Whig Party who were unwilling to compromise. This led to his ascension into the political word and as a Republican Leader. The speech later came to be famously referred to as the ‘Peoria Speech’.

He was practising law actively even during the months leading up close to the commencement of his Presidential Campaign in 1859. And in one such case after defending his opponent’s grandson who was accused of murder his profile elevated to a peak.

He was favoured by many for his ideologies and belief in an inclusive and undivided house. The Illinois Republican State Convention was held in Decatur in May for two days on the ninth and tenth. A campaign led by many of his supporters rallied for him and Lincoln received his first endorsement.

Beating candidates such as Seward and Chase Lincoln won the nomination on the third ballot, on May 18, at the Republican National Convention in Chicago. And Hannibal Hamlin of Maine, a former Democrat was nominated for the vice president.

Abraham was relying on his supporters and the campaign to garner more support for his success. And he won with 180 votes and was elected as the 16th president, on November 6th in the year 1860. His victory was entirely due to his support in the North and West and he was the first Republican president. The lack of support from the South was an indication of premonition of the Civil War ahead. On 4th March 1861, he was officially the President of the United States of America.

Civil War Outbreak and the Role of President

Not long after he started his term in the office, the American Civil War began between the Northern States who were loyal to the Union and in favour of the United States and the Southern states who wanted to withdraw from the organization to form the Confederate State of America.

The prime reason for this war was the division in the country due to the slavery in the territories that were not yet recognized as a state and suffered the slack of it, unlike the other free states.

At a time of war, the Presidency was conflicting, but Abraham Lincoln remained unabashed in claiming that his policy was to have no policy. He was not ashamed of admitting he was no longer controlling the events happening but it was the events that controlled him, his decisions, and his actions. Lincoln took executive action and control during the war by shaping the Union which was a term used for the North military strategy. He made active efforts to not let this war be an international conflict. He exercised unprecedented authority by imposing a blockade on Confederate posts and expanding his war powers.

He suspended the practice of habeas corpus that was prevalent which means to bring the body who is accused of the committed crime and also disbursed funds before appropriation by Congress. His strategic way of dealing garnered him more support from Congress and the other Northern States. He relied greatly on his combative Secretary of State William Seward. And at the same time,  while working closely with Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Charles Sumner.

It went on for a long period from 12 Apr 1861 – 9 May 1865, the first battle was of Bull Run and the last battle being on Palmito Ranch. After 4 bloody years of conflict, the Confederate States were defeated by the United States. And the states that were still in rebellion were readmitted to the United States. The practice and the institution of injustice practice of slavery were abolished entirely nation-wide.

Personal Loss, the Aftermath and Death

Abraham Lincoln suffered from melancholy after the loss of his 2 children Edward in 1846 and Willie died on February 20, 1862, from a fever in the White House at 12 years old. This suffering from melancholy is now termed Clinical Depression.

John Wilkes Booth a supporter of slavery believed Lincoln will overthrow the Constitution and destroy the South assassinated him in his box at Ford’s Theater in Washington on April 14, 1865, shortly after 10 p.m. The wound was on the head and the gunshot wound was fatal. He was the last and fourth President to be assassinated.

Robert Todd Lincoln, the eldest and only son who lived till maturity committed his Mother Mary for a time to an asylum in 1875 as she was grieving the loss of her beloved husband and sons.

Conclusion

The loss of a great president left a huge void in American history and the world. Even today, his philosophies and ideologies of liberty and modernization without slavery and injustice prevails. The children of the world do not fail to recognize the contribution of a man who came from nothing and ruled America. His part in history to shift the needle and look at individuals as equals and fight for justice is groundbreaking and revolutionary. The world will always remember this great leader.

Known as one of the greatest comedians to ever grace the earth, Charlie Chaplin was born Charlie Spencer Chaplin. A world-renowned personality, he is remembered for his extraordinary comic timings and his ability to emote without words. In the history of motion pictures, Charlie Chaplin stands out as one of the most prominent figures. Here, we will learn about his childhood, Charlie Chaplin date of birth, Charlie Chaplin death date, nationality, achievements and more. 

Early Childhood

The date of birth of Charlie Chaplin was 16th April 1889. He was born in London England to actor parents. The real name of Charlie Chaplin was Charlie Spencer Chaplin and it was inspired by his father’s name, a versatile actor and entertainer. He spent his early childhood years with his mother, a popular singer and actress before she was confined to a mental asylum. Charlie also had a half-brother named Sydney. 

Given to look after themselves, both the brothers found themselves in numerous residential schools and bleak workhouses. In the year 1897, Charlie was able to become a member of a clog-dancing act, the ‘Eight Lancashire Lads’ as an entertainer. 

Career 

Charlie had already gained favour as a tap-dance artist among the ‘Eight Lancashire Lads’, when at the age of 12, he got a chance to act on stage, essaying the role of ‘Billy’, the page boy and then went on to act in William Galette’s Sherlock Holmes, where he played a small role. 

Post this, Charlie Chaplin began his career as a comedian with the Casey’s Court Circus’ vaudeville act. It was the year 1908 when he joined the Fred Karno Repertoire Company as a part of the pantomime troupe. It was here when Charlie Chaplin’s status quickly escalated to that of a star and eventually took him to the United States of America. His portrayal of the Drunk in the sketch ‘A Night in an English Music Hall’ was an immediate hit with the American audiences so much so that in Fred Karno Troupre’s repeat tour of the USA in 1912, Charlie was offered a contract of a motion picture. 

With his Vaudeville commitments expiring in 1913, Charlie agreed to appear before cameras when he joined the Mack Sennett and the Keystone Film Company. This was Charlie Chaplin’s first entrance into the world of cinema. 

The first onscreen character that he portrayed was that of a mercenary dandy, which, claim historians, did not showcase his talents in the best light. He was then ordered by Sennet to come up with an image that would work better on screen. This was the moment when the iconic too small coat, too large pair of pants, floppy shoes and battered derby completed with a postage stamp moustache look of Charlie Chaplin that we all know and love was born. He also adopted a cane as an all-purpose prop to complete his look. This eventually gave birth to his on-screen alter ego the ‘Little Tramp’  in his second Keystone film ‘Kid Auto Races at Venice’, an immortal presence until today. 

In the vast array of characters portrayed by Charlie Chaplin, however, he was not always confined to the role of a tramp. His characters in the parts that he played were often employed as a fireman, store clerk, waiter, etc. A more apt description of his character portrayal was the archetypical misfit, usually left out by the ‘polite society’, not so lucky in love and of the like. He was also depicted as a survivor, someone who is able to plunge out of his sorrows and move on jauntily to newer adventures. 

The tramp, however, had more of a universal appeal for the character was cheeky yet casually savage. Combined with a gallantry that is unexpected of such a character and the ability to be resilient in the face of adversity struck a chord with a majority of the audiences. The portrayal of this character made Charlie Chaplin the biggest movie star within months after his debut as the same. The 35 comedy films that Charlie Chaplin had with Keystone is usually regarded as the gestation period of the ‘Tramp’ with caricature usually shifting up to be the character. 

On completion of his contract with Sennet, Charlie Chaplin moved on to work with the Essanay Company in 1915. During his time with Essanay studios, the element of paths was incorporated into his comedy by Charlie Chaplin in shorts such as The Tramp and Burlesque on Carmen. 

Given the rise in his popularity, Charlie then moved on to sign an even better deal with the Mutual Film Corporation where he was required to make twelve two-reel comedies. Some of the popular works from this association include The Rink (1916), One A.M. (1916), The Vagabond (1916) and Easy Street (1917). 

In the year 1918, Charlie Chaplin entered a contract with First National Film Corporation where he was required to produce eight short films. Some of the notable works under this include Shoulder Arms (1918), The Pilgrim (1923) and The Kid (1921), his first starring feature. 

Independent Achievements

Charlie Chaplin was famous for being a perfectionist. He went to great lengths to achieve the desired outcomes in his films. He went on from producing for other film studios to building his own production company, United Artists, which he co-founded with D.W. Griffith, and husband and wife Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford (both of whom were superstars). From his own company, Charlie Chaplin produced three movies between 1923 and 1929. This included his masterpiece and only dreams, The Gold Rush (1925), A Woman of Paris (1923) and The Circus (1928). After a  number of successful films, Charlie Chaplin produced his first sound picture in the year 1940, The Great Dictator, regarded as his most overt political satire. This film performed well on the box-office and also earned Charlie Chaplin his only Academy Award nomination in the Best Actor category. Among his greatest works from the latter years include Monsieur Verdoux (1947), Limelight (1952), A King in New York (1957) and A Countess from Hong Kong.

Personal Life

Charlie Chaplin’s personal life was rather a tumultuous one. It was after his contract with the First National Film Corporation when Charlie Chaplin got married to Mildred Harris, a 16-year old who worked as a film extra. They, however, got divorced in the year 1921. Charlie Chaplin then again married Lillita MacMurray in 1924, 16-years old at the time, and later became known to the world as Lita Grey, the film star. But this marriage was also short-lived as the couple got divorced, rather noisily, in the year 1927. Post this, in the year 1932, Charlie courted Paulette Goddard, who starred in a number of his productions but the couple separated in 1942. Charlie again re-married in 1943, the 18-year old Oona O’Neill. He was the father of 8 children from his last marriage with Oona O’Neill, along with one son from his marriage to Lita Grey.

Final Years

Charlie Chaplin, in his final years, was conferred with several honours. In 1972 he accepted the Special Academy Award for the immeasurable effect that he projected in the making of motion pictures the art form of this century. His final public appearance was in 1975 when he was knighted. Charlie Chaplin passed away on 25th December 1977.  In addition to being an author and a producer, Charlie Chaplin also honed a number of other skills, he was a musician, played a variety of instruments and authored at least four books. He was truly a remarkable personality whom the world remembers with great fondness.

Neil Alden Armstrong was an American astronaut and was the first person to walk on the Moon. He was also an aeronautical engineer, a naval aviator, a test pilot, and a professor at the University of Cincinnati. 

In this article let us learn more about Neil Armstrong life, achievements and journey to the moon.

Neil Armstrong History on Early life 

When was Neil Armstrong Born?

Neil Armstrong Birthday was August 5, 1930. Neil Armstrong height was 1.8 m.

Neil Armstrong Belongs to Which Country?

Neil Armstrong was born near Wapakoneta, Ohio. So, Neil Armstrong belongs to the United States of America (USA).

Neil Armstrong Family

• Mother – Viola Louise

• Father – Stephen Koenig Armstrong

• Younger brother – Dean Armstrong

• Younger sister – June Armstrong

Education of Neil Armstrong

• Neil Armstrong attended Blume High School in 1944 and learned to fly at the Wapakoneta airfield.

• Neil Armstrong started studying aeronautical engineering at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, when he was 17 years old.

• The Holloway Plan provided for his higher education. Successful candidates agreed to complete two years of study, two years of flight training, and one year of service as an aviator in the United States Navy before finishing their bachelor’s degree.

• In January 1955, Armstrong earned his Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering.

• He earned his Master of Science in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Southern California (USC) in 1970. 

• Several universities would later bestow honorary doctorates on him.

Naval Service

• On January 26, 1949, Armstrong received a call from the Navy, instructing him to report to Naval Air Station Pensacola in Florida for flight training with class 5-49. 

• On February 24, 1949, he was commissioned as a midshipman after passing the medical examinations.

• He made his first aircraft carrier landing on the USS Cabot on March 2, 1950, which he compared to his first solo flight.

• Armstrong was told by letter on August 16, 1950, that he was a fully trained naval aviator.

• On November 27, 1950, he was assigned to VF-51, an all-plane squadron, and became its youngest pilot. 

• On January 5, 1951, he flew his first jet, a Grumman F9F Panther.

• Armstrong served in the Korean War as an escort for a photo reconnaissance plane over Songjin on August 29, 1951. He flew armed reconnaissance over the primary transportation and storage facilities south of Majon-ni, west of Wonsan, five days later, on September 3.

• Armstrong flew 78 missions over Korea for a total of 121 hours in the air, with the third mission taking place in January 1952 and the last mission taking place on March 5, 1952.

• Neil Armstrong achievements in naval service are Air Medal, two gold stars for the next 40 combat missions, the Korean Service Medal and Engagement Star, the National Defense Service Medal, and the United Nations Korea Medal.

• On February 25, 1952, Armstrong’s regular commission was revoked, and he was assigned to the United States Navy Reserve as an ensign.

• In May 1952, he was assigned to VR-32, a transport squadron, after completing his combat tour with Essex.

• On August 23, 1952, he was discharged from active service but remained in the reserve, and on May 9, 1953, he was promoted to lieutenant (junior grade).

Neil Armstrong Family after Marriage

Neil Armstrong was married twice. He was married to Janet Shearon from 1956 to 1994 and Carol Knight from 1994 to his death.

Neil Armstrong had 3 children from his first marriage. A daughter named Karen Armstrong died at the age of 2 due to pneumonia. He has two sons Eric Armstrong and Mark Armstrong.

Test Pilot Career

• Armstrong worked as an advanced research test pilot after graduating from Purdue.

• On March 1, 1955, Armstrong flew his first test flight at Cleveland’s Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory.

• After this short stint at Cleveland’s Lewis Flight Propulsion Laboratory Armstrong was tasked with piloting chase planes at Edwards. He also flew the modified bombers and had his first flight incident at Edwards on one of these missions.

• He flew over 200 different aircraft types throughout his career.

• Armstrong flew the North American F-100 Super Sabre A and C versions, the McDonnell F-101 Voodoo, the Lockheed F-104 Starfighter, the Republic F-105 Thunderchief, and the Convair F-106 Delta Dart as a project pilot.

• He also operated the Douglas DC-3, Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star, North American F-86 Sabre, McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, Douglas F5D-1 Skylancer, Boeing B-29 Superfortress, Boeing B-47 Stratojet, and Boeing KC-135 Stratotanker, as well as the Parasev paraglider research vehicle programme.

• Armstrong was involved in a number of events that have become part of Edwards legend or have been recorded in the memoirs of colleagues.

• Armstrong’s engineering ability was admired by many of the test pilots at Edwards.

Astronaut Career

• Armstrong was chosen for the US Air Force’s Man In Space Soonest programme in June 1958, but funding was cancelled by the Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA) on August 1, 1958, and it was superseded by Project Mercury, a civilian project administered by NASA, on November 5, 1958. 

• Armstrong was ineligible to become an astronaut because he was a NASA civilian test pilot at the time, as the selection was limited to military test pilots.

• NASA announced in April 1962 that it was accepting applications for the second group of NASA astronauts for Project Gemini, a planned two-man spacecraft. This time, only eligible civilian test pilots were considered. 

• In May 1962, Armstrong visited the Seattle World’s Fair and spoke at a NASA-sponsored conference on space exploration. He applied to become an astronaut after returning from Seattle on June 4th.

• Astronaut Neil Armstrong and Astronaut Elliot See were named the backup crew for Gemini 5 on February 8, 1965, with Armstrong serving as commander and assisting the prime crew of Gordon Cooper and Pete Conrad. The aim of the project was to practise space rendezvous and establish procedures and equipment for a seven-day flight, all of which would be essential for a Moon mission.

• Armstrong’s final assignment in the Gemini programme was as the back-up Command Pilot for Gemini 11 on September 12, 1966, which was confirmed two days after the landing of Gemini 8.

• Slayton offered Armstrong the role of commander of Apollo 11 after he acted as backup commander for Apollo 8 on December 23, 1968, as Apollo 8 orbited the Moon.

• On January 9, 1969, the crew of Apollo 11 was formally announced as Neil Armstrong, Micheal Collins, and Buzz Aldrin, with Lovell, Anders, and Fred Haise serving as backups.

Journey to the Moon

• On July 16, 1969, at 13:32:00 UTC, a Saturn V rocket launched Apollo 11 from Launch Complex 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

• The aim of Apollo 11 was to land safely on the Moon rather than to land at a specific spot.

• On July 20, 1969, at 20:17:40 UTC, a man stepped onto the Moon’s surface for the first time.

• “That’s one small move for a man, one giant leap for mankind,” Armstrong said after placing his left boot on the lunar surface at 02:56 UTC on July 21, 1969.

• Aldrin joined Armstrong on the Moon about 19 minutes after Armstrong took his first move, making him the second human to walk on the Moon. They started their investigation into how simple it would be for a human to work on the lunar surface.

• After assisting with the installation of the Early Apollo Scientific Experiment Package, Armstrong went for a walk to what is now known as East Crater, which is 59 metres east of the LM and represents the mission’s greatest distance travelled from the LM.

• The three astronauts returned to Earth and were picked up by the USS Hornet after splashing down in the Pacific Ocean.

Life of Neil Armstrong after a Walk on the Moon

• Armstrong revealed shortly after Apollo 11 that he would not be flying in space again.

• He was appointed Deputy Associate Administrator for Aeronautics for ARPA’s Office of Advanced Research and Technology, where he served for a year until resigning from both the agency and NASA in 1971.

• He started his master’s degree while stationed at Edwards years before and finished it after Apollo 11 by presenting a paper on different aspects of Apollo rather than a thesis on hypersonic flight simulation.

• He accepted a teaching position at the University of Cincinnati’s Department of Aerospace Engineering. Armstrong was a University Professor of Aerospace Engineering at the University of Cincinnati. He took on a large teaching load, teaching core classes and developing two graduate-level courses: aircraft design and experimental flight mechanics. He was regarded as an excellent teacher and a strict grader.

• Armstrong was a part of Edgar Cortright’s inquiry into the Apollo 13 mission after an accident aborted the mission’s lunar landing in 1970. He compiled a comprehensive timeline of the flight. He discovered that the explosion was caused by a 28-volt thermostat switch in an oxygen tank that was supposed to be replaced with a 65-volt version.

• President Ronald Reagan appointed Armstrong to a fourteen-member commission to establish a blueprint for American civilian spaceflight in the twenty-first century.

• Armstrong worked as a spokesperson for many companies after retiring from NASA in 1971.

• He has worked on the boards of directors of a number of businesses.

• Mike Dunn, a professional expedition leader, arranged a trip to the North Pole in 1985 for men he considered to be the “greatest explorers.” Armstrong, Edmund Hillary, Hillary’s son Peter, Steve Fossett, and Patrick Morrow were among the party. On April 6, 1985, they arrived at the North Pole.

When Did Neil Armstrong Die?

• On August 7, 2012, Armstrong underwent bypass surgery to treat coronary artery disease. Despite appearing to be recovering well, he died in Cincinnati, Ohio, at the age of 82, due to complications in the hospital.

• Neil Armstrong Death date is August 25, 2012.

• On September 13, a memorial service for Armstrong was held at Washington National Cathedral’s Space Window, which portrays the Apollo 11 mission and contains a sliver of Moon rock among its stained-glass windows.

• Armstrong was described by his Apollo 11 crewmate Buzz Aldrin as “a true American hero and the best pilot I ever met,” and he expressed regret that they will not be able to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing together in 2019.

• Another Apollo 11 crewmate Michael Collins said that “He was the best and I will miss him terribly”.

Neil Armstrong Achievements

Neil Armstrong was a recipient of many awards and honours, few are listed below.

• Presidential Medal of Freedom from President Richard Nixon.

• Cullum Geographical Medal from the American Geographical Society.

• Collier Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association in 1969.

• NASA Distinguished Service Medal.

• Dr Robert H. Goddard Memorial Trophy in 1970.

• Sylvanus Thayer Award by the United States Military Academy in 1971.

• Congressional Space Medal of Honor from President Jimmy Carter in 1978.

• Wright Brothers Memorial Trophy from the National Aeronautic Association in 2001.

• Congressional Gold Medal in 2011.

• Langley Gold Medal from the Smithsonian Institution in 1999 along with Apollo 11 crew members.

• NASA’s Ambassador of Exploration Award in 2006.

• Inducted into Aerospace Walk of Honor, International Space Hall of Fame, National Aviation Hall of Fame, and the United States Astronaut Hall of Fame.

Interesting Neil Armstrong Facts

• When Neil Armstrong set foot on the moon for the first time, more than half a billion people watched it live around the world.

• The Saturn V rocket, which launched Neil Armstrong and his crew into orbit, was the size of a 36-story building. The Launch Control Center, which housed the team in charge of coordinating the launch from the site, was 3.5 miles away from the launchpad.

• The Eagle was the name of the Lunar Module that Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin piloted together to land on the moon. It’s from here that the now-famous phrase “The Eagle Has Landed” was coined.

• Neil and Buzz were not only the first humans to walk on the moon, but they were both the first to see Earth from its surface. Neil said that he could block out the Earth with his thumb while there! He said that the Moon made him feel lonely, but that it also reminded him of how beautiful our home is.

• Neil Armstrong and his co-pilot, Buzz Aldrin gathered dust materials from the moon’s surface to sample back on Earth while they were on the moon. The samples were auctioned for £1.4 million in 2017.

In this biography of Neil Armstrong we have talked about Neil Armstrong Birthday, Neil Armstrong Family, Neil Armstrong achievements and finally, When did Neil Armstrong Die.

Conclusion

Neil Armstrong lifted the hopes and aspirations of every human being on the planet. We all believe that humans can do amazing things, that we can think about our place in the universe, that we can all reach up and out, that we can all fly, and that we can all change the world.

So reading the biography of Neil Armstrong life and accomplishments is one of the inspiring and useful things to students.

Subhash Chandra Bose’s birthday is on the 23rd of January 1897, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose was born in Cuttack. He was born to Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Dutt. He was an Indian nationalist in the era of British colonialism in India whose defiant patriotism and immovable nerve and bravery made him a national hero whose praises are still sung with pride by every Indian citizen. His attempts to get rid of the British with the help of the Nazi party and Imperial Japan during the time of the second world war left him a troubled legacy. Although every Indian feels proud by hearing his name, it was not the case during the freedom struggle, especially in the INC where he often faced clashes of ideologies with Gandhiji and he did not get the recognition that he deserved. Let us take a look into the life of this extraordinary yet unsung hero. In honour of his contribution to the freedom struggle recently it was announced that his birthday is celebrated as “PARAKRAM DIWAS” as “parakram” translates to courage in English thereby recognizing his immense contribution by calling his birthday the day of courage. The day will now be commemorated each year in memory of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, the unsung hero of the Indian independence struggle!  Let us look at the Subhash Chandra Bose Biography and know our hero, in and out! 

Education

Subhas Chandra Bose was the ninth out of the fourteen children of Janakinath Bose and Prabhavati Dutt. He attended the Protestant European School, which is now called Stewart High School, along with his other siblings in Cuttack. He was a brilliant student and had a knack for knowing which earned him a second position in the matriculation exam. He attended the Presidency College (now University) in Calcutta and was greatly influenced by the teachings and philosophies of Swami Vivekananda and Shri Ramakrishna Paramhansa Dev by reading their works when he was 16 years old.

He was later expelled by the college on grounds of assaulting a professor named Oaten even though he appealed that he was not even a participant in the act but only a mere spectator. This incident ignited a strong sense of rebellion in him and the mistreatment of Indians at the hands of the British which he observed to be happening widespread in Calcutta only added fuel to the fire. He joined the Scottish Church College under the University of Calcutta where he completed his graduation in Philosophy in the year 1918. He then left for London with his brother Satish to prepare for the Indian Civil Services exam that used to be held during that time. He took the exam and passed with flying colours on the very first attempt, such a bright student he was! But he still had mixed feelings as he would now have to work under the government set up by the British whom he had already started to despise. So, in the year 1921, he resigned from the Indian Civil Services as a symbol of boycotting the British after the incident of the infamous Jallianwala Bagh massacre.

Subhash Chandra Bose’s Family

His father was Janaki Nath Bose, his mother Prabhavati Devi and he had 6 sisters and 7 brothers. His family was a well to do family in financial terms which belonged to the Kayastha caste.

Subhash Chandra Bose’s Wife 

Subhash Chandra Bose married a woman named Emilie Schenkel. Not much is known about the wife of the revolutionary man. However, he does have a daughter who was named Anita bose! He always preferred to keep his private life very private and never talked much in a public forum. He wasn’t much of a family man and dedicated all his time and attention to the country. His only aim was to see an independent India someday! He lived for the country and died for it as well!  

Role in Freedom Struggle

Subhas Chandra Bose joined the Indian National Congress (INC) under the influence of Mahatma Gandhi and started the newspapers called “Swaraj” which means self-governance which marks his entry into politics and his role in the freedom struggle in India has just started. Chittaranjan Das was his mentor. In the year 1923, he became the President of the All India Youth Congress and became the editor of the newspaper “Forward” started by C.R. Das himself. He had also been elected as the mayor of Calcutta back then. He gained leadership spirit and made his way up to the top in the INC very soon. In 1928, the Motilal Nehru Committee demanded Dominion Status in India but Subhash Chandra Bose along with Jawaharlal Nehru asserted that nothing would satisfy other than complete independence of India from the British. Gandhiji strongly opposed the ways of Bose, who wanted independence by hook or by crook, as he was a firm believer of non-violence itself.

He was sent to jail in 1930 during the Civil Disobedience movement but was related along with other prominent leaders in the year 1931 when the Gandhi-Irwin pact was signed. In 1938, he was elected as President at the Haripura session of the INC and re-elected at the Tripuri Session in 1939 by competing against Dr P. Sitaramayya who was supported by Gandhi himself. He maintained strict standards during the commencement of the first World War and demanded full independence of India from the British within six months. He faced vehement objections from inside the Congress which led him to resign from INC and form a more progressive group called the “Forward Bloc”. 

He started a mass movement against using Indian men in the wars of foreign countries which received immense support and voice which led him to be put under house arrest in Calcutta but he left the house in disguise in January 1941 and reached Germany via Afghanistan and met the Nazi leader there to seek help from them to drive the British away from India. He also sought help from Japan. He made full use of the philosophy “an enemy’s enemy is a friend”.

Disappearance

In July 1943, he arrived in Singapore and took over the reins of the Indian Independence Movement started by Rash Behari Bose and organized the Azad Hind Fauj which is also known as the Indian National Army. It was at this time he was hailed as “Netaji” by which he is commonly referred to even today. The next few events have been blurry in the history of their struggle for independence by him. The INA liberated the Andaman and Nicobar islands but when it reached Burma, bad weather conditions, as well as the defeat of Japan and Germany in the Second World War, forced him to retreat. He is rumoured to have been killed in a plane crash in Taipei, Taiwan on August 18, 1945. Even though it is widely believed that he was still alive for many years after that. 

The life of Subhash Chandra Bose was full of surprises and dangerous adventures. Know more about interesting facts, life and how he led India to independence on engineeringinterviewquestions’s website. You can also download the app and get free study materials on every subject which you can access anytime, anywhere! 

Akbar is considered to be the greatest Mughal emperor of India. Akbar’s full name is Abū al-Fatḥ Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar. He was born in Umarkot on October 15, 1542, which is now in Sindh province, Pakistan, and died on October 25, 1605, at Agra, India. He extended Mughal power over most of the Indian subcontinent and he reigned from 1556 to 1605. He was always considered to be the king of people as he listens to his people. To preserve the unity in his empire, various programs were adopted by Akbar which helped in winning the loyalty of the non-muslim population in his realm. He made sure that the central administration of his kingdom was reformed and strengthened. 

 

Akbar also focused on the centralization of his financial system and reorganized the tax-collection process. Akbar practised Islam as his religion but he had the utmost respect for other people and their religion. He took a keen interest in understanding other religions asking various religious scholars from religions like Hindu, Parsis, Buddhism, Christianity, and Islam to engage in religious discussion in front of him. Akbar was illiterate, and he always encouraged art and respected people who can teach him new things, and that is the reason his court was considered to be a centre of cultures as he would encourage different scholars, poets, artists, etc. to show their art in front of him. 

 

Personal Details:

• Akbar Full Name: Abū al-Fatḥ Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar.

• Date of Birth: October 15, 1542

• Death Date: October 25, 1605

• Cause of Death- Dysentery, an infection in the intestines that causes bloody diarrhoea

• Age (at the time of death)- 63

 

Akbar History

Akbar the great also known as the Abū al-Fatḥ Jalāl al-Dīn Muḥammad Akbar was descended from Turks, Iranians, and Moguls. Genghis Khan and Tamerlane are considered to be the ancestors of Akbar. Humayun was the father of Akbar who succeeded to the throne of Delhi as ruler of the Mughal territories in the Indian subcontinent. He came to power at the age of 22 and as a result of which he was very inexperienced. 

 

In December 1530, Humayun succeeded his father to the throne of Delhi as ruler of the Mughal territories in the Indian subcontinent. Humayun was an inexperienced ruler when he came to power, at the age of 22. Sher Shah Suri defeated Humayun and won many Mughal territories. Humayun went to Persia and took political shelter for almost 10 years and returned 15 years later to regain the lost Mughal territories.

 

Humayun Regained the throne in 1555 but had no authority in his kingdom. Humayun further expanded his Mughal territories and he then met with an accident and passed away in 1556 leaving a substantial legacy for his son, Akbar. At 13 years of age, Akbar was made the governor of the Punjab region. Humayun had barely established his authority as an emperor when he died in 1556 which led to many other rulers seeing it as a possibility to capture the Mughal dynasty. As a result of which many governors of the Mughal empire lost several important places. Delhi was also captured by Hemu, a Hindu minister who claimed the throne for himself. 

 

But under the guidance of Bairam Khan who was the regent to the young emperor, on November 5, 1556, Mughal forces defeated Hemu in the second battle of Panipat and recaptured Delhi thus ensuring Akbar’s succession. 

 

Akbar Wife: Akbar had six wives, his first wife’s name was Princess Ruqaiya Sultan Begum, who was also his cousin. His second wife was Bibi Khiera, daughter of Abdullah Khan Mughal. His third wife was Salima Sultan Begum, the daughter of Nur-ud-din Muhammad Mirza. Another of his wives was Bhakkari Begum, the daughter of Sultan Mahmud of Bhakkar. Akbar married Jodha Bai, the daughter of the Rajput ruler of Ajmer, Raja Bharmal. She is also known as Mariam-uz-Zamani. Qasima Banu Begum, the daughter of Arab Shah was also the wife of Akar. 

 

Akbar Son: Akbar had five sons from different wives. His first two sons were Hassan and Hussain and their mother was Bibi Aram Baksh. Both of them died at a young age for an unknown reason. The other Akbar sons were Murad Mirza, Daniyal Mirza, and Jahangir. Akbar’s favourite son was Daniyal Mirza as he also had a keen interest in poetry like his father. Out of the three sons, Prince Salim or Jahangir succeeded Akbar as the fourth emperor of the Mughal dynasty. 

 

Akbar Religious Policy

Mughal emperor Akbar was known for his religious policies and liberal ideas towards it. He adopted a policy that helped in maintaining mutual understanding between people of a different faith. The policy introduced by Akbar treated every religion with respect and equality. He always tried to maintain peace and harmony between people of different faith. He also founded a new religion called ‘Din-i-Ilahi’ having all the common points from all the religions. The main steps taken for religious harmony in Akbar’s time were to treat everyone irrespective of their faith. Akbar saw the injustice that was done by his predecessors on Hindus and he resolved all of them like the abolition of taxes on Hindu, Employment of Hindus at a higher post, allying with Hindu families, and most importantly allowing freedom of worship to all. 

 

Due to Akbar’s religious policies, people of different faith trusted him and truly accepted him as their king. The impact of religious policies was huge and it allowed the empire to get strong. Cultural unity emerged and there was an environment of goodwill developed between people of a different faith. Akbar also was credited as the national king by all the people.

 

Akbar Reign 

After Bayram Khan retired in 1560, Akbar started to govern on his own. Akbar first attacked Malwa and captured it in 1561. In 1562, Raja Bihari Mal of Ajmer offered Akbar his daughter in marriage and Akbar accepted it and it was considered as a sign of total surrender. Akbars followed the same feudal system as other Rajput chiefs. they were allowed to have their ancestor’s territories under the condition that they acknowledged Akbar as their emperor.

 

Akbar paid tribute to, supplying his soldiers to fight their wars when required to strengthen his alliance with the Rajputs. Akbar showed no mercy to those who refused him as his emperor and acknowledged his supremacy. While fighting Mewar, In 1568 Akbar captured the fortress of Chitor and killed its inhabitants. The fall of Chitor made many Rajput rulers surrender themselves against the supremacy of Akbar and accept him as their emperor in 1570.

 

In 1573 Akbar conquered Gujarat. It was the area with many ports that was very successful in having trade with western Asia. After conquering Gujarat, Akbar’s eyes were set on Bengal, a city that had networks of Rivers. Bengals Afghan rulers decided to surrender to the supremacy of Akbar in 1575.

 

Towards the end of his reign, Akbar conquered Kashmir in 1586, Sindh in 1591, and Afghanistan in 1595. After completely conquering the north, The Mughals then set their eyes on the South. In 1601 Khandesh, part of Ahmadnagar and Berar was added to the Akbar’s empire. Throughout his reign, Akbar had captured two-thirds of the Indian subcontinent. 

 

Conclusion 

Akbar was the third emperor of the Mughal dynasty and the most successful one too. At the end of his reign, he had conquered two-thirds of the Indian subcontinent that including Afghanistan too. One of the noticeable features of how governed his kingdom was that he treated everyone equally irrespective of their religion. Everyone was allowed to follow their faith without any fear. The discrimination against Hindus was reduced by abolishing the taxation of pilgrims. He gave equal employment opportunities to Hindus for the higher post. 

 

Akbar was very successful as a ruler as every in his kingdom of any faith trusted him and his way of running the kingdom. Akbar was successful in bringing cultural unity among the people and because of that he was given the title of the national king by all people.