2016-05-17 Tue

Sher Shah Suri, who belonged to a Pashtun dynasty of Afghanistan, supplanted the Mughal Dynasty during Humayun’s reign.

Sher Shah Sur the commander under Babur’s army and later a governor of Bihar, in 1531 declared himself independent and started ruling over Bihar and later in 1534 became the ruler of Bengal also.

Having fought several battles against Humayun (1537-Besiege of Gaur, 1539- Battle of Chausa) he finally supplanted Humayun in May 1540 in the Battle of Kannauj and went on to capture Delhi and Agra, hence establishing the rule of the Suri Dynasty.

Sher Shah Suri was a brilliant strategist and reformed the civic and military administration. He also reorganised the entire empire and laid the foundation on which the Mughal Emperor Akbar built on later. Sher Shah built 2000 miles long Grand Trunk Road with 1700 shelters for Harkara as Rest House .

The First ever silver rupee coin was issued by Sher Shah. The concept of the tri-metallic coinage system which became characteristic to the Mughal coinage was introduced by Sher Shah. ‘Rupiya’, the name for a silver coin of a standard weight of 178 grains, which was the precursor of the modern rupee, was introduced during his reign.

He is the pioneer of ‘Postal Relay Stations’ and the first emperor to start ‘Mounted Post’. On 22nd May 1970 India Post issued a 20 Paise stamp to honour Sher Shah Suri. Further on 12th February 2012 a Special cover was issued by India Post at Bihar Stamp Expo.