Previous Year Question

The Lodi dynasty came to an end with the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 CE, in which Babur defeated the last Lodi Sultan of Delhi, Ibrahim Lodi. Ibrahim was killed in the battle, after which Babur established his authority over Delhi. Archaeological Survey-related records also place Ibrahim Lodi's death in the First Battle of Panipat on 21 April 1526.

Dadu Dayal was not preaching at this time, because he was born only in 1544 CE at Ahmedabad, nearly eighteen years after the Battle of Panipat. Statement 1 can therefore be eliminated purely on chronological grounds.

Guru Nanak (1469–1539 CE) was alive and preaching at this time. NCERT gives his life span as 1469–1539 and records his extensive travels and preaching. Even more significant contemporary evidence comes from his own compositions—the Babarvani preserved in the Guru Granth Sahib reflects upon the violence and suffering caused by Babur's invasions. Thus, Guru Nanak was not merely a contemporary of Babur; his compositions themselves preserve a response to those political events.

Tyagaraja also did not belong to this period. He lived from 1767 to 1847 CE and was a celebrated composer of Carnatic music and a devotee-poet of Rama. He therefore lived roughly two and a half centuries after Babur.

Therefore, among the three, only Guru Nanak was preaching when the Lodi dynasty fell and Babur took over.