Previous Year Question

The correct chronological order is Defeat of Shuja near Banaras → Victory at Dharmat → Battle of Samugarh → Battle of Deorai.

After Shah Jahan became seriously ill in September 1657 CE, a struggle for succession to the Mughal throne began among his sons—Dara Shikoh, Shah Shuja, Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh.

The earliest among these events was the defeat of Shah Shuja near Banaras in February 1658 CE. Shah Shuja had advanced from Bengal towards Agra. An army led by Dara Shikoh's son Sulaiman Shikoh, which also included Mirza Raja Jai Singh, was sent against him.

Shuja's army was defeated at Bahadurpur, near Banaras, on 14 February 1658 CE. Thus, event number 2 comes first.

Next came the Battle of Dharmat on 15 April 1658 CE. In this battle, the combined forces of Aurangzeb and Murad Baksh faced the army sent on behalf of Shah Jahan under Raja Jaswant Singh. Jaswant Singh was defeated, opening the route towards Agra for Aurangzeb and Murad. Therefore, event number 4 comes second.

This was followed by the Battle of Samugarh on 29 May 1658 CE. Here Dara Shikoh personally confronted the combined forces of Aurangzeb and Murad but suffered a decisive defeat. This victory placed Aurangzeb in a very strong position for gaining control of Mughal power. Therefore, event number 3 comes third.

The latest was the Battle of Deorai in 1659 CE, fought near Ajmer in the Aravalli region. After his defeat at Samugarh, Dara continued trying to gather support in different regions, but his forces were again defeated at Deorai.

The Battle of Deorai was among the final decisive engagements in the succession struggle between Dara Shikoh and Aurangzeb. After this battle, Dara's political and military position virtually collapsed.

Thus, the correct chronology is — Defeat of Shuja near Banaras (2) → Victory at Dharmat (4) → Battle of Samugarh (3) → Battle of Deorai (1).