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UPSC CSE Pre 1993

Indo-Islamic Architecture

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which one of the following is a monument constructed by Shershah?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept Sher Shah Suri was not just a brilliant administrator and warrior; he was a significant patron of architecture. His buildings represent a transition from the heavy Lodi style to the refined Mughal aesthetics.

Explanation Sher Shah Suri built the Qila-i-Kuhna Masjid (Mosque of the Old Fort) in 1541 within the Purana Qila complex in Delhi. This mosque is famous for its intricate five-bay design and represents the peak of pre-Mughal architectural elegance.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Atala Masjid was built by the Sharqi rulers of Jaunpur. Quwwat-ul-Islam was built by the early Slave dynasty (Qutb-ud-din Aibak).
Logic 2: Bara Sona Masjid belongs to the Bengal Sultanate (Nusrat Shah). Only Qila-i-Kuhna is a direct work of Sher Shah Suri in Delhi.

Active Recall

Question

Where is Sher Shah Suri's tomb located and why is it unique?

Answer

It is in Sasaram, Bihar, and is unique for being a massive sandstone structure built in the middle of an artificial lake.

Core Insight

The Qila-i-Kuhna mosque serves as a 'stylistic bridge,' showing that the Mughals inherited and refined many architectural ideas from the Suri dynasty.

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