In recent months, there has been a renewed interest in India’s past, especially the Mughal era. People are revisiting history in different ways. Some are going back to school textbooks, others are coming across short videos and posts online that bring up forgotten details. Names like Babur and Akbar are discussed often. But one emperor, who sits right between the two, is rarely talked about. That ruler is Humayun.Humayun was Babur’s son and Akbar’s father. That alone makes him important. But what keeps his story alive today is not just his place in the family tree. It is the way his life ended. Unlike many rulers of his time, Humayun did not die in battle or due to a political conspiracy. He died after slipping and falling down the stairs of his own library.
A moment that changed everything
By January 1556, Humayun had finally managed to return to power after years of exile. He was living at Delhi’s Purana Qila. Inside the fort was the Sher Mandal. It was a small, octagonal building that Humayun had turned into his library. He liked spending time there, reading and looking into astrology, often for hours. One evening, after the call to prayer, he was coming down the steps when he lost his balance. The fall caused serious injuries. He did not survive. After struggling for years to regain his throne, his life ended in a sudden and unexpected way.“Humayun kept running and stumbling throughout his life, and he died while stumbling.”The line, written by historian Stanley Lane-Poole and quoted by local 18, reflects the larger pattern of Humayun’s life. He lost his empire to Sher Shah Suri, spent years moving from place to place, including time in Persia, and only later returned to reclaim Delhi. Even then, peace never really followed. Just when stability seemed possible, his life came to an abrupt end.
Sher Mandal: From leisure space to library
The Sher Mandal was not built by Humayun. It was originally constructed by Sher Shah Suri as a space meant for rest. When Humayun returned to Delhi, he repurposed the building. It became his library and observatory. The upper floor was known for its quiet atmosphere, away from court life.Today, the structure is closed to visitors. Speaking to local 18, historian Vishwajit Kumar said, “Purana Qila is the most important fort in the history of India.” Referring to the Sher Mandal, he added, “The entire design of the Mughal era can be seen in this library, and there is a room on its second floor.” The space where Humayun once read and reflected now remains locked and silent.
A ruler driven by emotion
Humayun’s style of leadership was different from many Mughal rulers. He was not known for being harsh or calculating. He often led with emotion. He remained loyal to his family, even when that loyalty was not returned. Another disadvantage with Humayun was that he loved his brothers very much, and his brothers also betrayed him.This emotional nature made it harder for him to hold on to power. At the same time, it shaped how those close to him remembered him. His sister, Gulbadan Begum, wrote about him in Humayun Nama, saying simply, “Humayun had a very humble nature.”
The birth of a future emperor
Humayun’s biggest legacy was not a battle or a victory. In 1542, during his exile in Umarkot, he and his wife Hamida Bano Begum had a son. The child was named Jalaluddin Muhammad Akbar.After Humayun’s sudden death, Akbar became emperor at the age of 13. He would go on to shape the Mughal Empire in a way that defined its future. Many believe Akbar’s approach to ruling was shaped by watching his father’s struggles. Humayun’s life, filled with loss and repeated comebacks, quietly influenced the ruler Akbar became.
A final resting place
Humayun was buried in a tomb in Delhi’s Nizamuddin East. The construction was started by his wife and later completed by Akbar. It became the first garden tomb of the Mughal period and later inspired monuments like the Taj Mahal. Today, it stands as a reminder of an emperor whose life was marked by hardship, but whose role in history remains significant.Images: Canva/ Canva AI (for representative purposes only)
