The correct option is (a).
Explanation
Zahir-ud-din Muhammad Babur, a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, laid the foundation of the Mughal Empire in India. His military career began in Central Asia, where political instability forced him to look towards the Indian subcontinent for territorial expansion.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Correct: After facing repeated failures to secure his ancestral throne in Ferghana and losing Samarkand, Babur turned his attention south. He crossed the Hindu Kush mountains and seized Kabul in 1504. This conquest provided him with a strategic base for his subsequent incursions into India.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: The First Battle of Panipat took place on April 21, 1526. In this historic battle, Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the Sultan of Delhi. He was not defeated by the Sultan; rather, his use of artillery and the Tulughma tactic secured a decisive victory against the numerically superior forces of the Lodi dynasty.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Unlike previous invaders such as Timur, who plundered Delhi and returned to Central Asia, Babur decided to stay in India following his victory at Panipat. He captured the key cities of Delhi and Agra and established himself as the Emperor of Hindustan, marking the beginning of Mughal rule.
Key Takeaway:
The First Battle of Panipat (1526) resulted in the defeat of Ibrahim Lodi by Babur, leading to the end of the Delhi Sultanate and the establishment of the Mughal Empire in India.