This is a textbook 'Sitter' found directly in standard sources like Spectrum (Rajiv Ahir) and TN Board books. It tests the specific intersection of Regional Kingdoms and European Advent. If you skipped the 'Portuguese in India' section thinking it was too basic, you lost 2 free marks.
How this question is built
This question can be broken into the following sub-statements.
Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.
Statement 1
Did Ahmad Shah, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"Bahadur Shah (r. 1526), the ruler of medieval Gujarat, was the one who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese."
Why this source?
- Explicitly names the Gujarat ruler who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese.
- Identifies Bahadur Shah (not Ahmad Shah) as the one who surrendered Diu, directly addressing the statement by refutation.
"also concluded, and the Portuguese were allowed to build a fort at Diu. Thus were the Portuguese able to establish their foothold in Gujarat. Bahadur Shah soon repented his concessions to the Portuguese."
Why this source?
- Describes concessions that allowed the Portuguese to build a fort at Diu, linking the loss of Diu to the actions of the Gujarat ruler.
- Names Bahadur Shah in the context of these concessions, supporting that he (not Ahmad Shah) was responsible for surrendering Diu.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
Strength: 5/5
“In his rule, Diu and Bassein came under the Portuguese occupation from Gujarat King Bahadur Shah. Bahadur Shah got killed in 1537 at Diu while negotiating with the Portuguese.• Factors for Decline of the Portuguese in India (a) Emergence of powerful dynasties in Egypt, Persia and north India and the appearance of the Marathas as neighbours; (b) political fears aroused by the activities of Jesuit missionaries, and hatred of persecution (such as inquisition) that caused reaction against Portuguese spiritual pressure; (c) rise of the English and Dutch commercial ambitions challenging the Portuguese supremacy; (d) rampant corruption, greed and selfishness along with piracy and clandestine trade practices of the Portuguese administration in India; (e) diversion of Portuguese colonising ambitions towards the West due to the discovery of Brazil.”
Why relevant
States that Diu and Bassein came under Portuguese occupation from the Gujarat king Bahadur Shah and that Bahadur Shah was killed in 1537 at Diu.
How to extend
A student can check the identity and reign dates of 'Ahmad Shah' versus Bahadur Shah to see which ruler was in power when Diu was ceded.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
Strength: 5/5
“Nino da Cunha assumed office of the governor of Portuguese interests in India in November 1529 and almost one year later shifted the headquarters of the Portuguese government in India from Cochin to Goa. Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, during his conflict with the Mughal emperor Humayun, secured help from the Portuguese by ceding to them in 1534 the island of Bassein with its dependencies and revenues. He also promised them a base in Diu. However, Bahadur Shah's relations with the Portuguese became sour when Humayun withdrew from Gujarat in 1536. Since the inhabitants of the town started fighting with the Portuguese, Bahadur Shah wanted to raise a wall of partition.”
Why relevant
Says Bahadur Shah ceded the island of Bassein in 1534 and 'promised them a base in Diu' while negotiating Portuguese help.
How to extend
Compare these 1534–1537 events with the known reign period of the Ahmad Shah named in the question to assess if he could have surrendered Diu.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
Strength: 4/5
“He attacked the Arabs and was successful in taking Aden. In 1515 he took control of Ormuz. Two more viceroys played a significant role in consolidating the Portuguese empire in India. They are Nino da Cunha and Antonio de Nohanha. Da Cunha occupied Bassein and Diu in 1534 and 1537 respectively. The port of Daman was wrested from the hands of Imad-ul Mulk in 1559. Meanwhile, in the middle of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese control over Ceylon increased with the completion of a fort in Colombo. was during the period of De Noronha (1571) the Mughal ruler Akbar visited Cambay in Gujarat and the first contacts between the Portuguese and the Mughal emperor established.”
Why relevant
Reports that Nino da Cunha 'occupied Bassein and Diu in 1534 and 1537 respectively', tying Portuguese control of Diu to the 1530s.
How to extend
Use the 1530s occupation dates as a temporal benchmark against which to place any Ahmad Shah referenced in the statement.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Weak Rulers after Aurangzeb—An Internal Challenge > p. 63
Strength: 4/5
“In 1739, Nadir Shah defeated the Mughals in the Battle of Karnal and later imprisoned Muhammad Shah and annexed areas west of the Indus into the Persian empire. Ahmad Shah (1748-1754) Ahmad Shah was an incompetent ruler who left the state affairs in the hands of Udham Bai, the 'Queen Mother'. Udham Bai, given the title of Qibla-i-Alam, was a lady of poor intellect who ruled with the help of her paramour, Javid Khan (a notorious eunuch). Alamgir II (1754-1758) Alamgir II was a grandson of Jahandar Shah. Ahmed Shah Abdali, the Iranian invader, reached Delhi in January 1757. During his reign, the Battle of Plassey was fought in June 1757.”
Why relevant
Mentions an 'Ahmad Shah (1748-1754)' — an 18th-century ruler, indicating at least one prominent Ahmad Shah ruled long after the 1530s.
How to extend
A student can note the century mismatch (1530s vs 1748–1754) to question whether that Ahmad Shah could have surrendered Diu.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > View > p. 60
Strength: 3/5
“Later, Muhammad Shah was captured, and Delhi looted and devastated. According to an estimate, apart from the Peacock Throne and the Kohinoor diamond, seventy crore rupees were collected from the official treasury and the safes of the rich nobles. Nadir Shah gained the strategically important Mughal territory to the west of the Indus including Kabul. Thus, India once again became vulnerable to the attacks from the north-west. Ahmad Shah Abdali (or Ahmad Shah Durrani), who was elected the successor of Nadir Shah after the latter's death in 1747, invaded India several times between 1748 and 1767. He continuously harassed the Mughals who tried to buy peace in 1751-52 by ceding Punjab to him.”
Why relevant
Describes Ahmad Shah Abdali as an 18th-century figure invading India between 1748 and 1767 — another example of an 'Ahmad Shah' from a later period.
How to extend
Recognize multiple historical figures named Ahmad Shah and use date comparisons to determine which (if any) might relate to the 1530s cession of Diu.
Statement 2
Did Mahmud Begarha, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"Bahadur Shah (r. 1526), the ruler of medieval Gujarat, was the one who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese."
Why this source?
- Directly names which ruler surrendered Diu, assigning that action to Bahadur Shah rather than Mahmud Begarha.
- Therefore indicates Mahmud Begarha was not the one who surrendered Diu.
"also concluded, and the Portuguese were allowed to build a fort at Diu. Thus were the Portuguese able to establish their foothold in Gujarat. Bahadur Shah soon repented his concessions to the Portuguese."
Why this source?
- Describes the concession that allowed the Portuguese to build a fort at Diu and links that concession to Bahadur Shah.
- Provides historical context showing Bahadur Shah made the agreement and later regretted it, not Mahmud Begarha.
"Mahmud Begarha also had to deal with the Portuguese who were interfering with Gujarat’s trade with the countries of West Asia. He joined hands with the ruler of Egypt to check the Portuguese naval power, but he was not successful."
Why this source?
- Discusses Mahmud Begarha's dealings with the Portuguese, showing he opposed their interference in trade.
- Implies Mahmud engaged in efforts (with the ruler of Egypt) to check Portuguese naval power, not that he surrendered Diu to them.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Favourable Conditions for Portuguese > p. 28
Strength: 5/5
“In India, excepting Gujarat, which was ruled by the powerful Mahmud Begarha (1458-1511), the northern part was much divided among many small powers. In the Deccan, the Bahmani Kingdom was breaking up into smaller kingdoms. None of the powers had a navy worth its name, nor did they think of developing their naval strength. In the Far East, the imperial decree of the Chinese emperor limited the navigational reach of the Chinese ships. As regards the Arab merchants and ship-owners who until then dominated the Indian Ocean trade, they had nothing to match the organisation and unity of the Portuguese.”
Why relevant
Identifies Mahmud Begarha as ruler of Gujarat with dates (1458–1511), establishing his period of rule.
How to extend
Compare his end of reign (1511) with dates when Portuguese took Diu to judge chronological possibility.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
Strength: 5/5
“He attacked the Arabs and was successful in taking Aden. In 1515 he took control of Ormuz. Two more viceroys played a significant role in consolidating the Portuguese empire in India. They are Nino da Cunha and Antonio de Nohanha. Da Cunha occupied Bassein and Diu in 1534 and 1537 respectively. The port of Daman was wrested from the hands of Imad-ul Mulk in 1559. Meanwhile, in the middle of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese control over Ceylon increased with the completion of a fort in Colombo. was during the period of De Noronha (1571) the Mughal ruler Akbar visited Cambay in Gujarat and the first contacts between the Portuguese and the Mughal emperor established.”
Why relevant
States that the Portuguese occupied Diu in 1537 (Da Cunha occupied Bassein 1534 and Diu 1537), giving a date for Portuguese control of Diu.
How to extend
Combine this 1537 occupation date with Mahmud Begarha's death in 1511 to infer he could not have surrendered Diu in 1537.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
Strength: 5/5
“In his rule, Diu and Bassein came under the Portuguese occupation from Gujarat King Bahadur Shah. Bahadur Shah got killed in 1537 at Diu while negotiating with the Portuguese.• Factors for Decline of the Portuguese in India (a) Emergence of powerful dynasties in Egypt, Persia and north India and the appearance of the Marathas as neighbours; (b) political fears aroused by the activities of Jesuit missionaries, and hatred of persecution (such as inquisition) that caused reaction against Portuguese spiritual pressure; (c) rise of the English and Dutch commercial ambitions challenging the Portuguese supremacy; (d) rampant corruption, greed and selfishness along with piracy and clandestine trade practices of the Portuguese administration in India; (e) diversion of Portuguese colonising ambitions towards the West due to the discovery of Brazil.”
Why relevant
Says Diu and Bassein came under Portuguese occupation from Gujarat King Bahadur Shah and that Bahadur Shah was killed in 1537, linking the transfer to a later Gujarat ruler (Bahadur Shah).
How to extend
Use the identification of Bahadur Shah as the ruler involved (rather than Mahmud Begarha) plus the 1537 year to attribute the surrender/occupation to Bahadur Shah's time.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
Strength: 4/5
“Opposing this, the Portuguese started negotiations, in the course of which the ruler of Gujarat was invited to a Portuguese ship and killed in 1537. Da Cunha also attempted to increase Portuguese influence in Bengal by settling many Portuguese nationals there with Hooghly as their headquarters.”
Why relevant
Describes negotiations in which the ruler of Gujarat was invited to a Portuguese ship and killed in 1537, providing a mechanism and specific year for the change in control tied to the later ruler.
How to extend
Combine this event-year/mechanism with Mahmud Begarha's earlier death to rule out his involvement and focus inquiry on Bahadur Shah.
Statement 3
Did Bahadur Shah, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?
Origin: Direct from books
Fairness: Straightforward
Book-answerable
From standard books
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
Presence: 5/5
“In his rule, Diu and Bassein came under the Portuguese occupation from Gujarat King Bahadur Shah. Bahadur Shah got killed in 1537 at Diu while negotiating with the Portuguese.• Factors for Decline of the Portuguese in India (a) Emergence of powerful dynasties in Egypt, Persia and north India and the appearance of the Marathas as neighbours; (b) political fears aroused by the activities of Jesuit missionaries, and hatred of persecution (such as inquisition) that caused reaction against Portuguese spiritual pressure; (c) rise of the English and Dutch commercial ambitions challenging the Portuguese supremacy; (d) rampant corruption, greed and selfishness along with piracy and clandestine trade practices of the Portuguese administration in India; (e) diversion of Portuguese colonising ambitions towards the West due to the discovery of Brazil.”
Why this source?
- Explicitly states Diu and Bassein came under Portuguese occupation from Gujarat King Bahadur Shah.
- Links Bahadur Shah's rule directly to Portuguese control of Diu and notes he was killed at Diu while negotiating with them.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
Presence: 4/5
“Nino da Cunha assumed office of the governor of Portuguese interests in India in November 1529 and almost one year later shifted the headquarters of the Portuguese government in India from Cochin to Goa. Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, during his conflict with the Mughal emperor Humayun, secured help from the Portuguese by ceding to them in 1534 the island of Bassein with its dependencies and revenues. He also promised them a base in Diu. However, Bahadur Shah's relations with the Portuguese became sour when Humayun withdrew from Gujarat in 1536. Since the inhabitants of the town started fighting with the Portuguese, Bahadur Shah wanted to raise a wall of partition.”
Why this source?
- Records that Bahadur Shah ceded Bassein in 1534 and 'promised them a base in Diu,' showing he made territorial concessions to the Portuguese.
- Places these concessions in the context of Bahadur Shah seeking Portuguese help against Humayun, indicating a negotiated transfer or grant.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
Presence: 4/5
“He attacked the Arabs and was successful in taking Aden. In 1515 he took control of Ormuz. Two more viceroys played a significant role in consolidating the Portuguese empire in India. They are Nino da Cunha and Antonio de Nohanha. Da Cunha occupied Bassein and Diu in 1534 and 1537 respectively. The port of Daman was wrested from the hands of Imad-ul Mulk in 1559. Meanwhile, in the middle of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese control over Ceylon increased with the completion of a fort in Colombo. was during the period of De Noronha (1571) the Mughal ruler Akbar visited Cambay in Gujarat and the first contacts between the Portuguese and the Mughal emperor established.”
Why this source?
- States that Da Cunha occupied Bassein and Diu (1534 and 1537 respectively), giving a concrete date and actor for Portuguese control of Diu.
- Supports the timeline that Diu came under Portuguese control during the period associated with Bahadur Shah's interactions with the Portuguese.
Statement 4
Did Muhammad Shah, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?
Origin: Web / Current Affairs
Fairness: CA heavy
Web-answerable
"Bahadur Shah (r. 1526), the ruler of medieval Gujarat, was the one who surrendered Diu to the Portuguese."
Why this source?
- Explicitly names the ruler who surrendered Diu, identifying Bahadur Shah (r. 1526) as that ruler.
- Directly contradicts the claim that Muhammad Shah was the one who surrendered Diu.
"the Portuguese were allowed to build a fort at Diu. ... Bahadur Shah soon repented his concessions to the Portuguese."
Why this source?
- Describes Portuguese being allowed to build a fort at Diu as a result of concessions.
- Names Bahadur Shah in connection with those concessions and his later regret, linking him to the surrender/allowance at Diu.
"In 1531, after intriguing with local officials, the Portuguese attacked Daman and Diu... In order to meet this threat, Bahadur Shah granted the island of Bassein to the Portuguese."
Why this source?
- Records Portuguese attacks on Daman and Diu and places Bahadur Shah in the contemporaneous political context.
- Shows Bahadur Shah negotiating and making concessions to the Portuguese (e.g., granting Bassein), supporting his role in dealings that led to Portuguese footholds including Diu.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
Strength: 5/5
“Nino da Cunha assumed office of the governor of Portuguese interests in India in November 1529 and almost one year later shifted the headquarters of the Portuguese government in India from Cochin to Goa. Bahadur Shah of Gujarat, during his conflict with the Mughal emperor Humayun, secured help from the Portuguese by ceding to them in 1534 the island of Bassein with its dependencies and revenues. He also promised them a base in Diu. However, Bahadur Shah's relations with the Portuguese became sour when Humayun withdrew from Gujarat in 1536. Since the inhabitants of the town started fighting with the Portuguese, Bahadur Shah wanted to raise a wall of partition.”
Why relevant
States that Bahadur Shah of Gujarat ceded Bassein and 'promised them a base in Diu' to the Portuguese during conflict with Humayun.
How to extend
A student could check which Gujarat ruler was active in the 1530s (Bahadur Shah) and compare that name and date to 'Muhammad Shah' to test if the latter was the one who surrendered Diu.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
Strength: 5/5
“In his rule, Diu and Bassein came under the Portuguese occupation from Gujarat King Bahadur Shah. Bahadur Shah got killed in 1537 at Diu while negotiating with the Portuguese.• Factors for Decline of the Portuguese in India (a) Emergence of powerful dynasties in Egypt, Persia and north India and the appearance of the Marathas as neighbours; (b) political fears aroused by the activities of Jesuit missionaries, and hatred of persecution (such as inquisition) that caused reaction against Portuguese spiritual pressure; (c) rise of the English and Dutch commercial ambitions challenging the Portuguese supremacy; (d) rampant corruption, greed and selfishness along with piracy and clandestine trade practices of the Portuguese administration in India; (e) diversion of Portuguese colonising ambitions towards the West due to the discovery of Brazil.”
Why relevant
Says Diu and Bassein came under Portuguese occupation 'from Gujarat King Bahadur Shah' and that Bahadur Shah was killed at Diu in 1537.
How to extend
Use the specific attribution to Bahadur Shah to infer that the surrender/occupation is tied to Bahadur, not to any ruler named Muhammad Shah; verify rulers' names/timelines on a chronology of Gujarat rulers.
History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
Strength: 4/5
“He attacked the Arabs and was successful in taking Aden. In 1515 he took control of Ormuz. Two more viceroys played a significant role in consolidating the Portuguese empire in India. They are Nino da Cunha and Antonio de Nohanha. Da Cunha occupied Bassein and Diu in 1534 and 1537 respectively. The port of Daman was wrested from the hands of Imad-ul Mulk in 1559. Meanwhile, in the middle of the sixteenth century, the Portuguese control over Ceylon increased with the completion of a fort in Colombo. was during the period of De Noronha (1571) the Mughal ruler Akbar visited Cambay in Gujarat and the first contacts between the Portuguese and the Mughal emperor established.”
Why relevant
Notes that Nino da Cunha 'occupied Bassein and Diu in 1534 and 1537 respectively', tying the acquisition of Diu to the 1530s Portuguese viceroyalty.
How to extend
Compare the 1534–1537 dates of Portuguese occupation with the reign dates of any Gujarat ruler called Muhammad Shah to see if the name/timeframes match.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Portuguese State > p. 28
Strength: 3/5
“The general tendency is to underestimate the Portuguese hold in India. However, the Estado Português da India (State of the Portuguese India) was in fact a larger element in Indian history than it is given credit for. Many of the coastal parts of India had come under Portuguese power within fifty years of Vasco da Gama's arrival. The Portuguese had occupied some sixty miles of coast around Goa. On the west coast from Mumbai to Daman and Diu to the approaches to Gujarat, they controlled a narrow tract with four important ports and hundreds of towns and villages. In the south, they had under them a chain of seaport fortresses and trading-posts like Mangalore, Cannanore, Cochin, and Calicut.”
Why relevant
Describes the broader Portuguese pattern of seizing key Gujarat ports (from Mumbai to Daman and Diu), indicating that port cessions/occupations were typically negotiated with specific local rulers.
How to extend
Use this pattern to look up which local ruler(s) negotiated port cessions in Gujarat (likely Bahadur Shah) rather than assuming a generic 'Muhammad Shah' was responsible.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 4: India on the Eve of British Conquest > Weak Rulers after Aurangzeb—An Internal Challenge > p. 63
Strength: 4/5
“Rafi-ud-Daula (June 6 to September 17, 1719) The Sayyid brothers placed Rafi-ud-Daula with the title Shah Jahan II on the throne. The new emperor was an opium addict. Muhammad Shah (1719-48) After the death of Rafiud-Daula, Raushan Akhtar became the choice of the Sayyid Brothers. Muhammad Shah, as he came to be known in history, was given the title of 'Rangeela' due to his luxurious life-style. Muhammad Shah, with the help of Nizam-ul-Mulk, killed the Sayyid Brothers. In 1724, Nizam-ul-Mulk became the wazir and founded the independent state of Hyderabad. In 1737, Baji Rao I, the Maratha Peshwa invaded Delhi with a small army of 500 horsemen.”
Why relevant
Mentions a Mughal emperor named Muhammad Shah (1719–48) in a much later period, showing that the name 'Muhammad Shah' can refer to different rulers in other contexts.
How to extend
A student can use this to avoid conflating the 18th‑century Mughal Muhammad Shah with 16th‑century Gujarat rulers; checking dates will help determine whether 'Muhammad Shah' could have been involved in ceding Diu in the 1530s.
Pattern takeaway:
UPSC focuses on the 'Interface' between Regional History and Modern History. They rarely ask isolated questions about the Gujarat Sultanate's internal administration, but the moment a Sultan interacts with a European power (War or Treaty), it becomes a 5-star topic.
How you should have studied
- [THE VERDICT]: Sitter. Direct hit from Rajiv Ahir (Spectrum), Chapter 3: 'Advent of Europeans' or TN Class XI History.
- [THE CONCEPTUAL TRIGGER]: The 'Conflict and Collaboration' phase of European entry. Specifically, how the Portuguese Estado da India acquired strategic naval choke points (Diu, Goa, Malacca, Hormuz) through diplomacy born of local desperation.
- [THE HORIZONTAL EXPANSION]: Memorize the 'Acquisition Triad': 1) Goa captured from Bijapur (Yusuf Adil Shah) by Albuquerque in 1510. 2) Madras granted by Raja of Chandragiri to Francis Day in 1639. 3) Bombay given as Dowry by Portuguese to Charles II in 1661. 4) Golden Farman issued by Sultan of Golconda in 1632.
- [THE STRATEGIC METACOGNITION]: Do not read 'Advent of Europeans' as a mere list of dates. Read it as a series of 'Real Estate Transactions'. Create a 'Deal Sheet': Who sold, leased, or surrendered what territory to which European power? (e.g., Chandragiri -> Madras -> British).
Concept hooks from this question
👉 Portuguese acquisition of Diu and Bassein from Gujarat (Bahadur Shah)
💡 The insight
Bahadur Shah of Gujarat ceded Bassein and promised a base in Diu; Portuguese occupation of Diu and Bassein occurred in the 1530s.
High-yield for questions on early European footholds in India: explains how coastal ports were acquired through treaties and local concessions rather than only by outright conquest. Connects to topics on Portuguese expansion, regional politics in Gujarat, and how European bases affected Indian coastal trade.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
🔗 Anchor: "Did Ahmad Shah, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?"
👉 Bahadur Shah’s negotiations with the Portuguese and his death at Diu
💡 The insight
Bahadur Shah negotiated with the Portuguese and was killed at Diu in 1537 during those interactions.
Important for cause–effect questions about diplomatic outcomes and regime vulnerability; links political decisions with consequences (loss of life, loss of ports). Useful for essay and prelims questions on Indo‑Portuguese relations and the local impact of European presence.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
🔗 Anchor: "Did Ahmad Shah, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?"
👉 Portuguese strategic consolidation on the west coast (Goa as HQ; Diu, Bassein occupied)
💡 The insight
Nino da Cunha shifted the Portuguese headquarters to Goa and oversaw occupation of Bassein and Diu in the 1530s, expanding Portuguese coastal control.
Helps answer questions on administrative and naval strategy of European powers in India; links to broader themes of maritime trade control, fortress diplomacy, and the geography of colonial strongpoints used to dominate coastal commerce.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Portuguese State > p. 28
🔗 Anchor: "Did Ahmad Shah, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?"
👉 Chronology of Gujarat rulers vs Portuguese expansion
💡 The insight
Mahmud Begarha ruled Gujarat in 1458–1511, while Portuguese seizures of Diu and Bassein occurred in the 1530s under later rulers.
High-yield for UPSC because timeline accuracy distinguishes which ruler was responsible for territorial losses to Europeans; connects political chronology with colonial expansion and helps answer questions about causation and responsibility.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Favourable Conditions for Portuguese > p. 28
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
🔗 Anchor: "Did Mahmud Begarha, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese..."
👉 Portuguese acquisition of west-coast ports (Diu, Bassein, Daman) and key years
💡 The insight
Diu and Bassein were occupied by the Portuguese in the 1530s, and Daman was taken later in 1559.
Important for questions on European maritime footholds in India; knowing specific ports and years helps trace the pattern of Portuguese consolidation and subsequent decline, and links to broader themes of trade, naval power, and diplomacy.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
- History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 16: The Coming of the Europeans > Consolidation of the Portuguese Trade > p. 249
🔗 Anchor: "Did Mahmud Begarha, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese..."
👉 Diplomacy, negotiation and violence in Portuguese–Gujarat relations
💡 The insight
Negotiations with the Gujarat ruler ended with the killing of the king at Diu in 1537, reflecting a mix of diplomacy and lethal coercion in territorial transfer.
Useful for essay and polity questions on how European powers acquired territory through a combination of negotiation, treachery, and force; connects to themes of treaty-making, assassination, and shifts in regional power.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
🔗 Anchor: "Did Mahmud Begarha, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese..."
👉 Cessions and negotiated territorial grants to European powers
💡 The insight
Bahadur Shah ceded Bassein and promised a base at Diu as part of securing Portuguese assistance.
High-yield for questions on early European footholds in India and ruler–European diplomacy; helps explain how coastal possessions were acquired without full military conquest and links to later colonial expansion.
📚 Reading List :
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > Nino da Cunha > p. 27
- Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 3: Advent of the Europeans in India > The Portuguese > p. 56
🔗 Anchor: "Did Bahadur Shah, a ruler of medieval Gujarat, surrender Diu to the Portuguese?"
The 'Twin' Fact: Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa in 1510 from the Sultan of Bijapur (Yusuf Adil Shah). While Bahadur Shah gave Diu, Yusuf Adil Shah lost Goa. Both are foundational events for the Portuguese State (Estado da India).
Use the 'Desperation Logic'. Strong rulers like Mahmud Begarha (who fought the Battle of Diu in 1509) or Ahmad Shah (founder) rarely surrender key ports. Surrender usually implies a ruler squeezed between two enemies. Bahadur Shah was caught between the invading Mughal Emperor Humayun and the Portuguese navy—this 'Enemy of my Enemy' scenario forced the cession.
Mains GS-1 (History) & GS-2 (IR): This event marks the beginning of 'Naval Hegemony' determining land sovereignty in India. It connects to the modern concept of 'Choke Points' (Diu controlled the Gulf of Cambay trade). It is the medieval equivalent of a foreign military base agreement (like LEMOA) signed under duress.