First use of cannon in India: When and who did it? Know how Indian warfare has changed due to Babur’s arrival!

There was a turn in India’s military history when the method of war changed completely. Before independence, when the Indian subcontinent had powerful princely states and empires, the policies of war depended on swords, horses, elephants and bow and arrows. But then a technique came that changed the traditional pattern of war that has been going on for centuries – that was Cannons. Very few people know when and who used the first and effective cannon in India. The credit goes to a ruler who changed history not only with his military power, but with his modern war policy.

Babur used the first decisive use of cannon in India

The first and decisive user of cannons in India Babar Was. Babur, who was a Turkish-Mangal origin ruler of Taimur dynasty, launched many attacks on India. In 1526 First War of Panipat In he established the Mughal Empire by defeating Ibrahim Lodi, the last ruler of the Lodi dynasty. This war was a decisive moment in India’s military history, and the main reason for this was Babur’s new and advanced war technology.

What was Babur’s cannon strategy?

Babur used his cannons in a special ‘Ottoman artillery style. In this:

• The cannons were tied with chains in trains: This stabilized the cannons by placing it in a strong line and also created a barrier to prevent mounted attacks of enemies.

• The archer and gun holders were in the middle: Behind these guns, skilled gunmen and archers were deployed.

• Use of “Committee” strategy: Babur also used a clever war strategy called Tulguma, in which the army was divided into the center and the flaanking (lateral) divisions that surrounded the enemy from both sides.

What was the effect on India?

Babur’s artillery strategy in the battle of Panipat proved to be extremely fatal for Ibrahim Lodi’s vast army. Lodi’s army was in traditional Indian war style, which was more dependent on cavalry and elephants. He had never experienced the sound of cannons, smoke and their firepower before.

The destructive power of cannons created a stampede in Lodi’s army, leading to a decisive victory to Babur. This war did not only introduce the end of a dynasty and a new dynasty (Mughal), but in the Indian subcontinent Gunpowder age Was also started. Subsequently, all the upcoming rulers and empires began to include cannons and guns in their forces, and India’s war policy led to a revolutionary change.