ZAHIRIDDIN MUHAMMAD BABUR: A STATESMAN, SCHOLAR, AND LITERARY PIONEER

This article examines the historical and literary significance of Zahiriddin Muhammad Babur (1483–1530), the founder of the Mughal Empire and an outstanding representative of Central Asian culture. It highlights his achievements as a military leader, statesman, poet, and historian, with particular attention to his role in establishing the Mughal Empire after the First Battle of Panipat in 1526. The article also explores Babur's literary legacy through the Baburnama, emphasizing its historical, cultural, and linguistic value as a primary source. It concludes that Babur's contributions to governance, literature, and historical scholarship have had a lasting impact on the cultural heritage of Central and South Asia and continue to be studied by scholars worldwide.