Question
Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese?
Correct Answer — C
Explanation
The correct option is C (Bahadur Shah).
- Treaty of Bassein (1534): Threatened by the expanding Mughal forces under Emperor Humayun, Bahadur Shah of Gujarat sought military assistance from the Portuguese governor Nuno da Cunha. In exchange for defensive aid, he signed the Treaty of Bassein, ceding Bassein (Vasai) and its surrounding territories.
- Surrender of Diu (1535): As Mughal pressure intensified and Humayun captured Champaner, Bahadur Shah entered into another agreement granting the Portuguese permission to erect a fortress at Diu and maintain a naval station there.
- Fate: Once the Mughal threat receded, tensions flared between Bahadur Shah and the Portuguese over control of the island. In 1537, during negotiations aboard a Portuguese ship anchored off Diu, a skirmish broke out, and Bahadur Shah was killed and drowned in the sea.