Thirteenth Century

Answer : Qutbuddin Aibak who sucdeeded to the Indian territories of Muhammad Ghori had no greater right than the other nobles like Yalduz and Qubacha who asserted their independenqe and autonomy at Ghazna and Sind respectively. This was to be a feature of the early history pf the Sultanate. The Sultans needed the support of the nobility to establish and maintain them in power. For instance, lltutmish came to the throne with the support of the nobles of Delhi. The Turkish nobles played an important part in elevating Sultans to the throne and supporting contenders to the throne. The hobles of Iltutmish called turkan-i-chihilgani (“The Forty”) wielded considerable power-after his death. They were an important group, and efforts by the Sultans to incorporate other groups were met with much resistance. Efforts of Nasiruddin Mahmud (1246-1266 A.D.) to break the vested power of this group by dismissing Balban (who was one of the ‘Forty’) from the court and replacing him by an Indian cbnvert, Im’aduddin Raihan, did not meet with much success. The opposition of the Turkish ruling class forced the Sultan to remove Raihan and reinstate Balban. On his accession to ths throne, Balban (1266-1286 A.D.) took measures to break the power of the turkon-i hihilgoni by various measures. He himself was the creation of a group of nobles loyal to him. Barani states that Balban had several of the older! Turkish nobles killed. This was an effort to intimidate the nobility, who could and did pose a challenge to the Crown.

Balban himself, according to Barani, kept Sultan Nasiruddin as a “puppet” (nomuno); therefore, he was varying of the leading old nobles. Assessing the role of the Turkish slaves, it is evident that they caused political anarchy by undermining the authority of king, which subsequently weakened their own position by involving them in intrigues, and engaging them in fighting against each other. Their only concern was how to acquire more wealth. They failed to understand that the Sultanate was not stable and surrounded by aggressive Hindu states that were waiting for an opportunity to destroy it. Balban, as ruler, understood the problem and therefore ruthlessly broke their power. With the end of the Forty, the role of the Turkish slaves came to an end in India.

Answer : The accession of Balban on the throne of Delhi Sultanate marked the beginning of a new era of strong, centralized government in which policy of blood and iron was the greatest principle of governance and political paramouncy. His kingship ideology was basically based on Iranian theory that the king was semi-divine and was only answerable to the God.

He underlined the theory that the sultan was the shadow of the almighty Zil-i-allah, and emphasised it by insisting people to perform Sijada and Pabos, which according to theologians were reserved alone for God. He maintained a splendid court with all sorts of Persian type of decorations. He called himself a ruler belonging to the lineage of Afrasiab and maintained utmost dignity in the court. For maintaining discipline and order Mir Hajib was appointed in the court. For maintaining law and order he appointed Barids who were confidential spies. He also appointed Kwajas in the provinces to maintain accounts and made them responsible to the central government. Kotwals were first time appointed during his reign and Thanas (military out posts) were established. Meos were supressed and all the rebellions elements were badly trampled. Being acquainted with the court politics and role of Amir in that he abolished Turgan-i-Chalisa.

The greatest contribution of Balban was to consolidate a standing army in the centre. He established Diwan-i-Arz. To keep the army active and vigilant he undertook frequent hunting expedition. He also established check posts to tackle the Mongol invasion.

Alauddin Khalji was one of the greatest military commanders and administrator of the Sultanate period. He adopted the Balban’s policy of blood and iron and brought very desirable changes in the civil administration. He reorganised Diwan-i-Arz and started the system of Dagh and Chehra. He also introduced the system of periodical inspection and apart from all these reforms he started giving cash payment to his army men. Alauddin also abolished the Iqtadari system and completely separated the revenue administration from military administration. For strengthening the economic position of the state he imposed Gharai and Charai taxes which was a noble attempt to expand the tax structure and rationalize the system. Kharaj was increased upto fifty percent, but by adopting the policy of market reforms and establishing Sarai-i-Adal he made goods available to the people on a fixed price. Parvana-Navis and Munhis were also appointed to control market affairs. He also established royal grannary to help poor people during natural calamities. This was an endeavor to make his state a welfare state of its own kind.

Alauddin Khalji had been successful not only in his revenue policy but also in his south expedition and tackling the Mongol due to his powerful military. This was a real advancement he made during his period and gave great benefit to the state in all the respects.

Answer : Balban is regarded as the greatest of the slave rulers of Delhi. It is true that Altamash rendered an invaluable service to the infant Mus­lim empire in India and saved it at a time when it was being threatened from all sides. But for all his great work and invaluable service he can rightly be called the real founder of the Muslim empire in India. But to say that he was the greatest of the slave rulers in India is to do injustice to Balban, whose achievements were really greater than those of Altamash.

Balban had to face greater difficulties and he faced them with greater success. It is true that Balban did not extend the boundaries of the Mus­lim state, but he saved the Muslim state at that time when the Mongol invasions and the mutual jealousies of the “Forty” as well as lawless activi­ties of the robbers and the revolts of the provincial governors might have completely destroyed it, and this was no small achievement of Balban.

The work done by Altamash was undone dur­ing the regins of his successors like Rukun-ud-din (1235-36), Razia Begum (1236-39), Bahram Shah (1240-42) and Masud (1242-46), while all that was achieved by Balban, was adopted and preferred by Ala-ud-din Khilji. It did not go waste. In fact Balban was much responsible for the great­ness of Ala-ud-Din Khilji as was Sher Shah Suri for the greatness of Akbar. Balban’s Mongol policy and the steps which he undertook against the no­bility greatly helped Ala-ud-Din Khilji in safe­guarding his empire. But for Balban that Khilji monarch might not have attained great heights.

The excellent way in which Balban saved his kingdom from external invasions and internal re­volts for full 40 years would clearly show that Balban was a great military genius. He organized a powerful army by recruiting young and ener­getic soldiers and removing the old and corrupt officials. Several forts were built at strategic points and the number of forces in the frontier provinces was greatly increased. With the help of this army Balban was successful in saving his country from the inroads of the cruel Mongols and creating awe and respect for the kingship in the minds of his people who had ceased to have any fear of the governing power since long. Not only this, this strong army was much responsible for clearing the country of all the robbers and other lawless elements and suppressing the revolts of the dis­tant provinces.

Balban was not only a great military genius but also a good administrator, a rare combination in the medieval a dignified reserve, giving equal and impartial justice to all, by organizing a strong army and establishing a spy-system, Balban es­tablished law and order in the country and en­hanced the prestige and respect of the crown.

There is no doubt that Balban had adopted the policy of “Blood and Iron” to deal with his enemies, he was at the same time quite an affec­tionate and tender hearted man. He always came to the help of the poor and made very attempt to save them from the high handedness of the rich and the high. He liberally helped the refugees from central Asia who took shelter in this country to save their lives from the Mongols and their atroci­ties. He loved his sons so much that when Muhammad was killed while fighting against the Mongols in 1285 A.D. he could not survive this shock and died the very next year, i.e., 1286 A.D.. But he did not allow affection to interfere in this day-to-day administration.

He used to say his five daily prayers regularly like a true Musalman. He tried to rule strictly ac­cording to the main principles of the Islam. Before his accession to the throne he was fond of wine and dancing but when he became an independent ruler himself he gave up all these habits, instead he began to spend his time in the company of holy men and in devising ways and means for the wel­fare of the state. He even continued the name of the Khalifa to appear on his coins when the office of the Khalifa had ceased to exist.

Though he was greatly busy devising ways and means against the Mongol invasion and curb­ing the lawless activities of the robbers and the rebels, he (Balban) spared some time for the pro­motion of art and literature. He liberally helped the sCholars and took great pleasure in their com­pany. Amir Khusro, one of the greatest Persian poets, flourished in his time and was generously helped by his son, Muhammad. Amir Hassan, a poet of great merit, was also patronized by Balban and his son Muhammad.

Balban proved as a forerunner of Ala-ud-Din Khilji in many respects. In following Balban’s Mongol policy and the steps which he undertook against the nobility, Ala-ud-Din owes much to his able predecessor Balban. But for him Ala-ud-Din Khilji could not have achieved so much as he was able to achieve.

We can conclude in the words of Dr. Lanepoole that “Balban, the slave, water carriers, huntsman, general, statesman and sultan is one of the most striking figures among many noble men in the long life of the kings of Delhi”.

Answer : Balban strove to increase the majesty of the Sultanate. Barni writes: “He never joked with anyone, nor did he allow anyone to joke in his presence: he never laughed, nor did he permit anyone in his court to laugh”. He maintained great pomp and splendour and behaved with great distances to witness the royal procession. In the royal court there was such an atmosphere of awe and majesty that the am­bassadors who came to present the credentials and the rajas who came to pay tribute became ner­vous and at times stumbled on the steps.

Conscious of his lack of an absolute heredi­tary right to the throne, Balban sought increased personal prestige by claiming descent from a mythi­cal Turkish hero. By word and by deed he con­stantly emphasized the sacredness of the king’s person and the awe which he should inspire in the hearts so as to manifest the order and splendour of his kingdom. He insisted on the Sijda and the Paibos (prostration and kissing the monarch’s feet) in the court. He sought to make even his private life an embodiment of kingly dig­nity. A great convivialist in early life, he gave up drinking on accession and interdicted the use of wine by his courtiers. Furthermore, he showed interest in letters and patronized Amir Khusrau.