South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c11.s1.16

c11.s1.16

*The rise of Khusru Khan.*—Along with this he began to exhibit the other failing, favouritism to an unworthy slave. A young Parwari by name Hasan was brought up by one of the officers of the Court. The Sultan took a liking for this young man and in the very first year of his reign raised him to distinction with the title Khusru Khan. So attached was he to this young slave that he raised him at one jump to the position of Malik Naib Kafur, and combined with that high office that of the Wazir. The abolition of all the regulations of Alau-d-din except those against drinking exhibited itself in the rise of prices and perhaps the return of prosperity to the people; and if Barni could be believed, bribery, extortion and malversation followed in train. The regulations against drink were also neglected, and the example of the habits of dissipation of the monarch was but too readily followed, and even improved upon, by his subjects. Fortunately for him the Mughals did not appear in his reign on the borders. His few years of rule were years of prosperity in respect of agriculture, and there was no great disturbance in any quarter. In the first year of his reign he sent out an army under ’Einu-l-Mulk Multani to put down the rebellion in Gujarat and the province was soon got into order. He appointed his own father-in-law, Malik Dinar, Zafar Khan, governor of Gujarat. Several other old and experienced governors of Alau-d-din were retained at their posts, and they contributed to the continuance of orderly administration, in spite of the relaxation in regard to the regulations of Alau-d-din.