South India and her Muhammadan Invaders c11.s1.28

c11.s1.28

*Reconquest of the Dakhan.*—Mubarak marched to Deogir defeated Harapāla in battle, took him prisoner and flayed him alive. When the rains began, the Mahrattas had been brought into subjection; the Sultan remained in Deogir itself during the rains appointing Malik Yek Lakhi, an old servant of Alau-d-din, ‘who for many years was Naib of the Barids (spies),’ as governor of the Mahārāshtra. It was now that Mubarak appointed ‘feudatories, rulers and revenue collectors over the territories of the Mahrattas.’ This means that the Mahratta country was brought directly under Muhammadan rule, and the country was distributed among a certain number of Muhammadan governors. In the words of Col. Haig, ‘Kutub-ud-din Mubarak Shah remained during the rainy season at Deogir engaged in bringing the Mahratta country for the first time under Muhammadan rule, and in building the great mosque which still stands at Deogir. This structure is a monument of the establishment of Islam in the south. The numerous pillars which support its roof are purely Hindu in design, and were evidently taken from some temple which stood on or near the spot where the mosque now stands. The effect of the Hindu carvings in the temple of monotheism is most incongruous, perhaps designedly so, for Kutub-uddin Mubarak, who was three parts debauchee and one part theologian, evidently intended them to bear witness to future ages of the downfall of Hinduism and the establishment of Islam. The emperor, during his stay in Deogir, established military posts throughout the Gulbarga, Sagar, and Dhora-samudra country¹ and parcelled out the Mahārāṣṭra among Muhammadan jagirdars.²