The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c12.21

c12.21

Fate, as Barani remarks, however was to provide a different instrument for the execution of this historical task, for Nizamuddin was not destined to reap the fruit of his labour. In Lakhnauti, Bughra Khan had assumed sovereignty after Balban's death², but, though aiming at separate political existence, he could not remain indifferent to the happenings at Delhi. Some writers even ascribe to him a readiness to press his claim to his father's throne, even if only to counteract Nizamuddin. Kaiqubad's headlong march to self-destruction seems to have at last awakened the family shirker to a sense of his dynastic interests. He had kept himself fully informed of his son's doings and carried on a constant correspondence with Delhi; his letters carried advice, admonition, and warning but his son, completely under the spell of his nemesis, showed no signs of improvement. At last Bughra decided to see him and asked for an interview. This was granted and a meeting was arranged on the banks of the Sarju river in Awadh³. It is difficult to be certain as to Bughra Khan's motives; whether it was solely a filial affection that prompted him to this course is a point on which early writers are not unanimous. Like all others he unmistakeably saw the impending doom of his father’s dynasty and it is not unlikely that, remembering at last his father’s wishes, he wanted to reclaim the throne: this, at least, is the interpretation put to his action by Amir Khusrau and a few later writers¹.