The Foundation of Muslim Rule in India: A History of the Establishment and Progress of the Turkish Sultanate of Delhi, 1206–1290 A.D. c12.41

c12.41

Owing to their long separation from their homeland the Khaljis who, at least from the 10th century, were known to have dwelt in the Helmand valley and then in Lamghan, were consequently not regarded as Turks by the new immigrants from Turkestan. Early chroniclers considered them a separate people and hence the Turcophile party of Balban and the citizens of Delhi affected to despite them as non-Turks³. The appointment of Firoz to the important post of army minister (*ariz*) and the resultant advancement of his people, therefore, created great dissatisfaction among those who sought to preserve the exclusively Turkish compositin of the government. The jealousy of Surkha and Kacchan had also to be reckoned with. As in the case of Rayhan nearly fifty years ago, a move was accordingly initiated under their leadership to eliminate all non-Turkish officers. A list of such men as were to be exterminated was drawn up in-secret. The attempt was a logical culmination of Balban's racialism; so prominently had he identified himself with this policy that the preservation of his dynasty was considerhed essential for its continued application¹.