The Cambridge History of India, Vol. III: Turks and Afghans v3.c20.393

v3.c20.393

Muhammad was not allowed to repose long at Daulatābād. In 1328 he was disturbed by news of the rebellion of Malik Bahrām Aiba, Kishlū Khān, the governor of Multān and Sind. The position of this governor was peculiar. He had been on terms of the closest intimacy with Ghiyās-ud-dīn Tughluq, had co-operated most cordially with him in the campaign against the usurper Khusrav, and had had a friendly contest with his comrade, in which each had urged the other to ascend the throne. Kishlū Khān had eventually prevailed by warning Tughluq that if he hesitated his ambitious son would certainly forestall him, and his old friend left him in virtual independence at Multān. The circumstances of Tughluq’s death had not improved the relations between Muhammad and Kishlū Khān, who rose in arms against his sovereign. Of the circumstances of his rebellion there are two accounts. According to one he incurred the king’s wrath by decently interring the stuffed skin of the unfortunate Gurshāsp instead of sending the miserable relic on for exhibition in another province, and according to the other Muhammad ventured to send ‘Alī, a collector of revenue, to Multān to inquire when Kishlū Khān proposed to obey the order to build for himself a house at Daulatābād and to send his family thither. ‘Alī’s insolence in delivering this message so inflamed the wrath of Kishlū Khān’s son-in-law that he slew the messenger, and Kishlū Khān raised the standard of revolt.