History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c19.5

c19.5

The lack of love of learning, which imparts to a man elements of humanity and kindness, may be responsible for the callousness and cruelty inherent in 'Alāuddīn's nature. Every sentiment of kindness and clemency became extinct in the emperor's heart when anything harmful for the state was done. His punishments of the families of the mutineers at Jalor filled the heart of even a medieval chronicler like Baranī with shame and disgust. He writes that owing to his inherent cruelty, arrogance and harsh temperament, the sultan inflicted tyrannical punishments after the fashion of the notorious pharoah, and neither tie of blood nor attachments of near relationship detered him from inflicting severest penalties.² His barbarous punishments of tradesmen, the atrocities of Nuṣrat Khān on the people of Delhi, and the callousness of the sultan in killing his kith and kin, are simply apalling. The assassinations of Jalāluddīn, Ikat Khān, 'Umar Khān and Mangu Khān and the secret poisoning of Ulugh Khān, testify to the almost inhuman nature of the king. It is true that the recurring rebellions of the rich and the wickedness of the government officials gave him sufficient justification to be stern but at the same time it cannot be denied that his punishments bordered on barbarism.