History of the Khaljis, A.D. 1290–1320 c21.40

c21.40

Nāsiruddīn had obtained the throne by murdering Qutbuddin and assassinating all the royal princes. Naturally his conduct had made him unpopular among his subjects. Although the majority of the people at Delhi had reconciled themselves to the new government, a certain section of the nobility was bitterly opposed to the rule of the regicide. Day and night did they plan to overthrow the usurper. Prominent among these nobles was Malik Fakhruddīn Jūnā, who was ever in search of an opportunity to fly away from Delhi and join his father Ghāzī Tughlaq, Warden of the Marches at Deopalpur. The veteran warrior was very indignant at the wrongs that had been done to the family of sultan 'Alāuddīn and "writhed like a snake" to wreak vengeance upon Khusrau Shāh. But he could not rise in open revolt against him so long as "the light of his eyes", Malik Jūnā, was there at the capital.²⁸ Fakhruddīn used to write to his father about the state of affairs at Delhi and messages between the two were constantly exchanged through the services of one 'Alī Yaghdi. Ghāzī Tughlaq exhorted his son to reach Deopalpur from where they could organize opposition against the king and Malik Jūnā one day astounded the court by riding off with a few chosen followers to Deopalpur.²⁹ He was careful to take the son of Bahrām Aiba with him on his flight. Khusrau Shāh at once sent a force under the son of Qirat Qimār in pursuit of the fugitive, but the latter eluded the pursuers and safely reached Sirsuti (modern Sarsa). On his arrival there he found that his father had already garrisoned its fort by sending Malik Sarbata there.