Growth of Muslim Population in Medieval India, A.D. 1000–1800 c10.2

c10.2

At the dawn of the thirteenth century, Turkish rule was established in northern India. Within fifteen years of Muhammad Ghori's occupation of Delhi, the Turks rapidly conquered most of the major cities of northern India. Their lightening success, as described by contemporary chroniclers, entailed great loss of life. Qutbuddin Aibak's conquests during the life-time of his master and later on in the capacity of king (c. 1200-1210) included Gwalior, parts of Bundelkhand, Ajmer, Ranthambhor, Anhilwara, as well as parts of U.P. and Malwa. In Nahrwala alone 50,000 persons were killed during Aibak's campaign.¹ No wonder that besides earning the honorific of Lakhbakhsh (giver of lakhs), he also earned the nickname of killer of lacs.² Bakhtiyar Khalji marched through Bihar into Bengal and massacred people in both the regions. During his expedition to Gwalior Iltutmish (1210-36) massacred 700 persons besides those killed in the battle on both sides. His attacks on Malwa (Vidisha and Ujjain) were met with stiff resistance and were accompanied by great loss of life. He is also credited with killing 12,000 Khokhars (Gakkhars) during Aibak's reign.³ The successors of Iltutmish (Raziyah, Bahram etc.,) too fought and killed zealously.