The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c8.s2.12

c8.s2.12

While the Mughal kings sought inspiration from the name of Timur and the Turkish Sultan, the people of India considered them as foreigners for that very reason. Bernier did not fail to notice that the *Great Mogol* is a foreigner in *Hindustan*, a descendant of *Tamerlane*, chief of those Mogols from Tartary who, about the year 1401, overran and conquered the Indies, consequently he finds himself in a hostile country, or nearly So⁷⁰ In short, except for the confusion created by Indian-ness or foreignness of emperor Akbar,⁷¹ the state remained basically foreign in character throughout the medieval period. The aim of the Caliphs in inspiring the Sultans of Delhi and that of Timur in invading India was the same, to spread Islam in idolatrous Hindustan.⁷²