History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.200.3

c11.200.3

Hājji-ad-Dabīr describes Taghī as a person holding the title of Safdar Mulk, but this is a mistake for Barani and the author of the *Sīrat*, who were contemporaries of Taghī, describe him as a slave of Safdar Mulk Sultani and they are corroborated by Firishta.¹⁰¹ Baranī does not specifically state the cause of the rebellion, and all that can be gathered from his narrative is that in an atmosphere of treason Taghī also like many other adventurers felt inclined to rebel against the imperial authority. Later writers who closely follow Barani render no help. But the author of the *Sirat* mentions the circumstances under which Taghī was compelled to take up arms.¹⁰² When the Sultan went to Daulatabad to suppress the rising of the ‘Centurions’ which finally culminated in Isma‘il Makh’s elevation to royal dignity, he left Tātār Malik Bahadur Sultani in charge of Āsāwal and asked him to look after the affairs of that place. The Malik was commanded to assist the governor of Gujarat, Shaikh Mu‘iz-al-Din in realising the revenue and organising the royal forces. Taghi, who was in Gujarat had an Arab horse and a Gujarati maidservant. Tatar Malik Bahadur wished to obtain possession of the horse and the girl whose beauty probably captivated him. Taghi refused to give, and Tatar Malik began to tease him in various ways. He always humiliated and reprimanded him and held out threats that he would report his wickedness to the Sultan.