History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c11.220

c11.220

Though Taghī was still at bay, the Sultan obtained a brief interval of repose which he utilised in re-establishing his authority in Gujarat. He arrived at Nehrwālā and alighted on the platform of the tank called Sahsilang. The presence of the Sultan had a remarkable effect upon the popular mind; the *ranas*, *muqaddams*, and *mahants* (priests of Hindū shrines) all came to pay homage, and the Sultan reciprocated in a befitting manner their expression of loyalty. The country was cleared of rebels, and once again order and peace was established and the inhabitants, who had been driven away from their homes owing to the state of general insecurity that pervaded the land, returned to their normal occupations, and oppression came to an end. The dislocation of the finances caused by civil war was put an end to and the vassal chiefs paid their tribute as before. Some of Taghī's followers, who knew that the Sultan was not the man to spare them, whatever the time and trouble it might cost him to catch hold of them, fled to the chief of Mandal-Patri¹¹⁴ to seek his protection. But the Rana, who understood his interest well enough, showed them no quarter; he had them killed and sent their heads to the Sultan. Their wives and children were also seized, and for this act of fidelity the chief was granted lands as Jagirs and robes of honour as a mark of royal favour, and was honoured with an invitation to visit the imperial court. The perseverance of the emperor at last had its effect; Gujarat once more reverted to normal conditions of life, and the imperial authority was fully established. But the misfortunes of the Sultan were not at an end. While engaged in settling the affairs of Gujarat, he received the news of the successful revolt of the amirs of Devagiri and with Taghī fleeing before him, still hostile and defiant, and the ‘Centurions’ of the Deccan behind, trying to establish themselves as an independent power, Muhammad found himself in a situation of great embarrassment. It needed extraordinary vigour and statesmanship to deal with the situation. Muhammad, though possessed of grim resolve and an inflexible will, lacked statesmanship and a sympathetic frame of mind. His weak generalship and failing judgment brought about one failure after another, until at last his inability to organise and summon to his aid the forces that lay around him, made it impossible for him to hold his ground against his avowed enemies.