History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c12.s1.25

Language: English

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But a careful examination of the working of the administration reveals to us the fact that the Muslim state had acquired a settled form and that Muslim armies were no longer “fanaticism on the march,” as they had been under the previous rulers of Dihli. Military rigour was lessened, and the orderly conditions of life had facilitated the growth of progressive ideals of political duty. The Hindus were better treated, and the awakened sense of responsibility in a section of the governing class had begun to suggest, however dimly it may be, the need for toleration and a better social understanding. The problems of a growing empire forced upon its ruler a policy of live and let live, and that is why Muhammad Tughluq abstained from the systematic persecution of the Hindus, whom he not only treated well but admitted some of them in his service. Restrictions were imposed on Sati, an unprecedented step, which speaks volumes for his enlightenment and liberal spirit. The wealth and riches of the empire were great; but the capital alone was the centre of life and culture. To the court flocked the nobles and dignitaries of the empire, vying with one another in displaying their magnificence, wits and literary men like Badr-i-Chāch and Amir Hasan Dihlvi, singing the praises of their royal benefactor, and opulent merchants from the far-off countries of Asia, bringing their valuable presents to the Sultan.

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But in the interior of the country, there was little splendour, and Ibn Batūṭah mentions desolate villages and waste lands stretching for miles without a human habitation. The hardships of the rural folk were aggravated by the severe famine that raged in the country and though the administration devised benevolent measures to afford relief, the people suffered and died in large numbers. There was no complete order in the empire, and disturbances and riots were frequent, and sometimes they occurred not far from the capital. To facilitate communication between the various provinces there was a well-regulated post, but outside the capital the police arrangements were not satisfactory, and travellers were exposed to great risk for the highways were not safe. Ibn Batūṭah relates the story of a severe fight between the Hindus and the Muslims of Jalali, a village near Kol, not far from modern Aligarh in which the traveller himself took part.¹³² The Hindus with a force of one thousand horse and 3,000 foot attacked the Muslims, and in the mêlée that ensued, Ibn Batūṭah’s party lost 33 horse and 50 foot. The Sultan was informed of this outbreak of lawlessness and the death of Kafur, the keeper of drinks, but no reinforcement seems to have been sent. The Hindus renewed their attacks and inflicted heavy losses upon the Musalman governor of Jalali. Ibn Batūṭah himself was captured by the rebels and was able to effect his deliverance after much difficulty.

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He speaks of another disturbance at ‘Alāpūr near Gwalior, where the Hindus hoisted the flag of revolt and slew the local governor Badr Habshi or Abyssinian who was a valiant soldier but an oppressive ruler.¹³³ The local governors often did as they pleased and freely oppressed the people under their charge as long as they successfully ingratiated themselves with the court. Frequently he was furnished with a *carte blanche* by the central power, as is illustrated by the dealings of ‘Imad-al-Mulk Sartez, the governor of Multan with the grandson of Rukn-al-Din.¹³⁴ It is true, the Sultan severely punished the contumacious conduct of governors and subjects alike; but where his eyes could not reach, matters were usually managed to suit the convenience of the local despot. It is unnecessary to refer to the brutalities of the legal system, for in the middle ages the laws were cruel and laid down drastic penalties for the most trivial offences. The idea of punishment as a means of reforming the wrongdoer has been a slow conquest of civilised jurisprudence, and in the middle ages men attached no importance to the value of human life and freely practised mutilation and torture. Imprisonment was seldom resorted to. Possibly it was considered a waste of money to feed criminals at the expense of the state. Muhammad was sternly just, but he was terribly cruel in his punishments, and as long as he lived, he enforced his commands with the utmost severity.

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But in spite of his vigilance corruption existed in the administration. The officers were venal and, perhaps, bureaucratic opinion did not concern itself with fostering public probity, for Ibn Batūṭah himself a judicial officer, personally known to the Sultan, was asked to pay a bribe by a fellow officer who was afterwards severely punished when the Sultan came to know of his dishonest intentions.¹³⁵ The Sultan constituted himself into the Supreme Court of Appeal, and was ever ready to give prompt redress to the aggrieved persons, and provided every facility to the suitors, who wished to lay their cases before him. No class was sacrosanct in his eyes, and the privileged orders received no indulgence from him. Notwithstanding the shortcomings that have been pointed out before, the ceaseless activity of the administration was in a large measure due to the energy and intrepidity of the Sultan. He undertook works of public utility; hospitals, schools and monasteries were established for the relief of the poor. The monasteries had a regular staff of officers to carry on their manage-