History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c6.38

c6.38

²⁴ The word is variously written in various texts. Some have Vakil-i-dar, others Vakil-al-dar and Vakildo. Briggs is right in adopting the form Vakil-i-dar. Major Raverty (*Tabqat-i-Nasiri* I, p. 694) discusses at length the meaning of Vakil-i-dar and says that Vakil-i-dar and Vakil-i-darbar are equivalent. This seems to be incorrect. Ibn Batutah distinctly says (III, p. 196) that the Vakil-i-dar held the keys of the palace.* Barani supports Ibn Batutah. There is no resemblance whatsoever between the Vakil-i-dar and Vakil of Mughal times.