History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c7.30

Language: English

c7.30.1

The problems of the empire which confronted Muhammad Tughluq were not so difficult as they had been under Balban and ‘Ala-al-Din. Both these rulers had been troubled by the frontier question which had taxed their resources to the uttermost. The forward policy of ‘Ala-al-Din had greatly minimised the chances of Mughal danger, but the hostility of the Hindu Rajas, the overweening claims of the native nobility, the orthodox prejudices of the clerical party and its ambition to dominate the state were dangers which the Muslim government in India had still to face. But the task of the new Sultan, though not so formidable as that of Balban and ‘Ala-al-Din was certainly more trying than that of his father who had appeared on the scene at a favourable crisis in the history of the Dihli Sultanate. Although he could not boast of a high pedigree, he was welcomed by all classes, because he gave them the much coveted gifts of peace and order and ended the Khusrauite regime. Muhammad’s difficulty was of a two-fold nature; he had to satisfy the old nobility by assuring them that although there was no blue blood in his veins he meant to rule according to their advice, and that he deserved their confidence. Secondly, he had to remove the suspicion which still lurked in the popular mind that he was the author of his father’s death. Muhammad who was one of the ablest men of the age behaved with great tact.

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He knew full well that gorgeous display of splendour accompanied by liberal gifts to all sections of the population touched the imagination of the people of Hindustan more than anything else and were as effective in securing loyalty and devotion as the strokes of skilful diplomacy. The streets of the city were decorated with festoons of flowers, the castles of the nobility as well as the dwellings of the humble were adorned and at the head of a stately procession which included in the front and rear well caparisoned elephants laden with gold and silver which was scattered among the people, the Sultan made his triumphal entry into the capital. There was no declaration of policy, no foretaste of the innovations which he practised afterwards to the disgust of his people and the detriment of his empire. To allay the apprehensions of the public who feared and admired him and to placate the nobles, he made large and generous gifts. Then, there was the prompting of nature which was liberal to a fault, and has been eulogised by all who came in contact with him. Tatar Khan, the governor of Sonargaon and the adopted son of Ghiyas-al- Din Tughluq was given the title of Bahram Khan and received one hundred elephants, a crore of golden *tankahs* and two thousand horses.

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To Malik Sanjar Badakhshāni were given eighty lakhs of *tankahs* and Bahadur Shah, the dispossessed ruler of Bengal, was restored to his former dignity, and received a large treasure, a dexterous move, as Edward Thomas points out, to show clearly that Bahadur was nothing more than an ordinary provincial governor transferable at will, though his claims to imperial succession rested on a surer and legal basis. To signify his esteem for Bahadur, the Sultan agreed that the names of both should appear together on the coins struck at Sonargaon, and there are coins of the years 725-31 A.H. bearing the names of both.¹⁴ Ibn Batūtah also distinctly states that Bahadur acknowledged the supremacy of Muhammad Tughluq over Eastern Bengal, and was given wealth, elephants and horses and admitted to royal favour.¹⁵ Malik-al-mulk ‘Imādal-Din obtained seventy lakhs of *tankahs* and Sayyid ‘Azd-al-Dowlah, a tutor of the Sultan became the recipient of forty lakhs and a pension of one hundred lakhs of *tankahs* per annum was granted to Malik Bahram Ghaznīn. The bounty of the new monarch was lavishly extended to other functionaries of the state and learned men, and Maulana Nasir Tawil, Qazi-Kasmah, Khudāwandzadah Ghiyas-al-Din, Qiwām-al-Din and Nāsir Kafi received several lakhs from the exchequer of the state.

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To the disciples and followers of Shaikh Nizam-al-Din Aulia the Sultan granted lands and allowances, and endowed the Shaikh’s tomb with twelve *parganahs* for the purpose of providing food for the poor and offering incense at the shrine.¹⁶ The Sultan was devoted to the Shaikh, and this was probably done to signify his gratitude for the help he had given in securing the throne. Maulana Nāsir-al-Din and Malik Ghazi, the poet, were granted a pension of one lakh a year which shows that royal patronage was extended to men of all classes. Barani gives a long list of officers upon whom titles were conferred, and who were entrusted with important duties.17 The fame of the Sultan's liberality spread far and wide and brought to Dihli some of the most learned men from the different parts of Asia who were fitly honoured by their royal benefactor. Before the outflow of this somewhat prodigal generosity, no opposition could be offered, and no wonder if men warmly welcomed their new ruler. Men's memories are short; and in the minds of many the young ruler must have been excused the guilt of parricide.