History of the Qaraunah Turks in India c8.164

c8.164

The scheme failed more on account of prejudice, ignorance and lack of proper safeguards than on account of any inherent defect. It was not a device to rob the people of their gold and silver. The novelty of the experiment, suddenly sprung upon them after their enforced migration from Dihli to Daulatabad thoroughly disgusted them, and they began to look upon the Sultan as a seeker after the impossible. Although it is a calumny to characterise the Sultan's daring expedient as an act of madness, for the currency continued uninterrupted for three years, it is an exaggeration to aver that it was a master-stroke of financial genius. The crisis was overcome, though at an enormous cost, but the effect upon the Sultan's mind was unmistakable. His temper was soured, and the desire to wipe out failure and defeat so common to men of exceptional genius, led him to attempt highly ambitious enterprises with the result that he was engulfed in difficulties from which he could never extricate himself. But in spite of the failure of the measure, the Sultan's honour stands unimpeached, and neither hostile critics nor ignorant historians have ever dared to charge him with avarice or dishonesty. Barani's statement that the token currency was responsible for much of the disturbances of Muhammad's reign is not justified by facts.⁸⁰ The coins continued in use from 730 till 732 A.H. without any rebellion or disturbance, and when failure threatened him on all sides, the Sultan withdrew them. Again, for five years after the withdrawal of the token coins there was no serious rebellion in Northern India. Ibn Batūṭah who reached Dihli towards the close of 1333 A.D. does not suggest that any of the disturbances, of which he makes mention, were due to the token currency. Another fact which goes against Barani is that in no wise did the Sultan relax his administrative vigour, and continued to interest himself in agricultural reforms and famine relief. Indeed, the whole tenor of his subsequent policy clearly shows that his finances were speedily rehabilitated.