Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c7.s4.t1.4

c7.s4.t1.4

These ideas of public behaviour reacted on personal manners. Dignity and pride were the outstanding features of the contemporary nobility. Duels, as we have mentioned, were fought, and challenges were freely given and accepted. Not a few wars were carried on in pursuance of these notions of personal honour. It is related that when the Raja of Warangal handed over all his hoards and treasures to Khusrau Khan, the General of Sultan Mubarak Shah Khalji, the latter still suspected that the former had not carried out his agreement faithfully. When these accusations were conveyed to the Raja, he realized his utter helplessness against the General of the Sultan, but this did not stop him from sending a dignified refusal to give any more explanations. The Raja proudly told him that he had too good an opinion of himself to care for the threats and favours of the Khan.² It is unnecessary to recount similar instances from Rajput or even from Muslim history. Amir Khusrau correctly interpreted the aristocratic feeling when he said that the ‘silent heights of a mountain peak safeguard its dignity and grandeur’.³