Life and Conditions of the People of Hindustan (1200–1550 A.D.) c8.14

c8.14

Sultan Muhammad Tughluq probably realized that Delhi, situated as it was in the north, could not very well serve as the capital of a more extended empire which had expanded into the Deccan. He sought for a more centrally situated and more accessible capital than Delhi. It is reported that Ujjain was suggested to him because of its historic association and geographical position. The reasons for the rejection of this interesting suggestion are not given.¹ Unfortunately, the Deogir experiment failed in spite of the wisdom of the choice. The Sultan transported the whole population of Delhi *en masse* to Deogir and the people had to be brought back to Hindustan. Finally, the whole scheme of an Indian empire did not materialize and the successors of Sultan Muhammad Tughluq had to content themselves with their Northern possessions.