Khilji Dynasty

 

Title: Khilji Dynasty

Editor: Bittu K Singh

Publisher: Rudra Publishers Delhi, 2015 (First)

ISBN: 9788193115541

Pages: 224

Muslim rule in India begins with the sultanates of Delhi. All earlier incursions, the Arab invasion of Sindh in the 8^th, Mahmud of Ghazni’s in the 11^th and Mohammed Ghori’s in the 12^th centuries were only fleeting moments in history, where the plunderer retired to his home country after collecting the riches. The first sultanate of Ilbari dynasty in Delhi broke away from this tradition by establishing permanent residence in the country, thereby opening a new era in the history of India. Four more dynasties followed the first – Khilji, Tughluq, Sayyid and Lodi. This continued until the edifice erected by Qutb-ud-din Aibak in 1191 was undone by Ibrahim Lodi in 1526 when he suffered a humiliating defeat and death at the hands of Babur. This book tells us the story of the second among them, the Khiljis. Bittu K Singh is the editor of the book. He belongs to Ranchi, Jharkhand, but practices as a lawyer in Delhi. He is reported to be interested in reading autobiographies, good literature and devotional books.

The Khilji dynasty ruled Delhi during a short span of 30 years with only three kings ascending the throne. All three were, however, noted for their faithlessness and ferocity. The Khiljis were Turks, as was their Ilbari predecessors, but owing to their long stay in Afghanistan – their name is derived from the village Qalat-e-Khilji – they were treated as upstarts. The Afghans always had to contend with the second place behind the Turks in Muslim polity. The term Khilji means swordsman or long arm in Turkish, but it denotes a ‘thief’ in Pashto. They served under the Ghaznavids, Ghurids and finally under the Ilbaris, while the former Islamized them. Jalal-ud-din Firuz Khilji served under Balban, suffering under the racialism of the Ilbaris. He usurped power in 1290. His throne was also not to be secure for long. His son-in-law overturned and killed him to get on to the throne as Ala-ud-din Khilji. He had a trusted general in the person of Malik Kafur, who made three successful raids on the South, annexing the vast region for the first time under Delhi sultans. After Ala-ud-din’s death in 1316, his son Qutb-ud-din Mubarak assumed power. He was weak and incompetent and was murdered in 1320 by his own Man Friday to pave the way for the ascent of the Tughluq dynasty. Ala-ud-din Khilji is noted for ensuring strict price control in the sultanate, so that the soldiers could live comfortably with the low salaries he paid them. Price of food grains and all articiles were fixed. Even slaves were sold at fixed prices. A serving girl could be obtained for 5-12 tankas, a concubine for 20-40, slave labourers for 10-15 and ‘handsome’ pages for 20-30 tankas. With strong and clever military movements, he could subdue all four of the South Indian kingdoms – Kakatiyas of Warangal, Yadavas of Devagiri, Hoysalas of Dwarasamudra and Pandyas of Madurai.

Though grievously flawed in design and structure, the book presents good character sketches of Ala-ud-din Khilji and his lover and general, Malik Kafur. A more bloodthirsty killer than Ala-ud-din was hard to come by in history’s annals. What is shocking to some is that he killed Muslims as well on racial grounds. The descendants of the pagan Mongol invaders had stayed back in India and had assumed Islam. They were called ‘New Muslims’ and slowly entered the service of the sultan who restricted them to lower cadres. The higher posts were always reserved for the Turkish men. When a rebellion broke out among the Mongols, he ordered some 30,000 – 40,000 Mongol men to be killed and their women were sold as slaves in Delhi’s fleshpots. Ala-ud-din was bad tempered, obstinate and hard hearted. To cap it all, he was also an illiterate. He banned drinking and wine manufacturing. To prevent nobles joining together against the sultan, he forbade them from visiting each other and forced them to seek his approval prior to establishing matrimonial alliances between their wards. A full-fledged spy network was also employed to snoop on the aristocrats. The Hindus had a nasty time during Ala-ud-din’s rule. He destroyed the Somnath temple, which was a favourite pastime for the Muslim invaders whether they got any booty or not, and carried the parts of the smashed idol to Delhi to make it trodden under the feet of the faithful. Hindus were forbidden from riding caparisoned horses, carrying arms, wearing fine cloths or enjoying any luxury of life. Half of their agricultural produce was appropriated by the sultan. No gold, silver or even a betel nut was said to be seen in a Hindu home. Being ignorant of ecclesiastical matters, Ala-ud-din once summoned the Qadi of Bayana to his court to consult him on the issue of how the Hindus of the country should live in accordance with strict Islamic rules. The qadi’s reply makes interesting reading. He said that “they are called payers of tribute, and when the revenue officer demands silver from them, they should, without question and with all humility and respect, tender gold. If the officer throws dirt (or spits) into their mouths, they must unreluctantly open their mouths wide to receive it. By doing so, they show their respect for the officer. The due submission of the non-Moslems is exhibited in this humble payment and by this throwing of dirt into their mouths. The glorification of Islam is a duty, and contempt of the religion is vain. God holds them in contempt, for He says to keep them under subjection. To keep the Hindus in abasement is especially a religious duty, because they are the most inveterate enemies of the Prophet” (p.28).

Islamic administration was heavily dependent upon slaves recruited from young men of other religions. This was the case with the Ottomans and so were the Delhi sultans. Malik Kafur Hazar Dinari, who original name was Sabour Bhai, was a Hindu boy and the son of a Rajput landlord. Ala-ud-din Khilji was enamoured of the young, effeminate body of the Sabour Bhai and purchased him for 1000 dinars – hence the name hazar dinari. He was then castrated and made to follow Islam. Castration was an integral part of the Islamic slave system as a precaution against diluting the Muslim bloodlines. Ala-ud-din was madly captivated by this eunuch who doubled as a catamite. Kafur conquered the southern kingdoms and brought much wealth to the capital, but he harboured a secret ambition to take over the reins of the sultanate himself. It is alleged that Ala-ud-din’s demise was orchestrated by Kafur’s poisoning. Whatever the truth may be, as soon as his master was out of the way, Malik Kafur blinded two of his erstwhile lord’s sons and unleashed a reign of terror. The helpless princes were said to be blinded “by cutting the eyes from the sockets with a razor, like slices of melon”. Loyal courtiers soon summarily executed him. Qutb-ud-din Mubarak, son of Ala-ud-din assumed kingship, but was soon ousted by his own slave Khizr Khan. Mubarak began his reign by killing his father-in-law and blinding his brothers. Like his father, this wretch was also a sodomite and took delight to appear before his court in female finery and jewels. On some occasions, he appeared stark naked! His vile favourite and companion killed him and mercifully ended the Khilji dynasty.

There are frequent repetitions of the same ideas in the book, some of them up to four or five times and verbatim. We wonder what the editor was doing with the text, some of which even a school boy with a very basic training in English grammar wouldn’t write. There is no analysis in the book. The texts by some authors (who are not mentioned) are arranged haphazardly. The impact of Ala-ud-din’s extreme economic measures like his strict price control of essentials is simply left out. The final chapter on ‘society and culture’ is superfluous and included just to fill some 50 odd pages, which constitute a quarter of the book. This chapter, which is supposedly on the Khilji dynasty, is filled with descriptions of Egyptian architecture and art in the Mughal period, which are totally outside the chronological scope of the book. This book is priced at an exorbitant Rs. 795, which is not worth even a tenth of that. Ala-ud-din’s death is described in various ways in the text. He is said to have been killed (p.15), died (p.35), died of dropsy (p.47) and died due to sickness (p.66). The only saving grace of the book is its collection of good photographs of the coins in circulation during the Khilji period. The book includes an incompetent bibliography but no index.

The book is not recommended.

Rating: 1 Star