Delhi Sultanate — Set 3

Correct Answer: B. Khizr Khan

• **Khizr Khan** founded the Sayyid Dynasty in **1414 AD** — ruled as deputy of Timur's successor. • Claimed descent from **Prophet Muhammad** (Sayyid = honorific for Prophet's descendants). • Ruled as vassal under **Shah Rukh** (Timur's son) — Sayyids were the weakest Sultanate dynasty. • 💡 Mubarak Shah = 2nd Sayyid ruler; Muhammad Shah = 3rd; Alam Shah = last (abdicated to Bahlul Lodi).

Correct Answer: D. Khilji

• **Khilji Dynasty** ruled shortest — **1290 to 1320 AD** = only **30 years** among the five dynasties. • Despite brevity: Alauddin's market reforms, South India conquests, and Mongol repulsion were significant. • **Tughlaq Dynasty** ruled longest — 1320 to 1414 AD (**~94 years**); Slave = ~84 yrs, Lodi = ~75 yrs. • 💡 Trick: SKTS-L = Slave→Khilji→Tughlaq→Sayyid→Lodi; Khilji = shortest; Tughlaq = longest.

Correct Answer: B. Bahlul Lodi

• **Bahlul Lodi** founded the Lodi Dynasty in **1451 AD** — first **Afghan** dynasty ruling Delhi. • Previous dynasties (Slave, Khilji, Tughlaq, Sayyid) were of Turkish origin — Lodi = Afghan. • **Sikandar Lodi** (son) and **Ibrahim Lodi** (grandson) followed — Ibrahim was the last Sultan. • 💡 Ibrahim Lodi = founder? No — Bahlul founded it. Sikandar = most capable Lodi; Ibrahim = last.

Correct Answer: B. Sikandar Lodi

• **Sikandar Lodi** founded the city of **Agra in 1504 AD** — shifted capital from Delhi to Agra. • Strategically located to control **Rajputana** region; Agra later became Mughal empire's capital. • Also introduced **Gaz-i-Sikandari** (standard land measurement unit) and promoted Persian learning. • 💡 Akbar = built Fatehpur Sikri, not Agra; Shah Jahan = built Taj Mahal in Agra; Bahlul = Delhi-based.

Correct Answer: C. Land

• **Gaz-i-Sikandari** = standard **land measurement unit** introduced by Sikandar Lodi. • Equal to approximately **32 digits (~30 inches)** — used for agricultural land surveys. • Later improved by **Sher Shah Suri** (Sher Shah's Gaz) and then **Akbar** (Ain-i-Akbari records this). • 💡 Options: Water, Cloth, Grain — all wrong; Gaz-i-Sikandari specifically measures Land.

Correct Answer: D. Ibrahim Lodi

• **Ibrahim Lodi** = last ruler of the Delhi Sultanate — defeated and killed by **Babur** in 1526. • **First Battle of Panipat (1526)** ended the Sultanate and began the **Mughal Empire**. • Only Sultan to **die on the battlefield** — all others surrendered or fled or died naturally. • 💡 Bahlul Lodi = founder; Sikandar = most powerful Lodi ruler; Daulat Khan = governor who invited Babur.

Correct Answer: A. Alauddin Khilji

• **Amir Khusrau** served under **Alauddin Khilji** most prominently — lived 1253–1325 AD. • Called **'Tuti-e-Hind'** (Parrot of India) — credited with inventing **Sitar and Tabla**. • Wrote in both **Persian and Hindavi** — pioneer of Urdu/Hindi literary tradition in India. • 💡 Iltutmish = pre-Khusrau era; Sikandar Lodi = much later (after Khusrau's death); Aibak = only briefly.

Correct Answer: A. Ibn Battuta

• **Ibn Battuta** (Moroccan traveler) visited India during **Muhammad bin Tughlaq's** reign (1334–1342). • Served as **Qazi (judge)** in the Sultan's court — also sent as ambassador to China. • His book **'Rihla'** (Kitab-ul-Rahla) = key source on 14th-century India's society and politics. • 💡 Al-Biruni = visited during Mahmud Ghazni's era; Marco Polo = visited South India; Megasthenes = Maurya era.

Correct Answer: B. Qutbuddin Aibak

• **'Lakh Baksh'** (Giver of Lakhs) = title given to **Qutbuddin Aibak** for extraordinary generosity. • Famous for donating **lakhs of coins** in charity — benevolent despite being a military slave-general. • Also called **'Hatim of his age'** (after legendary Arab philanthropist Hatim Tai). • 💡 Firoz Tughlaq = Diwan-i-Khairat (charity dept); Balban = iron-blood; Iltutmish = Iqta — not 'Lakh Baksh'.

Correct Answer: D. Iltutmish

• **Iltutmish** issued the silver **Tanka** and copper **Jital** — standardized Delhi Sultanate currency. • Silver Tanka weighed **175 grains** — formed the basis of the Sultanate monetary system. • The British **Rupee** was later modeled on this weight standard — Tanka = origin of Rupee concept. • 💡 Muhammad Tughlaq = token copper coins (failed experiment); Aibak = no standard coins; Alauddin = market reforms.