Delhi Sultanate — Set 6

Correct Answer: A. Sikandar Lodi

• **Moth Ki Masjid** was built during **Sikandar Lodi's** reign by his Wazir (PM) **Miya Bhoiya**. • Located in **South Delhi** — a fine. • Lodi architecture = use of **double dome** (first time in India) and **octagonal tombs**. • 💡 Alauddin = Alai Darwaza; Firoz = Firozabad; Akbar = Fatehpur Sikri — Moth Ki Masjid is distinctly Lodi-era.

Correct Answer: D. Iltutmish

• **Iltutmish** = first Sultan to officially make **Delhi** his capital — Aibak ruled primarily from Lahore. • Often called the **'real founder of Delhi Sultanate'** — organized administration, issued coins, got Caliph's recognition. • Received recognition from **Abbasid Caliph** (Baghdad) in 1229 — gave the Sultanate Islamic legitimacy. • 💡 Alauddin Khilji = made Delhi larger with Siri; Balban = ruled from Delhi but Iltutmish was first to establish it.

Correct Answer: D. Iltutmish

• **Iltutmish** refused asylum to **Jalaluddin Mangbarani** (Khwarizm Shah) who was fleeing Chengiz Khan. • Chengiz Khan was chasing Mangbarani — had Delhi sheltered him, Mongols would have invaded India. • This **diplomatic masterstroke** saved the young Delhi Sultanate from Mongol destruction (c.1221). • 💡 Razia = too young in 1221; Balban = came to power in 1266; Alauddin = repelled Mongols but much later.

Correct Answer: B. Royal correspondence

• **Diwan-i-Insha** = Department of Royal Correspondence, headed by **Dabir-i-Mumalik**. • Drafted **royal orders (farmans)** and handled official communication with governors and local officials. • One of the four key departments: Diwan-i-Wizarat (Finance), Diwan-i-Arz (Military), Diwan-i-Risalat (Religious). • 💡 Military = Diwan-i-Arz; Religious = Diwan-i-Risalat; Intelligence = Barid-i-Mumalik — not correspondence.

Correct Answer: B. Ibn Battuta

• **Ibn Battuta** wrote **'Kitab-ul-Rahla' (Rihla)** = Book of Journeys — documents 14th-century India. • Visited during **Muhammad bin Tughlaq's** reign — served as Qazi and was sent to China as envoy. • Provides rare **social, cultural, and political** details about Sultanate period not found elsewhere. • 💡 Al-Biruni = Kitab-ul-Hind (Mahmud Ghazni era); Barani = Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi; Khusrau = Tughlaq Nama — not Rihla.

Correct Answer: B. Jaunpur

• **Jaunpur** = **'Shiraz-e-Hind'** (Shiraz of India) — a great center of medieval Islamic learning. • Flourished under the **Sharqi dynasty (1394–1479)** — scholars, poets, and musicians thrived there. • Founded by **Firoz Shah Tughlaq** and named after his cousin **Jauna Khan** (Muhammad bin Tughlaq). • 💡 Lahore = capital of Ghaznavids; Delhi = Sultanate capital; Agra = Lodi and Mughal capital — not Shiraz-e-Hind.

Correct Answer: B. Alauddin Khilji

• **Siri Fort** = built by **Alauddin Khilji** — the **second city of Delhi** after the first (Lal Kot/Qila Rai Pithora). • Built specifically as defense against **Mongol invasions** — Mongols invaded multiple times during his reign. • **Hauz Khas** (Hauz-i-Alai) reservoir was built nearby to supply water to Siri's population. • 💡 Tughlaqabad = 3rd Delhi by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq; Firoz's Firozabad = 5th; Iltutmish expanded 1st Delhi city.

Correct Answer: B. Alauddin Khilji

• **Alauddin Khilji** = first Sultan to maintain a large **permanent standing army** paid in cash (not Iqta). • Army of **4–5 lakh soldiers** — necessary for Deccan conquests and repelling Mongol invasions. • Used **Hilyah (soldier register) and Dagh (horse branding)** to maintain army quality and prevent fraud. • 💡 Muhammad Tughlaq = also had large army; Firoz = reduced army; Iltutmish = relied on Iqta system.

Correct Answer: B. Land/Agriculture

• **Kharaj** = land/agricultural tax in the Delhi Sultanate — main source of state revenue. • Raised to **50% of produce** by **Alauddin Khilji** — earlier it was 1/5th (20%) of yield. • In addition: **Charai** (grazing tax on cattle) and **Ghari** (house tax) were also imposed by Alauddin. • 💡 Jizya = tax on non-Muslims; Khams = 1/5 of war booty given to state; Zakat = Muslim charity — not agricultural.

Correct Answer: B. Firoz Shah Tughlaq

• **Firoz Shah Tughlaq** transported two **Ashokan pillars** from **Topra (Haryana)** and **Meerut (UP)** to Delhi. • Could not read the inscriptions — Brahmi was deciphered only in 1837 by **James Prinsep**. • Erected them in **Firozabad (Feroz Shah Kotla)** — showed his interest in ancient monuments. • 💡 Akbar = did not move pillars; Muhammad Tughlaq = moved capital, not pillars; Alauddin = no such act.