Que. Do you consider Sultan Iltutmish to be the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate? Discuss.
क्या आप सुल्तान इल्तुतमिश को दिल्ली सल्तनत का वास्तविक संस्थापक मानते हैं? विवेचना कीजिए।
Structure of the Answer
(i) Introduction: Begin by emphasizing how Iltutmish’s consolidation of power and administrative foundations made him the real founder of the Sultanate.
(ii) Main Body: Analyze his territorial consolidation, administrative reforms, and diplomatic strategies that institutionalized the Delhi Sultanate, ensuring its long-term success.
(iii) Conclusion: Conclude by evaluating Iltutmish’s lasting impact on the Delhi Sultanate, solidifying his legacy as its real founder.
Introduction
Sultan Iltutmish is widely regarded as the true founder of the Delhi Sultanate because of his success in consolidating and institutionalizing the Sultanate, ensuring its political and administrative stability.
Territorial Consolidation and Defense
(i) Reclaiming Lost Territories: Iltutmish restored authority over key regions like Bengal, Bihar, and Sindh, consolidating control over the expansive northern territories.
(ii) Defense Against Mongols: His military strategy successfully repelled Mongol invasions, saving the Sultanate from external threats and securing northern India’s borders.
(iii) Victory over Rajputs: Iltutmish’s defeat of powerful Rajput rulers strengthened the Delhi Sultanate’s hold over strategic forts such as Ranthambore and Gwalior.
(iv) Unity of the Empire: He centralized control over rebellious governors, preventing fragmentation, which helped maintain a unified and centralized state.
(v) Expansion into Central India: His campaigns further south helped establish the Sultanate’s influence into Malwa and Gujarat, expanding its geopolitical reach.
Administrative and Institutional Reforms
(i) Establishment of the Iqta System: Iltutmish’s introduction of the Iqta system for land revenue ensured effective administration and provided a regular revenue source for the state.
(ii) Standardization of Currency: He introduced the silver tanka and copper jital, revolutionizing the monetary system and providing economic stability through standardized currency.
(iii) Building a Strong Army: Iltutmish reduced reliance on feudal forces by organizing a centralized standing army directly loyal to the Sultan, enhancing state power.
(iv) Creation of the Chihalgani (Group of Forty): He established a loyal nobility of forty powerful Turkish nobles, ensuring loyalty and efficient administration across the empire.
(v) Judicial and Bureaucratic Expansion: He laid the groundwork for an efficient bureaucratic and judicial system, which ensured uniform governance across the Sultanate.
Diplomatic Success and External Legitimacy
(i) Caliph’s Investiture: Iltutmish was the first Delhi Sultan to receive an official investiture from the Abbasid Caliph, gaining international recognition as a legitimate ruler.
(ii) Strategic Alliances with Local Rulers: He managed to forge alliances with Rajput rulers, ensuring regional stability and reducing the need for constant military engagement.
(iii) Recognition as Sovereign Authority: By securing the Sultanate’s place within the broader Islamic world, Iltutmish legitimized Delhi as a center of power in India.
(iv) Management of Mongol Threat: Through diplomacy and military strategy, he mitigated the looming Mongol threat, securing peace along the northwest frontier.
(v) Establishment of Relations with Neighbouring Kingdoms: He maintained cordial ties with neighbouring states, balancing diplomacy and warfare to ensure the Sultanate’s supremacy in North India.
Cultural Patronage and Legacy
(i) Completion of Qutb Minar: Iltutmish completed the iconic Qutb Minar, symbolizing the establishment of the Sultanate’s dominance and contribution to Islamic architecture in India.
(ii) Promotion of Islamic Culture and Learning: Under Iltutmish, Delhi became a center for Islamic scholarship, attracting theologians, poets, and scholars from across Central Asia.
(iii) Establishment of Mosques and Madrasas: He sponsored the construction of mosques and madrasas, which became institutions of Islamic learning and religious consolidation.
(iv) Tolerance Toward Non-Muslim Communities: Iltutmish adopted a relatively tolerant stance towards Hindu communities, allowing their coexistence within the empire’s boundaries.
(v) Lasting Political Legacy: By institutionalizing governance and administration, Iltutmish’s reign provided the template for successive dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate.
Conclusion
Iltutmish’s contributions to territorial consolidation, administrative reforms, and diplomatic success firmly establish him as the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate, laying the foundation for the empire’s stability and growth in the centuries that followed.
