Ghiyasuddin Tughluq
Soon after his accession, Ghiyasuddin Tughluq set himself to the task of restoring administrative order by removing the abuses of the preceding regime. Ghiyasuddin ordered a strict enquiry to be made into all claims and jagirs. Unlawful grants were confiscated to the state. The little unpopularity that he incurred by this measure was soon removed by his wise liberality and beneficent measures for the welfare of his subjects. He appointed upright governors in the provinces. Agriculture, the main industry of the people in this land, received special encouragement. Canals were excavated to irrigate the fields, gardens were planted and forts were built to provide shelter.
Reforms were introduced in other branches of administration, like justice and police, so that order and security prevailed in the country. The postal system of the country was reorganised to facilitate communi-cations and the military department was made efficient and orderly.
But the days of Ghiyasudin were numbered. On returning from Bengal expedition he died in February-March, 1325, from the collapse of a wooden structure which his son Jaura had built at Afghanpur, at a distance of five or six miles from Tughluqabad, the fortress-city founded by Ghiyasuddin near Delhi. He was buried in the tomb which he had built for himself at Tughluqabad.
Muhammad Bin Tughluq
Prince Januna declared himself as the Sultan three days after his father’s death under the title of Muhammad bin Tughluq. Forty days later he proceeded to Delhi and ascended the throne without any opposition in the old palace of the Sultans, amidst a profuse display of pageantry. Like Alauddin, he lavishly distributed gold and silver coins among the populace and titles among the nobles.
Muhammad bin Tughluq is indeed an extraordinary personality, and to determine his place in history is a difficult task. There is no doubt that he was one of the most learned and accomplished scholars of his time. Endowed with a keen intellect, a wonderful memory and a brilliant capacity of assimilating knowledge, he was proficient in different branches of learning. A perfect master of composition and style, he was a brilliant calligraphist. The science of medicine was not unknown to him. An experienced general, he won many victories and lost few campaigns.
In his private life the Sultan was free from the prevailing vices of the age, and his habits were simple. Possessed of remarkable humility and generosity, he was lavish in distributing gifts and presents.
But the Sultan lacked practical judgment and common sense. This was due to certain grave defects in his character. Hasty and hot-tempered, he must have his own way and would brook no opposition. The growing sense of the failure of his policy made him charge the people with perversity and enhanced his severity. His daring innovations were not welcome, as these entailed great hardships. He was, in short, a poor judge of human nature, who failed to realise that administrative reforms, however beneficial these may be, cannot be easily imposed on the people against their will.
Shifting of Capital
Muhammad bin Tughluq’s decision to transfer the capital in 1327 from Delhi to Devagiri, renamed by him Daulatabad, was another ill-calculated step, which ultimately caused immense suffering to the people.
But when the people of Delhi, out of sentiment, demurred at leaving their own homes which were associated with memories of the past, the Sultan’s harsh temper got the better of his good sense, and he ordered all the people of Delhi to proceed enmass to Daulatabad with their belongings.
The Sultan, having at last recognised the folly and inequity of his policy, reshifted the court to Delhi and ordered a return march of the people. But very few survived to return, and Delhi had lost its former prosperity and grandeur, which could not be restored until long after.
Token currency
But the most daring of his experiments was the issue of a token currency in copper coins between A.D. 1329 and 1330. He also issued a decree proclaiming that in all transactions copper tokens should pass as legal tender like gold and silver coins.
But the cumulative effect of all the fantastic projects of Muhammad bin Tughluq proved disastrous for him. They caused immense miseries to the people of his kingdom, who were afflicted at the same time by the ravages of famine, and finally exhausted their patience. Popular discontent found expression in open revolts against the Sultan’s authority.
When the Sultan proceeded to quell a disturbance in one part, another broke out in a different quarter. While thus occupied in chasing the rebels in Sind, he was attacked with fever and died on 20th March, A.D. 1351.
Firoz Shah
Firoz was Muhammad’s first cousin the son of Ghiyasuddin’s younger brother Rajab. He was trained in the art of government by Ghiyasuddin Tughluq and Muhammad bin Tughluq. The sudden death of Muhammad bin Tughluq pressed the nobles urged Firoz to ascend the throne and save the dispirited army from destruction. Firoz after some hesitation agreed to accept the crown.
The task before Firoz was indeed a difficult one. He was weak, vacillating and incapable of sustained efforts, and lacked the essential qualities of good generalship. He made no serious attempts to recover the lost provinces of the Empire.
But Firoz has a record of some benevolent measures to his credit, and his long reign of about thirty-seven years was a period of comparative prosperity and happiness for the people.
The construction of a system of irrigation canals contributed greatly towards the improvement of agriculture.
Firoz’s building and gardening activities indirectly benefited the people. He had a great passion for building new cities and renaming old ones.
Invasion of Taimur
Amir Taimur, one of the most terrible military leaders known to history, invaded India in 1398.
Taimur entered the city of Delhi, which was given up to pillage and rapine for several days. Many of the inhabitants of this unfortunate city were either brutally massacred by the ferocious Turk soldiers or made captives.
Taimur had no desire to stay in India. After halting at Delhi for fifteen days, he returned.
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