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| Alai Darwaza, Delhi, en.wikipedia.org |
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| Alauddin Khilji, Delhi Sultanate. .google.com |
Alauddin Khilji (of the Khalji dynasty) (r. 1296–1316) was the second and the most powerful ruler of the Khalji dynasty that ruled the Delhi Sultanate in the Indian subcontinent. He was a good warrior and war strategist.
Born as Ali Gurshasp, Alauddin was a nephew and a son-in-law of his predecessor Jalaluddin. When Jalaluddin became the Sultan of Delhi after deposing the Mamluks, Alauddin was given the position of Amir-i-Tuzuk (equivalent to master of ceremonies). Alauddin obtained the governorship of Kara in 1291 after suppressing a revolt against Jalaluddin, and the governorship of Awadh in 1296 after a profitable raid on Bhilsa. His greed led him to kill Jalaluddin, and
subjugate his sons in Multan. Between 1297 and 1306, he successfully
tackled the Mongol invasions from the north.
In the winter of 1302–1303, Alauddin's army marched to the Kakatiya capital Warangal to ransack it. While Alauddin' himself led another army to conquer Chittor, the capital of the Guhila kingdom ruled by Ratnasimha. The siege was a long one - roughly 8 months and at last Alauddin captured Chittor. According to his courtier Amir Khosrow, he ordered a massacre of 30,000 local Hindus after this conquest. Some later legends mention that Alauddin invaded Chittor to with a view to capturin Ratna Simha's beautiful queen Padmini. Many historians reject this story as it does not have any valid records. It is more of a conjecture than of a true story.
In the winter of 1302–1303, Alauddin's army marched to the Kakatiya capital Warangal to ransack it. While Alauddin' himself led another army to conquer Chittor, the capital of the Guhila kingdom ruled by Ratnasimha. The siege was a long one - roughly 8 months and at last Alauddin captured Chittor. According to his courtier Amir Khosrow, he ordered a massacre of 30,000 local Hindus after this conquest. Some later legends mention that Alauddin invaded Chittor to with a view to capturin Ratna Simha's beautiful queen Padmini. Many historians reject this story as it does not have any valid records. It is more of a conjecture than of a true story.
His army's successful raid under Malik Kaufer on Devagiri in 1308, that was ruled by king Ramachandra, further encouraged Alauddin to plan a large scale invasion of Devagiri. In late 1309, he sent Malik Kafur to loot the Kakatiya capital Warangal. and in January 1310, the army plundered the towns and villages on his way to Warangal. In the wake of a long siege of Warangal, the Kakatiya king Prataparudra agreed to become a tributary of Alauddin, and surrendered a large amount of wealth (apparently including the Koh-i-Noor diamond) to the invaders.
Malik Kafur, upon knowing the affluence the Hoysala and Pandya kingdoms in southern India, he took yet another expedition to go on a plundering spree. With consent from the Sultan, Kafur started his march from Delhi in November 1310. At this time, in the Pandya kingdom a war of succession was on between the two brothers Veera Pandya and Sundara Pandya. The Hoysala king Ballala wanted to take advantage of this revelry in the Pandya royal family. When Kafur's army marched into his place capital Dwarasamudra after a brief war king Ballala, to save his head, negotiated a truce, agreeing to surrender
Malik Kafur, upon knowing the affluence the Hoysala and Pandya kingdoms in southern India, he took yet another expedition to go on a plundering spree. With consent from the Sultan, Kafur started his march from Delhi in November 1310. At this time, in the Pandya kingdom a war of succession was on between the two brothers Veera Pandya and Sundara Pandya. The Hoysala king Ballala wanted to take advantage of this revelry in the Pandya royal family. When Kafur's army marched into his place capital Dwarasamudra after a brief war king Ballala, to save his head, negotiated a truce, agreeing to surrender
his wealth and become a tributary of Alauddin.
From Dwarasamudra, Malik Kaur's raid to the Pandya kingdom was quite profitable. Both Vira Pandya and Sundara Pandya fled their capital Madurai and the Pandy rulers never became a tributary. The Delhi army's loot was a large one - lots of treasures, elephants and horses. The Delhi chronicler Ziauddin Barani described this seizure of wealth from Dwarasamudra and the Pandya kingdom as the greatest one since the Muslim capture of Delhi.
From Dwarasamudra, Malik Kaur's raid to the Pandya kingdom was quite profitable. Both Vira Pandya and Sundara Pandya fled their capital Madurai and the Pandy rulers never became a tributary. The Delhi army's loot was a large one - lots of treasures, elephants and horses. The Delhi chronicler Ziauddin Barani described this seizure of wealth from Dwarasamudra and the Pandya kingdom as the greatest one since the Muslim capture of Delhi.
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| Alai Darwaza,Delhi lib.washington.edu |
Above image Alai Darwaza with base of Qutub Minar in background, Qutb Complex, Mehrauli, Delhi, India, ca. 13th century A.D.(Property of UW Library collections,Seattle).........
Despite being a religious fanatic, Khaliji, was, no doubt, a good administrator and for better governance, he introduced revenue reforms, market reforms (control on prices) and social reforms such as a ban on alcohol drinking, smoking of cannabis, gambling, prostitution, etc. Adultery was a taboo during his rule. Alauddin introduced serious punishments: in the case of male adulterer he will be castrated; as for female adulterer, she will be stoned to death. He had a check on the nobility to prevent rebellions against him. His revenue reforms were popular. Alauddin Khilji's taxation system has survived into the nineteenth or even the twentieth century. From now on, the land tax (kharaj or mal) became the principal form in which the peasant's surplus was expropriated by the ruling class.
— The Cambridge Economic History of India: c.1200-c.1750,
Despite being a religious fanatic, Khaliji, was, no doubt, a good administrator and for better governance, he introduced revenue reforms, market reforms (control on prices) and social reforms such as a ban on alcohol drinking, smoking of cannabis, gambling, prostitution, etc. Adultery was a taboo during his rule. Alauddin introduced serious punishments: in the case of male adulterer he will be castrated; as for female adulterer, she will be stoned to death. He had a check on the nobility to prevent rebellions against him. His revenue reforms were popular. Alauddin Khilji's taxation system has survived into the nineteenth or even the twentieth century. From now on, the land tax (kharaj or mal) became the principal form in which the peasant's surplus was expropriated by the ruling class.
— The Cambridge Economic History of India: c.1200-c.1750,
Alauddin, being a Sunni Muslim and fanatic, is reported to have destroyed several Hindu temples during their military campaigns. These temples included the ones at Bhilsa (1292), Devagiri (1295), Vijapur (1298–1310), Somnath (1299), Jhain (1301), Chidambaram (1311) and Madurai (1311). Yet another temple affected in Tamil Nadu was Srirangam in 1311 when Malik Kaufer raided this temple town. The worst one took place on 8 March 1323 under Ulagh Khan during the Panguni festival. The ''Kozhil olugu'', book on history and temple administration of Srirangam narrates this invasion as ''Panniraayiravar mudi thiruthiya mettu kalagam'' meaning story of 12000 people (Vaishnavites) beheaded by the Muslim invader. (https://nothingtopost.wordpress.com/2018/04/02/ulugh-khans-invasion-of-srirangam)........
Alauddin commissioned the Alai Darwaza, that was completed in 1311 to serve as the southern gateway leading to the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque built by Qutb al-Din Aibak. He also began the construction of the Alai Minar, which was intended to be twice the size of the Qutb Minar, but the project was abandoned, presumably due to his death. It was a part of his plan to extend the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque on four sides. Though he planned to build four gates, only the Alai Darwaza could be completed. The gate is made up of a single hall whose interior part measures 34.5 feet (10.5 m) and exterior part measures 56.5 feet (17.2 m). It is 60 feet (18 m) tall and the walls are 11 feet (3.4 m) thick.
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| Stone window, Alai Darwaza, Delhi, en.wikipedia.org |
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| Left:Qutb minar,the unfinished Alai Minar, Delhi en.wikipedia.org |
The structure shows bold contrasting colors of masonry, with red sandstone
and white marble and this introduction later became a common feature of
Indo-Islamic architecture, substituting for the poly chrome tiles used in
Persia and Central Asia. yet another feature that is commonly found in the Hindu temples is the stone screens - jalli. This dome standing up to a height of 47 feet, is believed to the first one in India. The red sand stones and the marble stones inlaid on the exterior walls make this monument impressive. The other inspiring features are the extensive Arabic calligraphy on the walls of the
Darwaza, horseshoe shaped arches ( for the first time such arches
were used in India), pre-Turkish carvings and
patterns on the facades, lattice marble windows and surface decorations - inter weaved floral tendrils repeated with a symmetry
on three doorways
Alauddin died on the night of 4 January 1316. Barani claims that according to "some people", Kafur killed him and brought his body from the Siri Place and had it buried in Alauddin's mausoleum that had already been built by the ruler.)
Alauddin died on the night of 4 January 1316. Barani claims that according to "some people", Kafur killed him and brought his body from the Siri Place and had it buried in Alauddin's mausoleum that had already been built by the ruler.)
_at_Balligavi.jfif)
, Delhi: First Tall Dome Built In India - a UNESCO world Heritage Site){kind=link}