SSC History Delhi Dynasty PPT Slides Download (LEC #16)

We will share SSC History Delhi Dynasty PPT Slides Download (LEC #16) so, The Delhi Sultanate (1206–1526 AD) – spanning 320 years and five dynasties – is the single largest chapter in SSC Medieval Indian History. It is also one of the highest-yielding chapters across all SSC exams: SSC CGL, SSC CHSL, SSC MTS, SSC CPO, and Railways NTPC papers consistently draw 4–8 questions from this chapter every exam cycle.

This article is built around the SSC History Delhi Dynasty PPT Slides – Lecture #16 – the LARGEST PPT in the entire Complete Foundation Batch series, with an extraordinary 293 slides and 90 MB (Serial Number #41) at slideshareppt.net. The sheer size of this PPT reflects how important and exam-dense this chapter is.

From Qutbuddin Aibak’s founding moment in 1206 AD to the thunderclap of the First Battle of Panipat in 1526 AD – every sultan, every reform, every monument, every battle, and every cultural contribution of the Delhi Sultanate is covered in this guide.

About the PPT Slides

Detail	Information
Series Name	Complete Foundation Batch for All SSC and Other Exams (PPT Series)
Subject	Medieval Indian History – Delhi Dynasty (दिल्ली सल्तनत / दिल्ली राजवंश)
Lecture Number	Lecture #16
Total PPT Slides	293 PPT Slides – LARGEST in the entire series
File Size	90 MB
Serial Number	#41
Period Covered	1206 AD (Mamluk dynasty founding) to 1526 AD (First Battle of Panipat)
Best For	SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, CPO, GD, Railways NTPC, UPSC Prelims, State PSCs
Source Website	slideshareppt.net

SSC History Delhi Dynasty PPT Slides Download (LEC #16)

Note: If you wish to download the entire SSC series (PPT slides), simply visit this redirect page. –REDIRECT PAGE

Complete Timeline Table: Delhi Sultanate – All Key Dates

This is the most important timeline in medieval Indian history for SSC purposes. Memorise every sultan, date, and key event – this single table can answer 8–10 SSC questions.

Year (AD)	Event / Sultan	Dynasty	Key SSC Fact
1206	Qutbuddin Aibak becomes first Sultan of Delhi – Mamluk (Slave) dynasty founded	Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty	Muhammad Ghori’s general; built Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and Qutub Minar (started); died in polo accident 1210
1210	Iltutmish succeeds Aibak (son-in-law)	Mamluk Dynasty	Completed Qutub Minar; introduced silver tanka and copper jital coins; received investiture from Caliph of Baghdad 1229; nominated Razia as successor
1229	Caliph of Baghdad grants recognition to Iltutmish	Mamluk Dynasty	First Delhi Sultan to receive formal recognition from the Abbasid Caliph; legitimised the Sultanate
1236–1240	Razia Sultan – only woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate	Mamluk Dynasty	Nominated by her father Iltutmish; rode elephants and held court without purdah; deposed and killed 1240; Altunia was her husband
1266–1287	Balban – greatest Mamluk ruler (after Iltutmish)	Mamluk Dynasty	Established absolute monarchy; ‘blood and iron’ policy; introduced Persian court ceremonies (Sijda – prostration; Paibos – kissing feet); Diwan-i-Arz (military dept); secret spy network; destroyed the Forty – Chalisa
1290	Jalal-ud-din Khilji founds Khilji dynasty	Khilji Dynasty	70-year-old founder; too lenient; assassinated by his nephew Alauddin Khilji in 1296
1296–1316	Alauddin Khilji – greatest Khilji and most powerful Delhi Sultan	Khilji Dynasty	Conquered Gujarat (1297), Rajasthan (Ranthambore 1301, Chittor 1303), Malwa (1305), Devagiri (1296, 1307), Warangal (1309), Madurai (1311); Market reforms; Revenue reforms; Revenue 50% of produce; Malik Kafur as general
1297	Alauddin Khilji annexes Gujarat; acquires Malik Kafur	Khilji Dynasty	Malik Kafur (also called Hazar Dinari) was acquired as a slave in Gujarat and became Alauddin’s most trusted general for South India campaigns
1303	Alauddin Khilji’s siege of Chittor	Khilji Dynasty	Rani Padmini (Padmavati) legend associated with this siege; Chittor taken after long siege; Rajput Jauhar (mass self-immolation) tradition
1305	Alauddin conquers Malwa	Khilji Dynasty	Completes conquest of all major North Indian Rajput kingdoms
1306–1311	Malik Kafur’s South India campaigns	Khilji Dynasty	Attacked Devagiri, Warangal (Kakatiya), Dwarasamudra (Hoysala), and Madurai (Pandya); brought enormous wealth to Delhi; destroyed many South Indian temples
1316	Death of Alauddin Khilji; Malik Kafur becomes regent briefly	Khilji Dynasty	Alauddin died of illness; Malik Kafur seized control but was killed within weeks; Khilji dynasty rapidly declined
1320	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq overthrows last Khilji; Tughlaq dynasty begins	Tughlaq Dynasty	First Tughlaq sultan; built Tughlaqabad Fort (Delhi); died in mysterious circumstances 1325
1325–1351	Muhammad Bin Tughlaq – most controversial Delhi Sultan	Tughlaq Dynasty	Transfer of capital Daulatabad; token currency experiment; Khorasan expedition (planned but not executed); raised taxes in Doab; many rebellions; Ibn Battuta visited; ‘wisest fool’
1329	Muhammad Bin Tughlaq introduces token currency	Tughlaq Dynasty	Copper/brass coins with the face value of silver; massive forgery; economic disaster; had to be withdrawn
~1330	Muhammad Bin Tughlaq transfers capital from Delhi to Daulatabad	Tughlaq Dynasty	Ordered entire Delhi population to move to Daulatabad (Maharashtra); later reversed; great human suffering
1333	Ibn Battuta arrives in India	Tughlaq Dynasty	Moroccan traveller; appointed as Qazi (judge) of Delhi by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq; wrote Rihla (his travel memoir)
1336	Vijayanagara Empire founded (reaction to Tughlaq expansion)	(South India)	Harihara I and Bukka I founded Vijayanagara as Hindu resistance to Tughlaq expansion in the Deccan
1347	Bahmani Sultanate established – Deccan breakaway	(Deccan)	Zafar Khan (Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah) – rebels against Muhammad Bin Tughlaq; establishes Bahmani Sultanate
1351–1388	Firoz Shah Tughlaq – the welfare sultan	Tughlaq Dynasty	Abolished torture and mutilation; built canals, hospitals, madrasas; founded cities (Firozabad, Fatehabad, Jaunpur, Hissar, Firozpur); collected Jizya from Brahmins; founded Firoz Shah Kotla (Delhi)
1388–1414	Rapid decline – multiple weak Tughlaq rulers	Tughlaq Dynasty	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq II, Abu Bakr, Muhammad Shah, Mahmud Shah – all weak
1398	Timur (Tamerlane) invades and sacks Delhi	External invasion	Timur’s army killed tens of thousands; Delhi completely looted; Sultanate never recovered fully; Mahmud Shah Tughlaq fled
1414	Khizr Khan founds Sayyid dynasty	Sayyid Dynasty	Governor of Punjab; claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad; established Sayyid dynasty after Tughlaq collapse
1414–1451	Sayyid Dynasty – four weak rulers	Sayyid Dynasty	Khizr Khan, Mubarak Shah, Muhammad Shah, Alam Shah; all weak; controlled little more than Delhi
1451	Bahlul Lodi overthrows last Sayyid; founds Lodi dynasty	Lodi Dynasty	First Afghan (Pashtun) dynasty of Delhi Sultanate; Bahlul Lodi treated nobles as equals unlike previous sultans
1489–1517	Sikandar Lodi – greatest Lodi sultan	Lodi Dynasty	Founded Agra city (1504); shifted capital from Delhi to Agra; patron of music and literature; strict in religion – ordered temple destruction; Amir Khusrau’s Bhanumati published under his name
1504	Sikandar Lodi founds the city of Agra	Lodi Dynasty	Agra founded in 1504 AD by Sikandar Lodi; shifted capital from Delhi to Agra – very important SSC fact
1517–1526	Ibrahim Lodi – last Delhi Sultan	Lodi Dynasty	Autocratic; alienated Afghan nobles; Daulat Khan Lodi (governor of Punjab) invited Babur to invade
1526	First Battle of Panipat – Babur defeats Ibrahim Lodi	End of Delhi Sultanate	21 April 1526; Babur used artillery (gun powder) for first time in India; Ibrahim Lodi killed; Delhi Sultanate ends; Mughal Empire begins

Overview: The Five Dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate

Dynasty	Period	No. of Rulers	Founder	Last Ruler	Capital	Key Rulers
Mamluk (Slave)	1206–1290	9 sultans	Qutbuddin Aibak	Muiz-ud-din Qaiqabad	Delhi	Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, Razia Sultan, Balban
Khilji	1290–1320	3 sultans	Jalal-ud-din Khilji	Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah	Delhi	Alauddin Khilji
Tughlaq	1320–1414	8 sultans	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq	Mahmud Shah Tughlaq	Delhi	Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, Firoz Shah Tughlaq
Sayyid	1414–1451	4 sultans	Khizr Khan	Alam Shah	Delhi	Mubarak Shah (somewhat notable)
Lodi	1451–1526	3 sultans	Bahlul Lodi	Ibrahim Lodi	Delhi → Agra	Sikandar Lodi, Ibrahim Lodi

Part I: Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty (1206–1290 AD)

The Mamluk dynasty – also called the Slave dynasty because its first three rulers (Qutbuddin Aibak, Iltutmish, and Balban) were former military slaves (Mamluk) – was the founding dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate. ‘Mamluk’ is the Arabic word for ‘owned’ or ‘slave’ – these were military slaves of Turkish origin who rose through military ability to hold the highest positions.

Qutbuddin Aibak (1206–1210 AD) – Founder of the Delhi Sultanate

Aspect	Detail
Background	Turkish slave purchased by Muhammad Ghori; rose to become his most trusted Indian general and viceroy
Dynasty	Founded the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty; first Sultan of Delhi
Year of Sultanate	1206 AD – after Muhammad Ghori’s assassination
Capital	Lahore (not Delhi initially; Delhi was used but Lahore was more administrative centre under Aibak)
Title	Called ‘Lakh Baksh’ (giver of lakhs) for his extreme generosity in giving gifts; also called ‘Hatem of Hindustan’
Architecture Begun	Started construction of: Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (Delhi) – first mosque built in India; Qutub Minar (foundation and first storey); Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra (mosque at Ajmer)
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque	Meaning ‘Might of Islam’; built using material from demolished Hindu and Jain temples; first mosque in India; at the Qutub Minar complex in Mehrauli, Delhi
Death	Died in 1210 AD in a polo (chaugan) accident at Lahore – fell from his horse while playing polo
Succession	Succeeded by his son-in-law Iltutmish (Shamsuddin Iltutmish)
SSC Relevance	‘Who founded the Delhi Sultanate?’ = Qutbuddin Aibak (1206 AD). ‘What was his title?’ = Lakh Baksh. ‘How did he die?’ = polo accident. ‘What did he build?’ = Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque + started Qutub Minar

Iltutmish (1210–1236 AD) – The Real Organiser of the Sultanate

Aspect	Detail
Background	Son-in-law of Qutbuddin Aibak; Turkish slave who rose to become Sultan
Achievement	The true organiser and consolidator of the Delhi Sultanate; transformed it from a loose military occupation into a functioning empire
Architecture	Completed the Qutub Minar to its full height (5 storeys); added the Iltutmish Tomb within the Qutub complex; added the Hauz-i-Shamsi (reservoir)
Coins	Introduced the standard silver coin called the Tanka (first standardised silver coin of the Sultanate) and the copper coin Jital – the basis of the Delhi Sultanate monetary system
Caliph Recognition	In 1229 AD, received investiture (manshur) from the Abbasid Caliph of Baghdad – the first Delhi Sultan to receive formal Caliphal recognition; this gave the Sultanate legitimacy in the Islamic world
Iqta System	Developed and formalised the Iqta system – the assignment of revenue rights over territories to military officers and nobles in lieu of cash salaries
The Forty (Chalisa)	Created and relied on a group of 40 powerful Turkish noble-slaves called the Chalisa (The Forty); they later became too powerful and were destroyed by Balban
Nominated Razia	Iltutmish broke with tradition by nominating his daughter Razia as his successor – a remarkable decision
Death	Died 1236 AD
SSC Relevance	‘Who completed the Qutub Minar?’ = Iltutmish. ‘Who introduced the Tanka coin?’ = Iltutmish. ‘First Sultan recognised by Caliph?’ = Iltutmish (1229 AD). ‘Who nominated Razia?’ = Iltutmish

Razia Sultan (1236–1240 AD) – The Only Woman Sultan of Delhi

Aspect	Detail
Background	Daughter of Iltutmish; nominated by him as successor – breaking with the tradition of male succession
Significance	The only woman to sit on the throne of the Delhi Sultanate; one of the very few women rulers in medieval Indian history
Distinctive Actions	Appeared in public without purdah (veil); held open court; rode elephants in public; wore a plain turban and tunic instead of women’s dress – these were seen as violations of Islamic convention by the Turkish nobles
Political Problem	Turkish nobles (especially the Chalisa group) resented being ruled by a woman; they repeatedly rebelled
Altunia Connection	Married Altunia (governor of Bhatinda) in an attempt to stabilise her position; he had initially been one of the rebels against her
Death	1240 AD – deposed by Turkish nobles; she and Altunia were killed
Brother Successors	After Razia, her brothers Bahram Shah and Masud Shah ruled briefly but were also dominated by the Turkish nobles
SSC Relevance	‘Only woman ruler of Delhi Sultanate’ = Razia Sultan. ‘Who nominated her?’ = Iltutmish. ‘Who was her husband?’ = Altunia. All three facts are individually tested

Balban (1266–1287 AD) – The Iron Sultan

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Ghiyasuddin Balban; originally a Turkish slave named Bahauddin
Background	One of the original Forty nobles (Chalisa) under Iltutmish; rose to become the most powerful noble before becoming Sultan himself in 1266
Policy Philosophy	‘Blood and Iron’ – absolute monarchy enforced through uncompromising severity; he believed the Sultan must project an image of divine-like power and majesty
Theory of Kingship	Believed the Sultan was the shadow of God (Zill-i-Ilahi) on earth; monarchy was sacred and absolute; no noble should feel equal to or able to challenge the Sultan
Destroyed the Forty	Balban systematically eliminated the Chalisa (the forty powerful Turkish nobles) who had dominated the Sultanate since Iltutmish’s time; restored royal authority
Persian Court Ceremonies	Introduced two Persian court practices: Sijda (prostration – bowing to touch forehead to the ground before the Sultan) and Paibos (kissing the Sultan’s feet); these were highly controversial as some Muslim scholars considered prostration before any human being un-Islamic
Diwan-i-Arz	Reorganised the military through the Diwan-i-Arz (Department of Military Affairs); took personal control of the army
Spy Network	Created an elaborate spy network (barids) in every province to report directly to him – nothing in the empire escaped his notice
Treatment of Nobles	Gave no concessions to nobles; punished disobedience with extreme severity; maintained ceremonial distance – never laughed or joked in public
Mongol Threat	Successfully defended the Sultanate against repeated Mongol invasions from the northwest – this was his greatest political and military challenge
Frontier Policy	Strengthened the northwest frontier against the Mongols; appointed his sons as governors of frontier provinces
Death	1287 AD; the Delhi Sultanate’s power weakened significantly after his death without a strong successor
SSC Relevance	Balban = Blood and Iron = destroyed the Forty (Chalisa) = Sijda and Paibos = Zill-i-Ilahi = Diwan-i-Arz. All five concepts are tested

Qutub Minar Complex – Complete Reference

Aspect	Detail
Location	Mehrauli, South Delhi
UNESCO Status	UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993
Qutub Minar	Started by Qutbuddin Aibak (~1193 AD – only the first storey); completed by Iltutmish (added 3 more storeys); damaged by lightning; repaired by Firoz Shah Tughlaq (added two final storeys); total 5 storeys, 72.5 metres tall; named after the Sufi saint Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki of Delhi
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque	Meaning ‘Power of Islam’; first mosque built in India; built by Qutbuddin Aibak using materials from 27 demolished Hindu and Jain temples; the carvings on the pillars show the original Hindu/Jain origin
Iltutmish Tomb	Tomb of Sultan Iltutmish within the complex; first Islamic tomb built in India
Iron Pillar	The ancient Iron Pillar (Gupta period, ~4th–5th century AD) stands in the courtyard of Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque; famous for being rust-free for 1,600+ years
Alai Minar	Alauddin Khilji started construction of Alai Minar – intended to be twice the height of Qutub Minar; never completed; only the base (which is as wide as the entire Qutub Minar) was built when he died
Alai Darwaza	Built by Alauddin Khilji (1311 AD) – the southern gateway to the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque; one of the finest examples of early Indo-Islamic architecture; first building in India to use true arch and true dome
SSC Relevance	Who started Qutub Minar? = Qutbuddin Aibak. Who completed it? = Iltutmish. Who repaired it? = Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Height? = 72.5 metres. UNESCO? = 1993. Alai Darwaza = Alauddin Khilji = first true arch and dome in India

Part II: Khilji Dynasty (1290–1320 AD)

The Khilji dynasty lasted only 30 years but produced the most powerful ruler in Delhi Sultanate history – Alauddin Khilji. The Khilji rulers were of Afghan-Turkish origin, not pure Turkish like the Mamluks, which made them viewed with some suspicion by the Turkish nobility.

Jalal-ud-din Khilji (1290–1296 AD)

• Jalal-ud-din Khilji was approximately 70 years old when he founded the Khilji dynasty – the oldest founder of any Delhi dynasty.
• He was known for his lenient and forgiving nature – he pardoned rebels and criminals which earned him respect but also weakened his authority.
• His most controversial act of leniency: when Sidi Maula (a popular Sufi saint) was accused of conspiring against him, he had him executed – but then wept over the death.
• He launched a successful raid on Devagiri (Maharashtra) in 1294 AD, led by his nephew Alauddin Khilji – the enormous loot from this raid gave Alauddin the resources to plan his coup.
• He was assassinated in 1296 AD by his own nephew Alauddin Khilji, whom he had loved and promoted.

SSC Exam Tip: Jalal-ud-din Khilji = 70 years old = oldest founder = lenient = killed by nephew Alauddin. These facts appear in ‘identify the first Khilji Sultan’ type questions.

Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316 AD) – The Most Powerful Delhi Sultan

Alauddin Khilji is the greatest and most powerful ruler of the Delhi Sultanate – a military genius, an innovative economic reformer, and an iron-fisted autocrat who came closer than any other ruler to making the entire Indian subcontinent submit to a single political authority.

Aspect	Detail
How He Became Sultan	Murdered his uncle Jalal-ud-din Khilji at Kara (near Allahabad) in 1296; marched to Delhi with his army and declared himself Sultan
Theory of Kingship	Four ordinances to prevent future rebellion: (1) confiscate wealth of the nobility – no noble wealthy enough to rebel; (2) establish an efficient spy network; (3) prohibit social gatherings among nobles; (4) prohibit wine and narcotics
Mongol Invasions Defeated	Successfully defeated at least 5–6 major Mongol invasions of India – his greatest political achievement; Mongol leaders Kadar, Saldi, Kebek, and others were defeated; 1297 AD battle near Delhi; 1299 AD battle near Kili
Military Reforms	Maintained a standing army paid directly from the royal treasury (not through Iqta grants); introduced Dagh system (branding of horses) and Chehra system (physical descriptions of soldiers) to prevent fraud
Revenue Reforms	Set land revenue at 50% of agricultural produce (previously it had been lower); abolished additional cesses and levied only the main revenue; assessed land directly through imperial officials
Market Reforms (Shahana-i-Mandi)	The most innovative policy: established 4 markets in Delhi – grain market, cloth market, cattle market, and general commodities market; fixed prices for all goods; appointed market controllers (Shahna-i-Mandi) and secret intelligence officers; severe punishment for overcharging
Reason for Market Reforms	To maintain a large standing army at low cost – by keeping the prices of goods low, he could pay soldiers lower wages while they could still afford basic necessities
Military Conquests – North	Gujarat (1297) – Raja Karna defeated; Ranthambore Fort (1301) – taken from Hammira Deva; Chittor (1303) – taken from Rawal Ratan Singh (Padmini legend); Malwa (1305) – Mahlak Deva defeated; Siwana (1308); Jalor (1311)
Military Conquests – South	Devagiri (1296, 1307) – Ramachandra Yadava; Warangal (1309) – Prataparudra II (Kakatiya); Dwarasamudra (1311) – Veera Ballala III (Hoysala); Madurai (1311) – Vira Pandya (Pandya)
Malik Kafur	Alauddin’s most brilliant general for South India campaigns; acquired in Gujarat campaign as a slave; called ‘Hazar Dinari’ (worth a thousand dinars); led the campaigns to Warangal, Dwarasamudra, and Madurai
Amir Khusrau	Greatest poet in Alauddin’s court; called ‘Parrot of India’ (Tuti-i-Hind); wrote Khazain-ul-Futuh (Alauddin’s victories); invented the Sitar musical instrument; father of qawwali tradition; wrote in Persian and Hindi; his tomb is at Nizamuddin, Delhi
Architecture	Alai Darwaza (1311) – finest early Indo-Islamic gateway; Siri Fort (second city of Delhi); started Alai Minar (never completed); built a new palace complex
Death	Died January 1316 AD of illness; Malik Kafur briefly seized power but was killed within weeks; rapid Khilji decline followed

SSC Exam Tip – Eight Must-Know Alauddin Facts: (1) Killed uncle Jalal-ud-din = became Sultan. (2) Defeated Mongol invasions 5–6 times. (3) Market reforms – 4 markets, fixed prices, Shahna-i-Mandi. (4) Revenue = 50% of produce. (5) Dagh and Chehra system in army. (6) Malik Kafur = general for South India. (7) Amir Khusrau = court poet = Tuti-i-Hind = sitar. (8) Alai Darwaza = first true arch and dome in India. All eight generate separate SSC questions.

Alauddin Khilji’s Market Reforms – Detailed Table

Market / Category	Items Sold	Controller	Key Rule
Shahana-i-Mandi (Grain Market)	All grain (wheat, rice, barley, pulses)	Shahana (market controller) + secret spies	Strict fixed prices; no overcharging; defaulters severely punished (cutting off a part of the body)
Sarai-i-Adl (Cloth Market)	All cloth and textiles	Controller + spies	Fixed prices for all cloth; merchants had to display prices openly
Mandi for Cattle and Horses	Horses, cattle, elephants for the army	Separate controller	Fixed prices for army supply animals; strict quality standards
Mandi for General Commodities	Spices, dry fruits, oils, lamps, and other goods	Separate controller	Fixed prices; any merchant caught overcharging was punished

SSC Exam Tip: Alauddin’s market reform = Shahana-i-Mandi = four markets with fixed prices = to maintain cheap army. The ‘Shahana-i-Mandi’ term is frequently tested. The PURPOSE (cheap army, not consumer welfare) is tested as a conceptual question.

Amir Khusrau – The Most Important Literary Figure of the Delhi Sultanate

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Abul Hasan Yaminuddin Khusrau; known as Amir Khusrau Dehlawi
Title	Tuti-i-Hind (Parrot of India) – given for his poetic brilliance
Period	1253–1325 AD – served seven Delhi sultans from Balban to Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq
Language	Wrote in both Persian and Hindi/Hindavi; pioneer of Hindavi (early Hindi) literature
Court of Alauddin Khilji	His most famous patron; wrote Khazain-ul-Futuh (Treasures of Victories) about Alauddin’s conquests; also Ashiqa (a love poem); Miftah-ul-Futuh (about Jalal-ud-din’s campaigns)
Major Persian Works	Khamsa (five masnawis or long poems): Matla-ul-Anwar, Shirin-Khusrau, Laila-Majnun, Ayina-i-Sikandari, Hasht Bihisht
Music	Credited with inventing the Sitar (by modifying the Persian instrument veena/rabab); credited as the father of the Qawwali devotional music tradition
Sufi Connection	Was a devoted disciple of the Sufi saint Nizamuddin Auliya; his dargah (tomb) is adjacent to Nizamuddin’s dargah in Delhi
Historical Works	Tarikh-i-Alai (also called Khazain-ul-Futuh); Miftah-ul-Futuh; Tughlaqnama (about Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq)
SSC Relevance	Who was Tuti-i-Hind? = Amir Khusrau. Who invented the sitar? = Amir Khusrau. Who wrote Khazain-ul-Futuh? = Amir Khusrau. All three are very frequently tested

Part III: Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414 AD)

The Tughlaq dynasty produced three of the most contrasting rulers in Indian history – Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (the capable founder), Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (the tragic visionary), and Firoz Shah Tughlaq (the welfare-oriented builder). The dynasty lasted 94 years but declined rapidly after Timur’s invasion of 1398 AD.

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320–1325 AD) – The Founder

• Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (also spelled Ghazi Malik) was a capable military commander who overthrew the last Khilji ruler Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah in 1320 AD.
• He was the son of a Turkish noble and a Jat (Hindu) woman – a mixed background unusual among Delhi Sultans.
• He built the imposing Tughlaqabad Fort in Delhi – a massive fortification that became the third city of Delhi.
• He reconquered Bengal which had declared independence under the Khiljis.
• He died in 1325 AD in mysterious circumstances – a wooden pavilion he was watching elephants from collapsed just after Nizamuddin Auliya (the famous Sufi saint) reportedly cursed him. This event led to the famous saying: ‘Hunuz Dilli dur ast’ (Delhi is still far away).

SSC Exam Tip: Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq = built Tughlaqabad Fort = mysterious death = conflict with Nizamuddin Auliya (‘Delhi is still far away’ saying).

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (1325–1351 AD) – The Tragic Visionary

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq is the most controversial and intellectually fascinating ruler of the entire Delhi Sultanate. Educated, multilingual, curious, and innovative – yet his experiments failed catastrophically and his reign was marked by constant rebellions. Historians have called him ‘the wisest fool’ or ‘an ill-starred idealist’.

Policy / Experiment	Details	Why It Failed / Result
Transfer of Capital from Delhi to Daulatabad (1330)	Ordered the entire population of Delhi to move to Daulatabad (Devagiri, Maharashtra) – about 1,500 km south; purpose: to rule from a more central location and better control the Deccan	The journey caused enormous suffering and death; Daulatabad was far from the traditional supply lines of North India; after a few years, the people were ordered back to Delhi; Delhi lay desolate for years
Introduction of Token Currency (1329)	Introduced copper/brass coins with the face value of silver coins; reason: gold and silver shortage; purpose: expand money supply	Ordinary people began forging the coins easily (every goldsmith’s house became a mint, as chroniclers said); genuine coins and forged coins flooded the market; the currency collapsed; had to be withdrawn at great loss to the treasury
Khorasan Expedition (planned ~1330)	Planned a massive military expedition to conquer Khorasan (Central Asia) and China; raised a large army and paid them for a year	The plan was eventually abandoned without execution; the financial cost of maintaining the army without a campaign was enormous
Raising Revenue in the Doab (1330s)	Increased taxes in the Doab (region between Ganga and Yamuna) at the same time a famine hit the region	Peasants were unable to pay; many fled their lands; Doab region was depopulated; agricultural collapse
Qarachil Expedition (~1333)	Sent an army into the Himalayan foothills (Kumaon/Nepal border) to conquer mountain kingdoms	Army decimated by disease, difficult terrain, and guerrilla attacks; very few returned
Many Rebellions	22 rebellions took place during his reign across different parts of the empire	The Delhi Sultanate permanently lost control of the Deccan (Bahmani Kingdom 1347) and South India during his reign

SSC Exam Tip – Three Muhammad Bin Tughlaq Facts Always Tested: (1) Transfer of capital to Daulatabad. (2) Token currency (copper coins with value of silver). (3) Ibn Battuta visited and wrote Rihla. The question ‘who transferred the capital to Daulatabad?’ = Muhammad Bin Tughlaq is the single most repeated fact about this ruler in SSC papers.

Ibn Battuta – The Most Important Foreign Visitor of the Tughlaq Period

Aspect	Detail
Full Name	Abu Abdullah Muhammad ibn Battuta – a Moroccan (Berber) Muslim traveller and scholar
Period in India	1333–1341 AD – came to India during Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s reign; spent approximately 8 years in India
Position in Delhi	Muhammad Bin Tughlaq appointed him as Qazi (Islamic judge / Chief Justice) of Delhi – a prestigious position; Ibn Battuta served in this role for several years
Work Written	Rihla (full title: A Gift to Those Who Contemplate the Wonders of Cities and the Marvels of Travelling) – a massive account of his travels across the Islamic world, Africa, Central Asia, India, and China
Key Observations	Described Muhammad Bin Tughlaq as ‘the greatest Muslim king in the world’ – yet also as unpredictable and prone to violence; described the chaos of the capital transfer and token currency
Observations of India	Described Delhi as one of the greatest cities in the world; described India’s wealth, social customs, trade, and the Sultan’s court in remarkable detail
Later Missions	Muhammad Bin Tughlaq sent him as an ambassador to China (~1342 AD)
SSC Relevance	Who wrote Rihla? = Ibn Battuta. Who visited India during Muhammad Bin Tughlaq? = Ibn Battuta. What was his position in Delhi? = Qazi (judge)

Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351–1388 AD) – The Welfare Sultan

Aspect	Detail
Succession	Cousin of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq; became Sultan without a succession war
Philosophy	Deliberately reversed Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s harsh policies; emphasis on welfare, justice, and religious orthodoxy
Abolished Torture	Abolished all forms of mutilation and torture as punishment – cutting of hands, feet, nose, ears etc. were stopped; a significant humanitarian reform
Charitable Works	Built hospitals (Dar-ul-Shifa) and free dispensaries throughout the empire; set up a ‘marriage bureau’ (Diwan-i-Khairat) to provide dowry to orphan girls; created a ‘department of slaves’ maintaining 1,80,000 slaves in various services
Irrigation Works	Built 5 major canals: the most famous is the canal from the Yamuna to Hissar – one of the longest canals in medieval India; also canal from Sutlej to Ghaggar; greatly increased agricultural productivity
Cities Founded	Founded multiple cities: Firozabad, Fatehabad, Hissar, Jaunpur, and Firozpur (5 cities built by Firoz Shah)
Firoz Shah Kotla	Built the city of Firoz Shah Kotla (Firozabad) in Delhi – the fifth city of Delhi; constructed the Firoz Shah Kotla fortress; moved two Ashokan Pillars (from Meerut and Topra) to Delhi
Ashokan Pillars Moved	Moved the Delhi-Topra Ashokan Pillar and the Delhi-Meerut Ashokan Pillar to Delhi; these are now in the Firoz Shah Kotla area
Jizya on Brahmins	Made all Hindus (including Brahmins who had previously been exempt) pay Jizya – a reversal of the earlier practice
Books Written	Futuhat-i-Firozshahi – his autobiography; a rare example of a medieval Indian Sultan writing his own memoir
Naval Expedition	Launched an expedition against Jajnagar (Odisha) to recover the idols of the Jagannath Temple that had been moved; unsuccessful
Weakness	Military weakness; Bengal and other provinces reasserted independence; no major conquests; relied on diplomacy rather than force
Death	1388 AD; rapid decline of Tughlaq dynasty followed
SSC Relevance	Firoz Shah Tughlaq = abolished torture = built 5 canals + 5 cities = Diwan-i-Khairat = moved Ashokan Pillars to Delhi = wrote Futuhat-i-Firozshahi

Timur’s Invasion (1398 AD) – The Delhi Sultanate’s Near-Death

Aspect	Detail
Invader	Timur (also called Tamerlane or Timur-i-Leng ‘Timur the Lame’) – the Central Asian Turkic-Mongol ruler from Samarkand (modern Uzbekistan)
Year	1398–1399 AD
Delhi Sultan	Mahmud Shah Tughlaq (the last Tughlaq Sultan)
Battle	Battle of Panipat (1398 AD) – Timur’s forces easily defeated the Delhi army; Mahmud Shah fled
Delhi Sack	Delhi was looted for days; tens of thousands of people were killed (contemporary accounts say 100,000 or more); enormous wealth was taken back to Samarkand; artisans and craftsmen were taken captive to build Timur’s capital
Aftermath	Delhi lay depopulated and ruined for years after Timur left; famine and pestilence followed; Mahmud Shah Tughlaq returned to a ghost city
Political Impact	The Tughlaq Sultanate never recovered from this blow; the Sayyid dynasty (who ruled as nominal successors) had no real power; the invasion accelerated the fragmentation of the Delhi Sultanate into regional kingdoms
Why Timur Came	Officially: to wage jihad against the Delhi Sultanate which was not strict enough in enforcing Islam; practically: the enormous wealth of India
SSC Relevance	Timur’s invasion = 1398 AD = Mahmud Shah Tughlaq was the Sultan = Delhi looted = Sultanate permanently weakened

Part IV: Sayyid Dynasty (1414–1451 AD) – The Weakest Delhi Dynasty

Ruler	Period	Key Fact
Khizr Khan	1414–1421	Founded the Sayyid dynasty; was governor of Punjab under Timur; claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad; did not use the title ‘Sultan’ – used ‘Rayat-i-Ala’ (exalted standard) instead
Mubarak Shah	1421–1434	Son of Khizr Khan; used the title ‘Sultan’; attempted to reassert central authority; Yahya Sirhindi wrote Tarikh-i-Mubarak Shahi (history of the Sayyid dynasty) in his reign
Muhammad Shah	1434–1445	Weak ruler; Lodi nobles (Bahlul Lodi) became increasingly powerful
Alam Shah	1445–1451	Last Sayyid ruler; abdicated willingly in favour of Bahlul Lodi; retired to Budaun; Sayyid dynasty ends peacefully

SSC Exam Tip: Sayyid dynasty = weakest Delhi dynasty = 4 rulers = founded by Khizr Khan (claimed Prophet’s descent, used ‘Rayat-i-Ala’ not Sultan) = ended when Alam Shah abdicated to Bahlul Lodi. The founder’s unusual title and peaceful abdication of the last ruler are distinctive testable facts.

Part V: Lodi Dynasty (1451–1526 AD) – The Last Delhi Sultanate

The Lodi dynasty was the first and only Afghan (Pashtun/Pathan) dynasty to rule the Delhi Sultanate. Unlike the Turkish Sultans who treated the nobility as subordinates, the Lodi sultans treated Afghan nobles more as equals (being of the same ethnic background), which created a different political dynamic.

Bahlul Lodi (1451–1489 AD) – The Founder

• Bahlul Lodi (also spelled Bahlol Khan Lodi) was the Afghan chief of the Punjab region who persuaded the last Sayyid ruler Alam Shah to abdicate in 1451 AD.
• He was notable for treating the Afghan nobles as equals rather than as subjects – he sat with them on the same level in court rather than on a raised throne.
• He reconquered Jaunpur (the Sharqi Sultanate) in 1479 AD – reunifying the eastern Gangetic plains with Delhi.
• He expanded the Delhi Sultanate’s effective control and gave it renewed energy after the Sayyid collapse.

SSC Exam Tip: Bahlul Lodi = founder of Lodi dynasty = first Afghan/Pashtun dynasty = treated nobles as equals = conquered Jaunpur 1479.

Sikandar Lodi (1489–1517 AD) – The Greatest Lodi Sultan

Aspect	Detail
Significance	Greatest and most capable of the three Lodi sultans
Agra Founded	Founded the city of Agra in 1504 AD – one of the most important cities in Indian history; shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra
Administration	Introduced the Gaz-i-Sikandari (Sikandar’s yard) – a new standard unit of measurement for land
Music and Literature	Personally fond of music despite being religiously strict in other ways; translated Sanskrit medical texts into Persian; composed Persian poetry under the pen name Gulrukhi
Religious Policy	Strictly enforced Islamic law; ordered destruction of Hindu temples in Mathura and other places; imposed Jizya strictly
Bengali Hindu Ban	Prohibited Hindus from bathing at the Ganga ghats in some locations; controversial religious policies
Poet in Court	Jamali Kamali (real name: Sheikh Fazlullah) was his court poet; the Jamali Kamali mosque and tomb in Delhi is a beautiful Lodi-era monument
Death	1517 AD; succeeded by his son Ibrahim Lodi
SSC Relevance	Sikandar Lodi = founded Agra 1504 AD = Gaz-i-Sikandari = pen name Gulrukhi. ‘Who founded Agra?’ = Sikandar Lodi (1504) is one of the most commonly asked SSC questions about the Lodi dynasty

Ibrahim Lodi (1517–1526 AD) – The Last Delhi Sultan

Aspect	Detail
Character	Autocratic; arrogant; tried to assert absolute royal authority (unlike his father Bahlul who treated nobles as equals); alienated the Afghan nobility
Noble Revolt	Daulat Khan Lodi (governor of Punjab) and Alam Khan Lodi (Ibrahim’s uncle) rebelled and invited Babur (ruler of Kabul) to invade India
First Battle of Panipat	21 April 1526 AD – Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi; fought on the plains of Panipat (Haryana)
Babur’s Advantage	Babur used field artillery (tofkhana) for the first time in Indian warfare – also used the flanking tactic (tulughma); Indian armies had no answer to gunpowder artillery
Ibrahim Lodi’s Disadvantage	Did not have artillery; huge army but undisciplined; many of his nobles were half-hearted due to their rebellion against him
Outcome	Ibrahim Lodi was killed in battle – the only Delhi Sultan to die fighting; First Battle of Panipat ended the Delhi Sultanate and began the Mughal Empire
Babur’s Assessment	Babur himself praised Ibrahim Lodi’s bravery – ‘He fell as bravely as he lived’ according to Baburnama
SSC Relevance	First Battle of Panipat = 21 April 1526 = Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi = Ibrahim killed = Babur won using artillery = Delhi Sultanate ends = Mughal Empire begins

Part VI: Delhi Sultanate Administration

The Delhi Sultanate developed a comprehensive administrative system blending Islamic concepts with Indian administrative traditions.

Central Administration

Department / Post	Name	Function
Head of State	Sultan	Absolute monarch; head of all executive, legislative, and judicial functions; also commander-in-chief
Prime Minister	Wazir / Naib-i-Mamlikat	Chief executive officer; head of civil administration; managed the treasury
Finance Department	Diwan-i-Wizarat	Managed revenue collection, expenditure, treasury; headed by the Wazir
Military Department	Diwan-i-Arz	Managed military affairs; recruitment, pay, organisation of the army; headed by Ariz-i-Mamalik
Foreign Affairs	Diwan-i-Risalat	Managed diplomatic correspondence and foreign affairs
Royal Correspondence	Diwan-i-Insha	Drafted royal letters, farman (orders), and managed state correspondence; headed by Dabir-i-Khas
Judicial	Qazi-ul-Quzat (Chief Justice)	Highest judicial officer; interpreted Islamic law; both criminal and civil cases
Religious Endowments	Sadr-us-Sudur	Managed religious grants, charitable endowments, mosques, and madrasas
Intelligence / Spy Network	Barid-i-Mumalik	Chief of intelligence; managed network of spies (Barids) who reported on conditions throughout the empire
Postal System	Dak Chowkis + Horse Relay	Organised postal relay system for rapid communication across the empire

Provincial Administration

Level	Name	Official in Charge	Function
Province	Iqta (or Wilayat)	Muqti or Wali (Iqtadar)	Governor of a province; responsible for revenue collection and military defence
District	Shiq	Shiqdar	District officer; maintained law and order; collected revenue
Sub-district	Pargana	Amil + Munsif + Karkun	Revenue assessment and collection at sub-district level
Village	Gram	Muqaddam (headman) + Patwari (record-keeper)	Basic administrative unit; maintained village records; collected village-level taxes

The Iqta System – The Defining Administrative Feature

• The Iqta system was the most important administrative and economic innovation of the Delhi Sultanate. An Iqta was the assignment of the revenue of a particular territory to a military officer or noble (called the Muqti or Iqtadar) in lieu of cash salary.
• The Iqtadar was responsible for: collecting revenue from his Iqta territory, maintaining a specified number of troops (horses, cavalry) ready for the Sultan, defending his territory, and remitting the surplus revenue to the central treasury.
• Iqtas were NOT hereditary – they were transferable and revocable; the Sultan could and did transfer Iqtadars from one Iqta to another to prevent them from building a permanent local power base.
• The Iqta system solved the financial problem of paying a large military force across a vast empire without a sophisticated monetary economy – but it also created the risk of powerful Iqtadars becoming de facto independent rulers.
• Alauddin Khilji disrupted the Iqta system by paying his army directly in cash from the central treasury – possible because of his market reforms keeping prices low.

SSC Exam Tip: Iqta system = revenue assignment to military officers (Muqti/Iqtadar) in lieu of salary = NOT hereditary = defining feature of Delhi Sultanate administration. The question ‘who was an Iqtadar?’ and ‘what is an Iqta?’ are standard SSC administrative questions.

Part VII: Delhi Sultanate Architecture – Indo-Islamic Style

The Delhi Sultanate period saw the systematic development of the Indo-Islamic architectural style – a fusion of Islamic structural forms (arch, dome, minaret, calligraphic decoration) with Indian craftsmanship, decorative elements, and building traditions.

Key Architectural Features Introduced During Delhi Sultanate

Feature	Description	First Use in India
True Arch	A structural arch using wedge-shaped stones (voussoirs) that can bear weight above it – unlike the Indian corbelled arch which is decorative only	Alai Darwaza (1311 AD) by Alauddin Khilji is considered the first major use of the true arch in India
True Dome	A hemispherical roof built using radially arranged stones meeting at a keystone – distributes weight efficiently	Also introduced systematically in the Alai Darwaza and subsequent Tughlaq-Lodi architecture
Minaret	Tall slender tower from which the call to prayer (Azan) is given; also used as a decorative element	Qutub Minar (started by Qutbuddin Aibak, 1193 AD) is the first and greatest example in India
Arabesque / Calligraphy	Geometric and floral patterns + inscriptions from the Quran as primary decoration on walls and domes	Used from Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque (1193 AD) onwards
Screen Wall (Jali)	Perforated stone or marble screens allowing ventilation while providing privacy; intricate geometric patterns	Used from early Mamluk period; reached greatest expression in Mughal period
Rubble Masonry	Early Sultanate buildings (Tughlaq period especially) used rough stone rubble masonry with lime mortar – strong but plain	Tughlaqabad Fort is the best example; gave Tughlaq architecture its characteristic strength and severity

Major Delhi Sultanate Monuments

Monument	Builder	Period	Location	Key Features / SSC Fact
Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque	Qutbuddin Aibak	1193 AD	Mehrauli, Delhi	First mosque built in India; uses material from 27 demolished temples; UNESCO Complex
Qutub Minar	Started: Aibak; Completed: Iltutmish; Repaired: Firoz Shah Tughlaq	~1193–1368 AD	Mehrauli, Delhi	72.5 metres; 5 storeys; UNESCO 1993; tallest brick minaret in world
Alai Darwaza	Alauddin Khilji	1311 AD	Qutub Complex, Delhi	First true arch and dome in India; finest early Indo-Islamic gateway
Tomb of Iltutmish	Iltutmish	1235 AD	Qutub Complex, Delhi	First Islamic tomb in India; interior decorated with Quranic calligraphy
Siri Fort	Alauddin Khilji	~1303 AD	Delhi	Second city of Delhi; built after first Mongol attack on Delhi in 1299 AD
Tughlaqabad Fort	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq	~1321 AD	Delhi	Third city of Delhi; massive rubble masonry walls; Ghiyasuddin’s tomb also here
Adilabad Fort	Muhammad Bin Tughlaq	~1325 AD	Delhi	Extension of Tughlaqabad; massive scale
Firoz Shah Kotla	Firoz Shah Tughlaq	1354 AD	Delhi	Fifth city of Delhi; Ashokan Pillar moved here; ruins still visible; famous for djinn stories in popular culture
Moth ki Masjid	Built by Sikandar Lodi’s minister Miyan Bua	1505 AD	Delhi	Fine example of Lodi architecture – octagonal turrets, decorated spandrels
Lodi Gardens Tombs	Various Lodi rulers and nobles	1450–1526 AD	Lodi Gardens, Delhi	Tombs of Sayyid and Lodi rulers in a beautiful garden setting; double-domed structures; precursor to Mughal tomb architecture

SSC Exam Tip: Quwwat-ul-Islam = first mosque in India = Aibak. Qutub Minar = Aibak started, Iltutmish completed, Firoz repaired = 72.5m. Alai Darwaza = Alauddin Khilji = first true arch in India. Firoz Shah Kotla = Firoz Shah Tughlaq = 5th city of Delhi = Ashokan Pillar moved there. All four are frequently tested.

Part VIII: The Sufis and Delhi Sultanate Cultural Life

The Sufi movement was the most important cultural phenomenon of the Delhi Sultanate period. Sufi saints played a crucial role in making Islam accessible to ordinary Indians, facilitating cultural synthesis, and challenging the rigid orthodoxy of the court.

Major Sufi Orders (Silsilas) in India

Sufi Order (Silsila)	Founder in India	Key Saints	Characteristics / SSC Fact
Chishti	Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (came to India ~1192 AD)	Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer); Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki (Delhi); Fariduddin Ganj-i-Shakar (Punjab); Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi); Nasiruddin Chiragh Dehlavi	Most popular Sufi order in India; believed in love, tolerance, music (Sama); Moinuddin Chishti’s dargah at Ajmer is one of India’s most visited shrines
Suhrawardi	Bahauddin Zakariya (came ~13th century AD)	Bahauddin Zakariya (Multan); Sheikh Rukn-ud-din Abul Fath	Active primarily in Punjab and Sindh; more accepting of state patronage than Chishti
Qadiri	Shah Nimatullah (15th century)	Shah Nimatullah; Miyan Mir (Lahore)	Less prominent in early Sultanate period; more important in Mughal era
Naqshbandi	Khwaja Baqi Billah (17th century)	Khwaja Baqi Billah; Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi	Most prominent during Mughal era; Sheikh Ahmad Sirhindi was influential in Aurangzeb’s orthodoxy

SSC Exam Tip: Chishti order = most popular in India = Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer) = Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi) = Amir Khusrau was disciple of Nizamuddin. Moinuddin Chishti’s dargah at Ajmer = most visited Sufi shrine in India. These facts connect SSC History and Religious Culture questions.

Important Sufi Saints for SSC

Saint	Order	Location	Period	Key SSC Fact
Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti	Chishti	Ajmer, Rajasthan	~1141–1236 AD	Founder of Chishti order in India; his dargah at Ajmer (Dargah Sharif) is the most famous shrine in India; called ‘Gharib Nawaz’ (friend of the poor)
Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki	Chishti	Delhi	~1173–1235 AD	Disciple of Moinuddin Chishti; the Qutub Minar in Delhi is named after him
Farid-ud-din Ganj-i-Shakar (Baba Farid)	Chishti	Pakpattan, Punjab (Pakistan)	~1173–1265 AD	Disciples included Nizamuddin Auliya; his poetry in Punjabi was included in the Guru Granth Sahib by Guru Arjan Dev – unique Hindu-Muslim-Sikh connection
Nizamuddin Auliya	Chishti	Delhi	~1238–1325 AD	Most beloved Sufi saint of Delhi; his dargah at Nizamuddin is one of Delhi’s most visited religious sites; had a famous conflict with Sultan Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq; Amir Khusrau was his devoted disciple
Bahauddin Zakariya	Suhrawardi	Multan, Pakistan	~1170–1262 AD	Founder of Suhrawardi order in India; based in Multan

Part IX: High-Frequency SSC MCQs – Delhi Sultanate Chapter

These 45 questions are the most consistently repeated MCQs from this chapter across all SSC exams.

Question	Correct Answer	SSC Exam Reference
Who founded the Delhi Sultanate and in which year?	Qutbuddin Aibak (1206 AD) – founded the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty	SSC CGL 2014–2023 (appears every exam)
What was Qutbuddin Aibak’s title and why?	Lakh Baksh (giver of lakhs) – for his extreme generosity in giving gifts	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2019
How did Qutbuddin Aibak die?	In a polo (chaugan) accident at Lahore in 1210 AD	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
Who completed the Qutub Minar?	Iltutmish (Shamsuddin Iltutmish)	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
What coin did Iltutmish introduce?	Silver Tanka (and copper Jital) – first standardised coins of the Delhi Sultanate	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2019
Who was the first Delhi Sultan recognised by the Caliph of Baghdad?	Iltutmish (1229 AD)	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
Who was Razia Sultan?	Only woman ruler of the Delhi Sultanate; daughter of Iltutmish; 1236–1240 AD	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated)
Who was Razia Sultan’s husband?	Altunia (governor of Bhatinda)	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC MTS 2022
Balban’s policy is described by which phrase?	‘Blood and Iron’ – absolute rule through uncompromising severity	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
What were Sijda and Paibos introduced by Balban?	Sijda = prostration before Sultan; Paibos = kissing the Sultan’s feet – Persian court ceremonies	SSC CGL 2019, SSC CHSL 2020
Who was the ‘Chalisa’ and who destroyed it?	The Forty – group of 40 powerful Turkish nobles created by Iltutmish; destroyed by Balban	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
Who founded the Khilji dynasty?	Jalal-ud-din Khilji (1290 AD)	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC GD 2022
Who was the greatest Khilji ruler?	Alauddin Khilji (1296–1316 AD)	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated)
Who was Malik Kafur?	Alauddin Khilji’s most trusted general; acquired as a slave in Gujarat (1297); led South India campaigns	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2020
What were Alauddin Khilji’s market reforms?	Established 4 markets with fixed prices; Shahana-i-Mandi as controller; purpose = cheap army	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
What was the Dagh system of Alauddin Khilji?	Branding of horses to prevent fraud in military pay; soldiers had to bring their assigned horse for inspection	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC CPO 2022
What was Alauddin’s land revenue rate?	50% of agricultural produce (half of total produce)	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
Who was Amir Khusrau?	Court poet of multiple Delhi Sultans; ‘Tuti-i-Hind’ (Parrot of India); invented sitar; father of qawwali	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated every exam)
What did Amir Khusrau write about Alauddin?	Khazain-ul-Futuh (Treasures of Victories) – also called Tarikh-i-Alai	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
Amir Khusrau is credited with inventing which instrument?	Sitar (modified from Persian instruments)	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2020
Who founded the Tughlaq dynasty?	Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq (1320 AD)	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
Which fort did Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq build?	Tughlaqabad Fort (third city of Delhi)	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2020
Muhammad Bin Tughlaq transferred the capital from Delhi to where?	Daulatabad (Devagiri, Maharashtra)	SSC CGL 2014–2022 (most tested Tughlaq fact)
What was Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s token currency experiment?	Introduced copper/brass coins with the face value of silver coins; massive forgery; economic collapse; had to be withdrawn	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Which foreign traveller visited India during Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s reign?	Ibn Battuta (Moroccan scholar) – 1333–1341 AD; wrote Rihla	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated)
What position did Muhammad Bin Tughlaq give to Ibn Battuta?	Qazi (Chief Justice / Islamic Judge) of Delhi	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
What book did Ibn Battuta write?	Rihla – his travel memoir covering his journeys across the Islamic world including India	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
Firoz Shah Tughlaq abolished which type of punishment?	Mutilation and torture – cutting off hands, feet, nose, ears as punishment	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
What is Diwan-i-Khairat?	Department created by Firoz Shah Tughlaq to provide marriage assistance (dowry) to orphan girls	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC CPO 2022
How many cities did Firoz Shah Tughlaq found?	Five cities: Firozabad (Delhi), Fatehabad, Hissar, Jaunpur, Firozpur	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
Firoz Shah Tughlaq wrote which autobiography?	Futuhat-i-Firozshahi – his personal memoir	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC GD 2022
Timur invaded India in which year and during whose reign?	1398 AD; during Mahmud Shah Tughlaq’s reign	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2019
Who founded the Sayyid dynasty?	Khizr Khan (1414 AD) – claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC MTS 2021
What title did Khizr Khan use instead of Sultan?	Rayat-i-Ala (Exalted Standard)	SSC CHSL 2021, SSC CPO 2022
Who founded the Lodi dynasty?	Bahlul Lodi (1451 AD)	SSC CGL 2017, SSC CHSL 2020
Who founded Agra and in which year?	Sikandar Lodi (1504 AD) – also shifted capital from Delhi to Agra	SSC CGL 2015–2022 (repeated every exam)
What was Sikandar Lodi’s pen name?	Gulrukhi – he composed Persian poetry	SSC CHSL 2019, SSC CPO 2021
What is the Gaz-i-Sikandari?	A new standard unit of land measurement introduced by Sikandar Lodi	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC MTS 2022
First Battle of Panipat – date, combatants, and outcome?	21 April 1526 AD; Babur vs Ibrahim Lodi; Babur won using artillery; Ibrahim Lodi killed; Delhi Sultanate ends	SSC CGL 2014–2023 (most repeated)
Why did Babur win the First Battle of Panipat?	He used field artillery (gun/cannon) for the first time in India; also used the flanking tactic (tulughma)	SSC CGL 2017, 2020, SSC CHSL 2021
What is the Iqta system?	Assignment of revenue of a territory to a military officer (Muqti/Iqtadar) in lieu of cash salary; NOT hereditary	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022
Who built the Alai Darwaza and what is its significance?	Alauddin Khilji (1311 AD); first building in India to use true arch and true dome	SSC CGL 2018, SSC CHSL 2021
The Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque was built by whom?	Qutbuddin Aibak (1193 AD) – first mosque in India	SSC CGL 2016, SSC CHSL 2019
Which Sufi saint’s name is the Qutub Minar associated with?	Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki (a Chishti saint of Delhi)	SSC CHSL 2020, SSC GD 2022
Moinuddin Chishti’s dargah is at which city?	Ajmer, Rajasthan	SSC CGL 2016, 2019, 2022

Podcast Interview: Expert Q&A – Delhi Sultanate Deep Dive

A 10-round expert dialogue covering the Delhi Sultanate from multiple angles.

Speaker	Question / Statement	Answer / Explanation
Aspirant	The Delhi Sultanate has 293 slides and 45+ MCQs. How do I prioritise for SSC?	Educator: Focus on three rulers who generate the most SSC questions. One: Alauddin Khilji – every aspect of his reign is tested: market reforms (Shahana-i-Mandi, 4 markets), military reforms (Dagh + Chehra), revenue (50%), South India campaigns (Malik Kafur), architecture (Alai Darwaza), and Amir Khusrau in his court. Two: Muhammad Bin Tughlaq – three experiments: Daulatabad transfer, token currency, Doab taxes; plus Ibn Battuta visited. Three: Firoz Shah Tughlaq – welfare activities: abolished torture, 5 canals, 5 cities, Diwan-i-Khairat, moved Ashokan Pillars, wrote Futuhat-i-Firozshahi. These three rulers can answer 6–8 SSC questions from this chapter alone.
Aspirant	How is the Mamluk dynasty related to Muhammad Ghori?	Educator: The connection is direct. Muhammad Ghori was the conqueror who established Muslim control over North India through the Battles of Tarain (1191–1192). When Ghori was assassinated in 1206, he had no direct heirs. His most trusted general in India was Qutbuddin Aibak – a Turkish military slave (Mamluk) who had governed the Indian territories on Ghori’s behalf since 1206. Aibak declared himself Sultan and founded the Mamluk (Slave) dynasty. The Delhi Sultanate is thus the direct political heir to Muhammad Ghori’s conquests. Understanding this connection explains why the SSC syllabus places LEC #14 (Ghori) immediately before LEC #16 (Delhi Sultanate).
Aspirant	What exactly were Alauddin Khilji’s market reforms and why were they important?	Educator: Alauddin needed to maintain a large standing army to defend against repeated Mongol invasions – he faced 5–6 major Mongol attacks. A large army requires enormous funds. His solution was elegant: instead of raising taxes (which would cause rebellion), keep the PRICES of goods artificially low so soldiers could be paid lower wages while still affording food, clothing, and other necessities. He set up 4 markets with fixed prices, appointed controllers (Shahna-i-Mandi) and secret spies to check compliance, and imposed brutal punishments for overcharging. It worked – he maintained the largest and most efficient army in Delhi Sultanate history at sustainable cost. The system collapsed after his death because it depended entirely on his personal enforcement.
Aspirant	Why is Muhammad Bin Tughlaq called ‘the wisest fool’?	Educator: Because his ideas were often genuinely visionary but his execution was catastrophically flawed. Moving the capital to Daulatabad was actually a sound strategic idea – a central location would make governing the Deccan easier. But forcibly marching the entire Delhi population 1,500 km caused enormous suffering and the plan was reversed within years. Token currency was used successfully in China – Muhammad Bin Tughlaq may have known this. But he failed to create the anti-forgery infrastructure needed to support it. The Doab revenue increase might have been reasonable in a normal year – but combined with a famine, it was devastating. He was ‘wise’ in concept, ‘foolish’ in not thinking through the practicalities. The contrast makes him the most discussed ruler in Delhi Sultanate history.
Aspirant	Who was Amir Khusrau and why does he appear in almost every SSC paper?	Educator: Amir Khusrau is the most important literary figure of the Delhi Sultanate because he connects to so many different testable facts. Literary: he wrote in both Persian (Khamsa, Khazain-ul-Futuh) and early Hindi/Hindavi – making him the father of Urdu/Hindi literary tradition. Musical: he is credited with inventing the sitar and with founding the Qawwali devotional music tradition. Religious: he was the devoted disciple of Nizamuddin Auliya – connecting him to the Chishti Sufi movement. Biographical: he served seven Delhi sultans from Balban to Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq – giving him a unique historical witness role. His title Tuti-i-Hind (Parrot of India) is one of the most famous epithets in Indian history. Any of these six dimensions can generate an SSC question.
Aspirant	What is the Iqta system and how did it create problems for the Sultanate?	Educator: The Iqta system was the Delhi Sultanate’s solution to a fundamental administrative problem: how do you pay and control thousands of military officers across a vast empire when you don’t have a modern banking and salary system? The answer was to assign the tax revenue of a specific territory to each officer – they collected their own ‘salary’ from the local peasants and could maintain their troops from this income. The problem was that powerful Iqtadars – who controlled territory, had their own troops, and collected their own revenue – were almost inevitable sources of rebellion. If the Sultan was weak (as after Balban’s death, or after Timur’s invasion), the Iqtadars could simply stop paying central taxes and become de facto independent rulers. The political fragmentation of the Sultanate’s last century was partly driven by powerful Iqtadars asserting independence.
Aspirant	Who founded Agra – is it Sikandar Lodi or Akbar?	Educator: Agra was founded by Sikandar Lodi in 1504 AD – he built the city and shifted the capital from Delhi to Agra. Akbar later made Agra his primary capital and built Agra Fort as we know it today (~1565 AD). So: Sikandar Lodi founded Agra the city; Akbar built Agra Fort and made it one of the greatest Mughal cities. SSC questions specifically about ‘who founded Agra’ = Sikandar Lodi (1504). Questions about the Red Fort or Agra Fort = Akbar. Don’t confuse the two.
Aspirant	What did Firoz Shah Tughlaq do with the Ashokan Pillars?	Educator: Firoz Shah Tughlaq had an antiquarian interest in ancient monuments – unusual for a medieval Muslim ruler. He noticed the two Ashokan Pillars (one at Topra in Haryana, one at Meerut) and decided to move them to Delhi. He had them carefully packed in silk, placed on enormous carts with thousands of workers to pull them, and brought to Delhi. The Topra Pillar was installed at Firoz Shah Kotla (his new city in Delhi) on a three-storey pavilion. The Meerut Pillar was also brought to Delhi. Both are still in Delhi today – these are the Delhi-Topra Pillar and the Delhi-Meerut Pillar mentioned in Ashokan edict studies. Firoz Shah couldn’t read the Brahmi script, but he found scholars to try to decipher it – showing genuine intellectual curiosity about India’s ancient past.
Aspirant	Why is the First Battle of Panipat so significant?	Educator: Because it ended 320 years of the Delhi Sultanate and began the Mughal Empire in a single afternoon. But beyond the political change, it was also a technological watershed. Babur used field artillery – gunpowder cannon – for the first time in an Indian battle. Ibrahim Lodi had a larger army, but his war elephants panicked in the face of the cannon fire and turned back on his own infantry, causing chaos. Babur also used the tulughma (flanking encirclement) tactic perfectly. The First Battle of Panipat demonstrated that the era of medieval Indian warfare based on elephant corps and cavalry charges was over; the gunpowder revolution had arrived. In this sense, it is not just the end of the Delhi Sultanate – it is the beginning of the gunpowder age in Indian history.
Aspirant	Where can I find the 293-slide PPT for this chapter?	Educator: The SSC History Delhi Dynasty PPT Slides – Lecture #16 – Serial #41 – is available free at slideshareppt.net. At 293 slides and 90 MB, it is the single largest PPT in the Complete Foundation Batch series – reflecting the enormous importance and density of the Delhi Sultanate chapter for SSC exams. It covers every sultan in detail with timeline charts, architecture photographs, administrative structure diagrams, and exam-focused fact boxes. After studying this article thoroughly and working through the 45 MCQs, spend 90 minutes with the PPT for complete preparation.

How to Study This Chapter for Maximum SSC Marks

Step 1 – Five Dynasties Framework (Day 1)

• Memorise the five dynasties in order: Mamluk (1206) → Khilji (1290) → Tughlaq (1320) → Sayyid (1414) → Lodi (1451–1526).
• For each dynasty: founder, key ruler, last ruler, key event.
• Key dates to lock in: 1206 (Mamluk), 1290 (Khilji), 1320 (Tughlaq), 1398 (Timur), 1414 (Sayyid), 1451 (Lodi), 1504 (Agra founded), 1526 (Panipat I).

Step 2 – Mamluk Dynasty Deep Study (Day 2)

• Qutbuddin Aibak: Lakh Baksh, polo accident, Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque, started Qutub Minar.
• Iltutmish: completed Qutub Minar, Tanka coin, Caliph recognition 1229, nominated Razia.
• Razia: only woman Sultan, no purdah, husband Altunia, deposed 1240.
• Balban: Blood and Iron, destroyed Chalisa, Sijda + Paibos, Zill-i-Ilahi, Diwan-i-Arz.

Step 3 – Khilji and Tughlaq Deep Study (Day 3)

• Alauddin Khilji: killed uncle Jalal-ud-din, Mongol defeats (5–6 times), Market reforms (4 markets, Shahana-i-Mandi), Revenue 50%, Dagh+Chehra, Malik Kafur (South India), Amir Khusrau (Tuti-i-Hind, sitar, Khazain-ul-Futuh), Alai Darwaza (first true arch).
• Muhammad Bin Tughlaq: Daulatabad transfer, Token currency, Ibn Battuta (Rihla, Qazi of Delhi), 22 rebellions.
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq: abolished torture, 5 canals, 5 cities, Diwan-i-Khairat, moved Ashokan Pillars, Futuhat-i-Firozshahi.

Step 4 – Sayyid, Lodi, Architecture, MCQs (Day 4–5)

• Sayyid: Khizr Khan (Rayat-i-Ala, not Sultan), Mubarak Shah, 4 rulers, Alam Shah abdicated.
• Lodi: Bahlul (treated nobles as equals, conquered Jaunpur), Sikandar (founded Agra 1504, Gaz-i-Sikandari, Gulrukhi), Ibrahim (First Battle of Panipat 21 April 1526, killed, artillery).
• Architecture: Qutub Minar table, Alai Darwaza (first true arch), Firoz Shah Kotla.
• Solve all 45 MCQs. Target 90%+ accuracy.

ALSO READ: SSC History Early medieval period Rajput period PPT (LEC 15)

(FAQs):

Q1: What is the correct order of the five Delhi Sultanate dynasties?

The five dynasties in chronological order are: (1) Mamluk or Slave dynasty (1206–1290 AD) – founded by Qutbuddin Aibak; (2) Khilji dynasty (1290–1320 AD) – founded by Jalal-ud-din Khilji; (3) Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1414 AD) – founded by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq; (4) Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451 AD) – founded by Khizr Khan; (5) Lodi dynasty (1451–1526 AD) – founded by Bahlul Lodi. A simple mnemonic: Make Khichdi To Satisfy Longing – M (Mamluk), K (Khilji), T (Tughlaq), S (Sayyid), L (Lodi).

Q2: Why is Alauddin Khilji considered the most powerful Delhi Sultan?

Alauddin Khilji was the most powerful Delhi Sultan for five reasons: military (he defeated 5–6 major Mongol invasions and conquered the entire Indian subcontinent from Punjab to Madurai – more than any other Delhi Sultan); economic (his market reforms and revenue system gave him unprecedented financial control); administrative (his direct control of the army through cash payment, Dagh, and Chehra systems made the army more loyal to him personally than any previous Sultan); geographical (he controlled the largest territory of any Delhi Sultan – from Sindh to Madurai); and architectural (Alai Darwaza introduced structural arch and dome to India – a permanent contribution to Indian architecture).

Q3: What were Muhammad Bin Tughlaq’s main experiments and why did they fail?

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq had three main experiments: (1) Transfer of capital to Daulatabad – forced the entire Delhi population to march 1,500 km south; the journey caused death and suffering; Daulatabad lacked adequate food supplies for Delhi’s large population; reversed after a few years. (2) Introduction of token currency – copper coins were given the value of silver coins; the state lacked the technology and enforcement to prevent forgery; every person with a copper vessel became a forger; economic chaos; eventually had to be called in at great loss. (3) Raising revenue in the Doab – simultaneously with a famine; peasants could not pay; agricultural land abandoned; region depopulated. The common thread was that Muhammad failed to think through the practical implementation and unintended consequences of his policies.

Q4: What was the significance of Razia Sultan?

Razia Sultan (1236–1240 AD) was the only woman to rule the Delhi Sultanate and one of the very few women to hold sovereign power in medieval Indian history. Her father Iltutmish made the remarkable decision to nominate her over his male sons, recognising her superior ability. She ruled for about four years but faced constant opposition from Turkish nobles who resented being ruled by a woman. She attempted to exercise genuine royal authority – appearing in public without purdah, holding open court, riding elephants – but this ‘unconventional’ behaviour was used as a pretext against her. She was deposed in 1240 AD and killed along with her husband Altunia. Her brief reign stands as a remarkable moment in medieval Indian history.

Q5: What happened to the Delhi Sultanate after Timur’s invasion?

Timur’s invasion of 1398 AD devastated Delhi and broke the back of the Tughlaq dynasty. The aftermath was grim: Delhi lay depopulated and ruined; famine and pestilence followed; tens of thousands had been killed or enslaved; the treasury was emptied. The last Tughlaq ruler Mahmud Shah returned to a ghost city. The Tughlaq dynasty survived on paper until 1414 but with no real power. The Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451) that followed was nominally independent but actually a tributary of the Timurids in Samarkand. Real power was wielded by regional kingdoms that declared independence: the Sharqi Sultanate of Jaunpur, the Sultanate of Malwa, the Sultanate of Gujarat, and others. The Delhi Sultanate’s control had shrunk to little more than Delhi and its immediate surroundings.

Q6: Who was Ibn Battuta and why is he important for Indian history?

Ibn Battuta (1304–1368/69 AD) was a Moroccan (Berber) Muslim traveller from Tangier who spent 29 years travelling across the Islamic world and beyond – covering approximately 75,000 miles, a record for pre-modern travel. He arrived in India in 1333 AD and spent about 8 years here, serving as the Qazi (Islamic judge) of Delhi under Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. His travel memoir Rihla (The Journey) is one of the most important historical documents about medieval India, describing the Delhi court, the urban life of Delhi, the token currency experiment, the political atmosphere under Muhammad Bin Tughlaq, and the chaos of multiple rebellions. His observations about Delhi being simultaneously ‘the greatest city in the eastern world’ and a city constantly in political crisis are a vivid portrait of the Tughlaq contradictions.

Conclusion – Your Complete Revision Package for the Delhi Sultanate

The SSC History Delhi Dynasty PPT Slides – Lecture #16 – with its record 293 slides and 90 MB is the most comprehensive resource in the entire Complete Foundation Batch series, and this article has matched that depth with the most detailed written guide in the series.

Your ultimate 15-point exam-day checklist:

• 1206 AD: Qutbuddin Aibak = Mamluk dynasty = Lakh Baksh = Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque = started Qutub Minar = polo accident death
• Iltutmish: completed Qutub Minar, Tanka coin, Caliph recognition 1229, nominated Razia Sultan
• Razia Sultan: only woman Sultan, no purdah, husband Altunia, deposed 1240
• Balban: Blood and Iron, destroyed Chalisa, Sijda+Paibos, Zill-i-Ilahi, Diwan-i-Arz
• Alauddin Khilji: killed Jalal-ud-din, 5–6 Mongol defeats, 4 markets + Shahana-i-Mandi, Revenue 50%, Dagh+Chehra, Malik Kafur (South India), Amir Khusrau (Tuti-i-Hind, sitar, Khazain-ul-Futuh), Alai Darwaza (first true arch+dome in India)
• Muhammad Bin Tughlaq: Daulatabad transfer, Token currency, Ibn Battuta (Rihla, Qazi of Delhi), 22 rebellions
• Firoz Shah Tughlaq: abolished torture, 5 canals, 5 cities (Firozabad+Fatehabad+Hissar+Jaunpur+Firozpur), Diwan-i-Khairat, moved Ashokan Pillars, wrote Futuhat-i-Firozshahi
• Timur 1398: sacked Delhi, Mahmud Shah Tughlaq fled, Sultanate never recovered
• Sayyid dynasty: Khizr Khan (Rayat-i-Ala, NOT Sultan), 4 rulers, Alam Shah abdicated to Bahlul Lodi
• Bahlul Lodi: Afghan dynasty, treated nobles as equals, conquered Jaunpur 1479
• Sikandar Lodi: founded Agra 1504 AD, Gaz-i-Sikandari, pen name Gulrukhi
• Ibrahim Lodi: First Battle of Panipat = 21 April 1526 = Babur won with artillery = Ibrahim killed = Delhi Sultanate ends = Mughal Empire begins
• Qutub Minar: Aibak started, Iltutmish completed, Firoz Shah repaired, 72.5m, UNESCO 1993
• Iqta system: revenue territory assigned to military officer (Muqti), NOT hereditary, defining feature of Sultanate administration
• Chishti Sufis: Moinuddin Chishti (Ajmer, Gharib Nawaz) = Nizamuddin Auliya (Delhi) = Amir Khusrau was disciple of Nizamuddin