Deccan Policy of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

Deccan Policy of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

Muhammad-bin-Tughluq was an ambitious ruler. By the time of his accession, he had established his control over Deogiri and Telangana in the South. Telengana was divided into several parts and a separate Governor was appointed for each part. These Governors tried to enhance their influence with cooperation and support of the Hindu rulers. No doubt, the Sultan of Delhi had established their control and annexed it to their empire but the distance between North and South was always a problem. It was very difficult for the rulers to maintain their control over distant South, hence the governors of the South often struck out for independence. They lacked the feeling of obedience and cooperation with the Sultan of Delhi. Unfortunately, Muhammad-bin-Tughluq could not stay in his new capital Daulatabad for a long time, so the problem of the South could not be solved and the kingdoms of the South became independent, after some time.

The sultan and his liberal policies were by and large responsible for making the problem of the South grave, as many persons migrated to India being impressed by his tolerance. The Sultan appointed them to significant posts in the army and administration. Most of the South Indian nobles were appointed in Gujarat, Malwa and the Deccan. The local Turkish nobles had hatred and jealousy against them, so the foreign nobles organized themselves strongly and these nobles later on became an intricate problem for the Sultan. However, before the outbreak of the revolt of Ahsan Shah, the position of the Sultan remained quite strong in the South but after this the Governors of the South and local Hindu rulers became anxious of their independence.

The flames of revolt that swept through the North, ultimately reached the South and proved fatal for the very survival of the Delhi Sultanate. The revolts of Deccan could not be crushed successfully and the kingdoms of the south began to achieve independence, one by one. The establishment of Vijaynagar Empire and liberation of Bahmani kingdom were also the offshoots of these revolts.

Criticism of the Deccan Policy of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq

The reign of Muhammad-bin-Tughluq was quite extensive. He was well-versed in the problems of the South and in order to deal with them, he ordered for the transfer of capital, but unfortunately, his scheme failed which affected his powers and prestige adversely. The sultan failed to establish his control over the provinces of the South due to long distances and the Hindu rules of the South made a union of their own in order to cast off the yoke of Muslim slavery.

The Amiran-i-Sadah of the South also revolted against the Sultan. In spite of his best efforts the Sultan could not achieve success against the rebels of the South. As a result, confusion and corruption went on increasing in the South. In affected the realization of taxes adversely and weakened the administration of Delhi Sultanate. Hence the kingdoms of the South became independent one by one. Vijaynagar and Bahmani kingdoms were the most prominent of them. In fact, his policy in the south proved very harmful and it also gave rise to revolts in the North. The oppressive policies of the Sultan flared them all the more and ultimately it became impossible for the Sultan to suppress them.

Milan Tomic

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