An emperor’s dream, a saint’s curse: The legend of Delhi’s third city

Subject: History

Section: Medieval India

Tughlaqabad Fort:

Tughlaqabad Fort is built in 1321 by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq– the first ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty that ruled in Delhi for nearly a century.
The fortress of Tughlaqabad stands on a rocky hill, about 8 kilometres from the Qutub Minar, and is the third of the seven cities of Delhi.
Roughly octagonal on plan with a perimeter of 6.5km, its 10 -15 m high rubble-built walls are provided with bastions and gates at intervals.
On its south was a vast reservoir created by erecting bunds between hills to its east, a causeway connected it with Ghiyathuddin’s tomb, standing amidst waters, while a wide embankment near its south-eastern corner gave access to the fortress of Adilabad, built later opposite it on another hill.
Adilabad fort was the personal residence of Mohammad Bin Tughlaq — Ghiyasuddin’s successor.
The fort was part of a larger city divided into three portions:
A rectangular area with high walls and bastions served as a citadel,
A wider area immediately to its west housed the palaces and houses, and
Beyond this to the north lay the city, remnants of which can be traced even now.

Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq:

His original name was Ghazi Malik.
He was a governor under the rule of Alauddin Khalji.
The idea to built a fortified city was given by him to Mubarak Khilji, the son and successor of Alauddin Khilji.
In 1320 A.D. when Tughlaq sat on the throne, he began work on his ambitious plan of fortified city.
He died in 1325 A.D.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq(1325-51):

He was a learned, cultured and talented prince but gained a reputation of being merciless, cruel and unjust.
He was very tolerant in religious matters.
His innovative reforms brought him a bad name, as they were not executed properly.
During the time of Muhammad bin TughlaqVijaynagar (1336) and Bahamani(1347) emerged.
Ibn Batuta, a Moroccan traveller visited Tughlaq. He recorded his observation in his book Qitab-ul-Rihla. Later he was sent to China as an ambassador of Tughlaq.
He addedjahanpanah city to Delhi.
His innovative (and failed) experiments include:
- Introduction of Token currency (Copper coins instead of Silver coins)
- Transfer of capital from Delhi to Devagiri (or Daulatabad)
- Increase in taxes in the Ganga-Yamuna doab area.
- Introduction of Takkavi loans (a form of Agriculture loan) and establishment of Diwan-e-Kohii.e. Department of Agriculture.
To curb the rebellion of Taghi, Tughlaq entered into the Sindh desert and died due to sunstroke at Thatta in 1351 AD.

Nizamuddin Auliya:

Syed Muhammad Nizamuddin Auliya was one of the most famous Sufi saints from the Indian subcontinent region.
Also known as Hazrat Nizamuddin, and Mahbub-e-Ilahi (Beloved of God), he was a Sunni Muslim scholar and Sufi saint of the Chishti Order.
He believed the love of God implied a love of humanity. He had a major influence on the Muslims of Delhi and the world over.
Nizamuddin Auliyawas born in 1238 AD in Badaun , Uttar Pradesh to Syed Abdullah bin Ahmad Al Hussaini Badayuni and Bibi Zulekha.
His father died when Nizamuddin was just five years old. At the age of 21, Nizamuddin went to Ajodhan(present Pakpattan Sharif in Pakistan) to become a disciple of the Sufi saint FariduddinGanjshakar, also known as Baba Farid.
He built his Khanqah (place of worship and holding Sufi rituals) which was thronged with all kinds of people, rich and poor alike.
Some of the famous disciples of Nizamuddin include – Shaikh Nasiruddin Chirag Delhavi, Amir Khusro, and the royal poet of the Delhi Sultanate.
He died on April 3, 1325. His dargah (shrine) ‘Hazrat Nizamuddin Aauliya Mehboob E Elahi Dargah’ was built in 1562 and is situated in the Nizamuddin West area of Delhi.