Muhammad bin Tughlaq (1325-1351) : Medieval Indian History

Muḥammad ibn Tughluq was the second sultan of the Tughluq dynasty (reigned 1325–51), who briefly extended the rule of the Delhi sultanate of northern India over most of the subcontinent.

As a result of misguided administrative actions and unexampled severity toward his opponents, he eventually lost his authority in the south; at the end of his reign, the sultanate had begun to decline in power.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq has been bestowed with many epithets in history. It is not surprising since he was a remarkable personality.

He was a profoundly gifted ruler who tried to create a new system of administration, but failed. In the future, he might be remembered for some of the innovative, bold, and original experiments he tried on his quest for modernizing India.

Contemporary writers like Isami, Barani and Ibn Battutah were unable to give a correct picture about his personality.

But, Muhammad bin Tughlaq was the only Delhi Sultan who had received a comprehensive literary, religious and philosophical education.

Transfer of Capital

Muhammad bin Tughlaq had a grandiose vision. He wanted to make Devagiri his second capital so that he might be able to control South India better. In order to do that, he needed a huge chunk of funds.

In 1327 he made extensive preparations for the transfer of royal household and the ulemas and Sufis from Delhi to Devagiri, which was renamed as Daulatabad.

Distance between these two places was more than 1500 kilometres. Many people died during the rigorous journey in the summer. After two years, the Sultan abandoned Daulatabad and asked them to return to Delhi.

Token Currency

In 1329-30 Muhammad bin Tughlaq introduced a token currency. There was a shortage of silver throughout the world in the fourteenth century and Europe suffered a recession for this reason. Muhammad bin Tughlaq, in order to overcome this problem in India, tried to rectify it in India in a very novel way.

Kublai Khan issued paper money in China. In the same manner, Muhammad bin Tughlaq issued copper coins at par with the value of the silver tanka coins. But he was not able to prevent forging the new coins.

Soon the new coins were not accepted in the markets, Muhammad bin Tughlaq – promised to exchange – silver coins for the copper coins, but the treasury became empty. According the Barani, the heap of copper coins remained lying on roadside in Tughlaqabad.

Taxation in Doab

Muhammad bin Tughluq introduced many reforms in his kingdom. These included administrative, revenue, and military reforms. He increased the land revenue on the farmers of Doab, which angered them so much that they raised themselves in revolt against him. This forced him to retreat from this policy.

Severe famine was also ravaging that region at that time. They fled from the villages but Muhammad bin Tughlaq took harsh measures to capture and punish.

Agricultural Reforms

Agriculture being the primary economic activity of any country, at least in the bygone medieval period it was, was always given due importance by the sultans.

Multan realized later that adequate relief measures and the promotion of agriculture were the real solutions to the problem. He launched a scheme by which takkavi loans (loans for cultivation) were given to the farmers to buy seed and to extend irrigation facilities.

A separate department for agriculture, Diwan- i- Kohi was established. This experiment was further continued by Firoz Tughlaq

Rebellions

A number of rebellions by nobles, provincial governors, and religious leaders took place during Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s rule.

These rebellions beset his four-year rule. The rebellions were relatively small in scale, caused localized disturbances, or affected particular regions within the empire.

It is not clear if these revolts were due to the harsh taxation imposed by Muhammad bin Tughlaq or due to his constant military campaigns.

Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s health became worse and he died in 1351. According to Baduani, the Sultan was freed from his people and the people from the Sultan.

According to Barani, Muhammad bin Tughlaq was a mixture of opposites. His reign marked the beginning of the process of its decline.