Continued from: DELHI SULTANATE- Muslim invasions in India- PART 2
In many ways Sultan Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah's (r. 1316- 1320) sane administrative policies seemed like those of his grand-uncle JALAL UD-DIN FIRUZ KHALJI (r. 1290-1296 CE). But his personal life was afflicted by perversions that he had inherited from his father and predecessor Ala ud-din Khalji (r. 1296-1316 CE).
A 16th CE historian named Firishta speaks of Mubarak as 'a monster in the shape of a man'. Despite having many women in his harem, he indulged with innumerable prostitutes in the most inhumanly degradable manner and used them to humiliate the nobles of his court.
In addition he killed his half-brother KHIZR KHAN, and took the wife DEVALA DEVI into his own harem.
The obsession for HASAN
Like his father Ala ud-din, Mubarak Shah was also bisexual and made no qualms about it. And similar to his father's obsession for MALIK KAFUR, Mubarak was obsessed with HASAN. And when Hasan was busy, Mubarak lusted Husamuddin, Hasan's uterine brother (ie. brother from the same mother but different fathers). Both brothers were originally Hindu Gujarati Baradu (Baradu is a Hindu warrior clan). During the MALWA conquests they were brought to Delhi as slaves. Given Mubarak's obvious obsession for the brothers, they rose to high offices quickly. HASAN was conferred with the title KHUSRAU KHAN and given the post of Vazir (Prime Minister).
Now whether KHUSRAU KHAN can be called a hero or a villian? depends on which side of the fence you are on. But here are a few facts ~
HASAN (KHUSRAU KHAN)'s presence in Sultan Qutbuddin Mubarak Shah's life brought a fresh sense of relief to Hindus of the DELHI SULTANATE at the time. Ala ud-din KHALJI and other Muslim rulers before him had greatly persecuted Hindus with higher taxes than Muslims. Now that had changed, Mubarak Shah brought in new land reforms. Land tax rates were reduced considerably thus benefiting both Hindu landowners and peasants. This was indeed a breath of fresh air and Hindus could now live a better lifestyle.
Since he had been forcibly converted to Islam, he understood well the damage it was causing to Hindu lives, culture and traditions. Husamuddin, his brother reverted back to his original Hindu roots for which he was charged with apostasy* by the Muslim nobles of the court. But the Sultan himself didn't think much of it and merely slapped Husamuddin as a casual sign of disapproval.
*Apostasy from Islam- Even if an individual is forcibly converted to Islam, once he's a Muslim- he can no longer leave the faith. The punishment for apostasy is death as per Islam Quranic teachings.
In the words of a chronicler named Barani, Mubarak was so enamoured by Hasan (KHUSRAU KHAN) that he did not want to be parted from him for even a moment.' I bet KHUSRAU KHAN knew this too well! And despite being fed-up with Mubarak's aggressive sexual advances... He held on till the time was just ripe.
But sexual gratification wasn't the only method KHUSRAU gained the Sultan's confidence. He had also conducted successful military campaigns against DEVAGIRI, and brought in immense wealth from a successful truce with the Kakatiya dynasty rulers of Warangal.
A HINDU BARADU ARMY OF MY OWN
KHUSRAU somehow managed to convince the Sultan that if other nobles can have their own band of followers, then why can't he? So after gaining approval, he enlisted soldiers from Gujarat. He had about 10,000 horsemen and several chiefs (Ranas) to command his army.
A PLAN TO KILL THE SULTAN
There were several other nobles in court who despised the Sultan's treatment of them. KHUSRAU conspired with them. He then convinced the Sultan that he would like his band of HINDU BARADU followers with him in the royal palace. This would enable him to conduct his work with them without leaving the Sultan's company. So each night about 400 soldiers entered the palace and stayed back in the ground floor rooms reserved for Malik Kafur previously.
Needless to say many of the nobles got suspicious about the movement of Hindu Baradus soldiers, but the Sultan brushed them away. So Maulana Ziauddin (or Qazi Ziauddin as he was known) decided to take things in his own hands. So on the night of 9 July 1320, he stepped down to the ground floor rooms. Meanwhile, Randhol, a Rana (chief) and a bunch Hindu Baradu troops entered the room. They had hidden daggers underneath their clothes. Randhol greeted him and offered him a paan (betel nut leaf preparation). No sooner Qazi let his guard down to accept the paan from Randhol, Jaharya, another Baradu chief stabbed him to death.
The Qazi's screams and commotion reached the Sultan's ears who was on the upper floor occupied with KHUSRAU KHAN. Once again KHUSRAU convinced the Sultan that the horses had broken loose and the guards were trying to get a hold of them.
Jaharya and the rest of the band then proceeded upstairs to kill the royal guards. It was about time that the Sultan Mubarak Khan realised that an ambush was underway, and he did when he learnt that his personal guards were killed. Hr attempted an escape, KHUSRAU KHAN seized him by the hair. A tussle ensued- the Sultan gaining an upper hand on KHUSRAU threw him on the floor. But KHUSRAU continued in keeping a strong grip on Mubarak's hair. Meantime, Jaharya rushed in and... that was that.
Sultan Qutb ud-din Mubarak Shah was beheaded and his head rolled into the courtyard. The Hindu Baradus then massacred all the remaining palace residents. They also had no intention of leaving alive any issues of the Sultan. So under the pretext of selecting a new heir to the throne they asked the mothers in the harem to hand over the sons. When the mothers refused, the BARADUS found the princes and killed them all. Even Jhatyapali, Mubarak's mother, was not spared.
CONCLUSION
These incidents brought many doubts to my mind that may unfounded, but nevertheless ~
đź’ˇGay or Straight - Maybe the Hindu Baradu brothers were actually straight but forced into homosexuality for the sake of the Sultan.
Maybe they conspired with intent to get in close terms with Mubarak Shah. The chronicler Barani considers the string of events leading to Mubarak Shah's death as a Hindu-Muslim conflict. KHUSRAU KHAN now ascended the throne of the DELHI SULTANATE. Then within a week the HINDU GUJARATI BARADUS had begun Hindu ritualistic worship in the palace and insulted the Koran by sitting on it. He also prohibited cow slaughter in the kingdom thereafter. Many debate Barani's narrative stating none of this happened and KHUSRAU KHAN lived the life of a muslim.
Or maybe there wasn't any conspiracy. The brothers were taken as slaves just like many others. As time passed, KHUSRAU was quite anguished with the Sultan's treatment towards him and took personal vendetta.
Back to: DELHI SULTANATE- Muslim invasions in India- PART 2
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