Muhammad Bin Tughlaq – Estimate of His Personality

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (MBT) ascended the throne of Delhi Sultanate in c. 1325 AD. His 26 years long reign enjoyed a great significance in the history of Turko-Afghan rule in India. After ascending the throne of Delhi Sultanate, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq undertook number of reforms, innovations and military expeditions. He is considered as one of the most striking personalities of Medieval age.

Different scholars and historians had put forward number of views about the Sultan Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. He has been termed as wonder of creations, mass of inconsistency, freak of nature, a nightmare, a mad man as well as most generous ruler of Delhi Sultanate.

Also Read : Muhammad Bin Tughlaq – Taxation and Agriculture Farm

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq – Khurasan and Qarachil Expeditions

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq – Transfer of Capital and Currency Reforms

Estimate of Personality of Sultan Muhammad Bin Tughlaq

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was a patronage of art and culture. He was an efficient ruler and a capable military commander. He was the most leaned ruler ever sat on the throne of Delhi in the entire history of Medieval India. He knew many languages like Persian and Arabic. He was a well-known scholar of Mathematic and Astronomy. He was one of the most accomplished scholars of his time.

Even Ziauddin Barani, a strong critic of MBT, also described him as a learned scholar and wonder of creation. He was a kind hearted person because he raised his cousin Firoz Shah Tughlaq like his son who eventually succeeded him. He was a great ruler as he adopted number of liberal and progressive ideas during his reign. His initiatives imparted number of new orientations in the state system of Delhi Sultanate.

He took deep interest in the affairs of state and didn’t allow Ulemas to interfere in the Political affairs. Religious freedom was granted to peoples during his reign and he even tried to stop the practice of Sati. Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was a successful military commander as he ruled over the most extensive empire of the Medieval India. He patronized art and culture as he built the city of Jahanpanah and patronage number of scholars in his court.

The man of learning received gifts and favors from Sultan Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. Because of this he has been praised by his contemporaries. Ziauddin Barani lived in his court and Moroccan traveler Ibn Battuta was patronized by him as also appointed as Qazi of Delhi. He also took interest in maintaining the foreign relations with neighboring states. Ibn Battuta was sent as his ambassador to China, though he could not reach and returned midway.

The Chinese ruler was granted permission by him to repair temples of Himalaya kingdom at Qarachil that was damaged by his army.

Failure as A Ruler

Sultan Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was failure as a ruler because when he sat on throne of Delhi, sultanate was strong and stable. But when he died in c. 1351 AD., there was crisis everywhere. Entire Peninsular India declared independence and Madurai was the first to do so in c. 1335 AD. In c. 1336 AD, the Vijayanagara Empire was founded was Harihara and Bukka.

In c. 1347 AD, Bahmani Kingdom covering parts of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra and Karnataka was founded by Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah. Sindh was up in arms. At the time of his death, he was busy in suppressing that revolt of Sindh. Peoples of Delhi was living a resent life because of the transfer of capital. The peasants of Doab also become rebellious because of the taxation reforms in Doab region.

Hence, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq was a man of contradictory personality. Most of occasion he was liberal while some occasion he was so cruel and harsh.