Sovereign or Subordinate? Reassessing Bakhtiy...

Sovereign or Subordinate? Reassessing Bakhtiyar Khilji’s Rule in Bengal

Author Name : Vaibhav Dikshit, Dr. Mukesh Pal

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56025/IJARESM.2024.1208241112

ABSTRACT The establishment of Muslim rule in India was a gradual process marked by both conquest and consolidation.At the forefront of this expansion were enterprising military generals like Muhammad ibn Bakhtiyar Khilji and Qutubuddin Aibak. Bakhtiyar’s conquests in Bengal laid the groundwork for the eastward expansion of the Delhi Sultanate, significantly impacting the geopolitical landscape of the subcontinent.This paper investigates the complex power dynamics between Muhammad ibn Bakhtiyar Khilji, the ambitious conqueror, and Qutubuddin Aibak, the representative of the Ghurids in India.While conventional narratives portray Khilji as subordinate to Aibak, a closer examination reveals a more nuanced picture. Through careful analysis of primary sources like the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri of Minhaj-us-Siraj, and the histories of Hasan Nizami and Ferishta, the paper offers a detailed exploration of the life, military campaigns, and historical implications of the conquests of Bakhtiyar Khilji. It scrutinizes conflicting historical narratives surrounding his endeavours, shedding light on his relations with contemporary rulers and the nature of his governance. Though Minhaj’s account suggests that he offered submission to Aibak, the analysis reveals that Bakhtiyar Khilji operated with a high degree of autonomy. These findings shed light on the decentralized nature of early Muslim rule in India and the challenges of reconstructing a comprehensive historical narrative.