Muslim Rule in India and Bengal

Muslim Rule in India

• Muslim rule in India progressed through three significant stages.
• Muhammad bin Qasim initiated the first stage, defeating Dahir in 712 AD and establishing Muslim rule in Sindh and Multan, which was short-lived.
• Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India 17 times between 1000-1027, marking the second stage, though his rule did not firmly establish Muslim dominance.
• The establishment of Muslim rule in the Indian subcontinent occurred when Muizuddin Muhammad-bin-Sams defeated King Prithviraja in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, capturing Delhi and Ajmer.

Establishment of Muslim Rule in Bengal

• Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji, also known as Bakhtiyar-Khalgi, is credited with establishing Muslim rule in Bengal.
• Bakhtiyar Khalji sought employment with Shihabuddin Ghori in Ghazni and later with Qutubuddin of Delhi but was unsuccessful.
• Malik Hizbaruddin of Badaun appointed Bakhtiyar Khalji to his army where he had a monthly salary.
• Bakhtiyar Khalji's reputation for courage led to increased followers.
• He conquered Bihar, defeated its king, and then attacked Navadwip or Nadia in 1204 AD.
• Bakhtiyar Khalji defeated Laxsman Sena, leading to the establishment of Muslim rule in Bengal.

Independent Sultanate of Bengal (1338-1538)

• The Sultans of Delhi could not maintain control over Bengal for approximately 200 years.
• During this period, Bengal was ruled independently by its Sultans.
• Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah established the independent Sultanate of Bengal in 1338 and declared independence after seizing Sonargaon.
• Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, founder of the Ilyas Shahi dynasty, was the first to conquer all of Bengal, earning him the title Shah-i-Bangala.
• Ilyas Shah defeated Sultan Alauddin Ali Shah of Firuzabad in 1342, assumed the title of Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Shah, and ascended the throne of Firuzabad.
• Ilyas Shah expanded his territory to include Satgaon, Sonargaon, Nepal, Odissa, Kamrup, Tripura, and Lakhnauti and is also credited as the first to unite all of Bengal.
• Ilyas Shah was a religious leader who built mosques, madrasas, and increased foreign communications.
• Alauddin Husain Shah ascended the throne in 1493 by defeating the Habsee ruler Mozaffar Shah and was known as the Akbar of Bengal.
• Alauddin Hussain Shah defeated the Habsee dynasty and extended his kingdom to Tripura, Odissa, Assam, Kamrup, Sylhet, and Chittagong.
• Alauddin Hussain Shah established internal peace, built the Choto Sona Mosque, and inaugurated a golden era for Bengal.

The Mughal Empire (1526-1857) AD

• The Mughal Empire stands as one of the largest in Indian subcontinent history.
• Mughal empire was founded by Zahir Uddin Mohammad Babar, known as "Tiger".
• Babur was a descendant of Taimur Long and Genghis Khan.
• Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last Sultan of the Lodi dynasty, in the First Battle of Panipat in 1526, establishing the Mughal Empire.
• Gunpowder was first used in India under Babur, and his reign is documented in “Tuzuk-i-Babar” or “Babarnama”.
• Prominent Mughal Rulers include:
  • Zahir Uddin Mohammad Babar (1526-1530)
  • Nasir Uddin Mohammad Humayun (1530-1540, 1555-1556)
  • Jalal Uddin Mohammad Akbar (1556-1605)
  • Nur Uddin Mohammad Jahangir (1605-1627)
  • Shahjahan/Khurram (1627-1658)
  • Aurangzeb Alamgir (1658-1707)
• Bahadur Shah II was the last Mughal emperor (1837-1857).

Glories of Mughal Empire

• The Mughal Empire unified the Indian subcontinent, promoting overland and coastal trade.
• Mughal architecture, including the Taj Mahal, Humayun's Tomb, Fatehpur Sikri, the Red Fort, and the Agra Fort.
• Buildings named 'Katra' like 'Bara Katra' built by Shah Suja and 'Choto Katra' by Saesta Khan appeared during this time.
• Babur established the Babri Mosque in Uttar Pradesh in 1526, with Lalbagh Fort and Salimar Udyan also constructed under Mughal rule.
• Emperor Akbar introduced the Bengali year in 1556.
• The Mughals facilitated new trade routes to Arab and Turkic lands.
• Mughal expanded from Kabul to Assam and Kashmir to Mysore under Babur.
• The Mughal rulers were patrons of literature and culture, with figures like Abul Fazl, Todarmal, Birbal, and Mansingh at court.
• The Mughal revenue system and provincial organization were adopted by the English.
• The Mughals were liberal towards Hindus.
• Mughal emperors formed diverse armies.

Administration

• The Mughal Empire was divided into "Subas," then into "Sarkar," "Pargana," and "Gram."
• During Akbar's reign, there were 15 Subas, increasing to 20 under Aurangzeb.
• Akbar introduced the Mansabdari system indicating rank, which was both civil and military.
• Soldiers, horses, and elephants were maintained by mansabdars.
• Revenue collection methods included Kankut, Rai, and Zabti.
• Subas were divided into Sarkars at the village level.

Suppression of Bar Bhuiyans

• Emperor Akbar could not establish authority over all of Bengal because of powerful Zamindars.
• Zamindars resisted Mughal subjection and defended independence.
• Isha Khan led the Zamindars, known as Bhuyians.
• Key Bhuyians and their regions:
  • Isha Khan, Musa Khan: Dhaka, Mymensingh, parts of Pabna, Bogra, Rangpur
  • Chand Roy, Kedar Roy: Sherpur (Bikrimpur, Munshiganj)
  • Bahadur Gazi: Bhawal
  • Sona Gazi: Sarail (Tripura border)
  • Osman Khan: Bokainagar (Sylhet)
  • Vinod Roy, Madhu Roy: Chandrapratap (Manikganj)
  • Raja Kandarpa Narayan Ramchandra: Part of Barisal
  • Mukundaram, Satrajit: Bhushana (Faridpur)
• The Bhuyians rebelled against the Mughals.
• Emperor Jahangir's rule was established over the Bhuyians by Subadar Islam Khan (1608-1613).

Decline of Mughal Empire

• The Great Mughal Empire declined in the 18th century's first half.
• Conflicts over succession weakened the empire due to lack of a definite succession law.
• The empire's vastness made it difficult to govern from one center.
• Invasions by Afghan rulers Nadir Shah and Ahmed Shah Abdali hastened the decline.
• Successors' taxes on farmers, merchants, and artisans led to economic issues.
• Armies from varied countries with differing tactics led to instability.
• By 1803, the British occupied Delhi, reducing the Mughal Emperor's status.