He is been famous for his experiments, denounced for his world famous acts and maligned for his brave but wrong gone steps. He is disliked by his own historian, defamed by almost all the novels and historical books and carried the tag for modern day politicians whose decisions often stand wrong. Whether it is transfer of capital, use of token currency, the expedition in Himalaya or agriculture reforms, he is been criticized for each and every step which he undertook as a supreme commander of medieval army. There would be very few who don’t know the name of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, India’s often tagged as a medieval king.
But was he a mere experimental machine? Or there was the required thought process behind every decision. Let’s see where the modern writers interpreted it wrongly. Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s historical decision to transfer the capital from Delhi in the north to Devgiri in the south has been highly criticized not only by his own contemporary historian but also by the modern writers. But we have to look at the circumstances of that time. Muhammad had two reasons in shifting the capital. First, he wanted to save his capital from continuous foreign invasions coming from North-West specially the Khaiber pass. Second, he wanted to control southern states which were prosperous in terms of gold mines and iron.
There is nothing wrong in shifting the capital from one place to another. Earlier, it was done by many kings for example during ancient phase; Maurya king did shift his capital from Rajigir to Patliputra. King Akbar preferred Agra over Delhi. So it was not the first or the last decision taken by any king. Also, during the reign of his father Giyasuddin Tughlaq, the central control over the whole India had already been established. So it was necessary to keep that control intact without having to lose southern states. His Nobles did suggest him to make Ujjain as the capital but his familiarity with Devgiri triggerd him to make it as capital of the whole state. The decision taken at that time was according to the situation. It had a futuristic approach. If this decision would been successful then the state might have established a strong center without any foreign disturbances which might have triggered the growth of renaissance. The results of renaissance could have been very much different. Long term prosperity might have given the required boost to trade and commerce which might have placed India at the central place of the world.
He is also criticized for his decision to bring token currency in India which he later repealed following large scale confusion and disturbance in trade due to forging practices. Again, though the decision was first time implemented in India but it was already in practice in some other parts. For example, Mughal king Kublai Khan had successfully implemented the token currency. So we can’t say that it was a imagination which went wrong from the part of Sultan. Further, there was a shortage of silver at that time so the situation compelled Tughlaq to introduce currency made up of copper and brass. The shortage of silver was present nearly in all trading partner kingdoms. If this token currency would have been continued then India might again have emerged as a super power of that time. The only thing which went wrong in this episode is that the king failed to control its forging. If this thing was corrected then the situation might have been different.
Muhammad bin tughlaq is again criticized for his failure of Karachil expedition which was situated in modern day kulu kangra region in Himachal valley. At that time, it was thought that khitai or old china region was just opposite of Himalaya. So Muhammad sent a large army which was defeated by the cold weather itself. Only 10000 soldiers came back. Again it was not the first decision taken by any king. Great personalities like Napoleon had earlier carried out the similar expedition successfully when he crossed the Alps Mountain. That time every minister of his cabinet thought it to be impossible, but Nepolean went ahead with his decision. Military leaders sometime have to take decision based on the calculated risk and not on the advice of his subsidiaries. As it is always said, no mission involving danger works according to plan. Brave leaders can’t abandon a mission on the excuse of avoiding dangers.
Muhammad’s decision to establish Diwan-i-amir-kohi, an agriculture area of 100*100 sq km to augment the agricultural production also looks to be correct. For one thing, there was a famine for 7 continuous years and the resources of royal treasure were continuously declining. It was important to form such area with no small place in itself with a scope for arid region. It was this Muhammad’s idea which was copied by later Mughal kings to defeat the famines.
From all these things, it can be concluded that Muhammad was a reformist in itself. He dared to think 1000 years ahead of his time which his contemporary failed to understand. He not only led a thought process but he had that required courage to execute his own decisions. Despite of having continuous failures he dared to experiment and tried again and again. The foundation of modern day bureaucracy is embedded in the thought process of Tughlaq. The modern day token currency, the agriculture area reservation, foundation of smart cities and its requirement, the expedition to know about universe- these are all the things whose premises can be found in the thought process of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. Though he failed but he taught us not to fail until we succeed.
But was he a mere experimental machine? Or there was the required thought process behind every decision. Let’s see where the modern writers interpreted it wrongly. Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s historical decision to transfer the capital from Delhi in the north to Devgiri in the south has been highly criticized not only by his own contemporary historian but also by the modern writers. But we have to look at the circumstances of that time. Muhammad had two reasons in shifting the capital. First, he wanted to save his capital from continuous foreign invasions coming from North-West specially the Khaiber pass. Second, he wanted to control southern states which were prosperous in terms of gold mines and iron.
There is nothing wrong in shifting the capital from one place to another. Earlier, it was done by many kings for example during ancient phase; Maurya king did shift his capital from Rajigir to Patliputra. King Akbar preferred Agra over Delhi. So it was not the first or the last decision taken by any king. Also, during the reign of his father Giyasuddin Tughlaq, the central control over the whole India had already been established. So it was necessary to keep that control intact without having to lose southern states. His Nobles did suggest him to make Ujjain as the capital but his familiarity with Devgiri triggerd him to make it as capital of the whole state. The decision taken at that time was according to the situation. It had a futuristic approach. If this decision would been successful then the state might have established a strong center without any foreign disturbances which might have triggered the growth of renaissance. The results of renaissance could have been very much different. Long term prosperity might have given the required boost to trade and commerce which might have placed India at the central place of the world.
He is also criticized for his decision to bring token currency in India which he later repealed following large scale confusion and disturbance in trade due to forging practices. Again, though the decision was first time implemented in India but it was already in practice in some other parts. For example, Mughal king Kublai Khan had successfully implemented the token currency. So we can’t say that it was a imagination which went wrong from the part of Sultan. Further, there was a shortage of silver at that time so the situation compelled Tughlaq to introduce currency made up of copper and brass. The shortage of silver was present nearly in all trading partner kingdoms. If this token currency would have been continued then India might again have emerged as a super power of that time. The only thing which went wrong in this episode is that the king failed to control its forging. If this thing was corrected then the situation might have been different.
Muhammad bin tughlaq is again criticized for his failure of Karachil expedition which was situated in modern day kulu kangra region in Himachal valley. At that time, it was thought that khitai or old china region was just opposite of Himalaya. So Muhammad sent a large army which was defeated by the cold weather itself. Only 10000 soldiers came back. Again it was not the first decision taken by any king. Great personalities like Napoleon had earlier carried out the similar expedition successfully when he crossed the Alps Mountain. That time every minister of his cabinet thought it to be impossible, but Nepolean went ahead with his decision. Military leaders sometime have to take decision based on the calculated risk and not on the advice of his subsidiaries. As it is always said, no mission involving danger works according to plan. Brave leaders can’t abandon a mission on the excuse of avoiding dangers.
Muhammad’s decision to establish Diwan-i-amir-kohi, an agriculture area of 100*100 sq km to augment the agricultural production also looks to be correct. For one thing, there was a famine for 7 continuous years and the resources of royal treasure were continuously declining. It was important to form such area with no small place in itself with a scope for arid region. It was this Muhammad’s idea which was copied by later Mughal kings to defeat the famines.
From all these things, it can be concluded that Muhammad was a reformist in itself. He dared to think 1000 years ahead of his time which his contemporary failed to understand. He not only led a thought process but he had that required courage to execute his own decisions. Despite of having continuous failures he dared to experiment and tried again and again. The foundation of modern day bureaucracy is embedded in the thought process of Tughlaq. The modern day token currency, the agriculture area reservation, foundation of smart cities and its requirement, the expedition to know about universe- these are all the things whose premises can be found in the thought process of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq. Though he failed but he taught us not to fail until we succeed.
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