Qutbuddin Aibak was a Turkish slave who rose to a position of prominence in Muhammad Ghori's army. He took over control of Muhammad Ghori's Indian possessions after his death in AD 1206. He was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate and the first independent Muslim ruler of Northern India. Qutbuddin Aibak was courageous, devoted, and generous. He was known as "Lakh Baksh'' because of his generosity. Most scholars regard Aibak as the true founder of Mulsim rule in India. In this article, we will discuss the Important Ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty Qutb ud-Din Aibak (1206-1210 AD) which will be helpful for UPSC exam preparation.

Qutb ud-Din Aibak - Background

• Qutubuddin Aibak was an Indian general in the Ghurid army who lived between 1150 and 1210 CE.
• Muhammad Ghori appointed Aibak as commander of his Indian territories following the Ghurid victory in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192.
• Aibak increased Ghurid power in northern India by conquering and raiding several kingdoms, including Chahamana, Gahadavala, Chaulukya, Chandela, and others.
• When Muhammad Ghori died in 1206, Aibak fought for control of Ghurid territories in northwestern India with another former slave-general, Taj al-Din Yildiz.
• Aibak had to deal with numerous revolts by Rajputs and other Indian chiefs.
• Aibak was able to win over his opponents through both conciliatory measures and a show of power.
• Aibak was succeeded by Aram Shah, and then by his son-in-law Iltutmish, who transformed India's loosely held Ghurid territories into the powerful Delhi Sultanate.
• Aibak is best known for commissioning the Delhi Qutb Minar and the Ajmer Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra.

Achievements of Qutb ud-Din Aibak

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak was primarily responsible for northern India's conquests, which aided Ghori in consolidating his position there.
• After 1192, Sultan Ghori was gradually given independent command of the conquests in India as he focused on Central Asia.
• After the Ghurid victory in the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192, Mu'izz ad-Din (Ghori) appointed Aibak as commander of his Indian territories.
• Qutb-ud-din decided to maintain his independence from Central Asian policies.
• He started by strengthening his position in Delhi and Lahore.
• He tried to convince some Turkish nobles to submit to him. He won their approval by marrying his sister to Qabacha and his daughter to Iltutmish.
• Qutb-ud-din had to deal with some internal issues as well. Some Khalji nobles deposed and imprisoned Ali Mardan Khan, ruler of Bengal and Bihar, and offered the throne to Muhammad Sheran, who promised to govern Bengal independently.
• In contrast, Ali Mardan escaped from prison and travelled to Delhi, where he requested that Qutb-ud-din intervene in Bengali affairs.
• Qutb-ud-din granted his request and delegated the matter to the nobleman Qaiwaz Rumi Khan.
• Rumi Khan conquered the Bengal Khalji nobles through a combination of force and diplomacy.
• He persuaded them to appoint Ali Mardan as governor of Bengal under the Suzerainty of Delhi.
• As a result, Ali Mardan was appointed governor of Bengal and agreed to pay an annual tribute to Qutb-ud-din.
• In contrast, Qutb-ud-din was unable to continue his kingdom's expansion policy. He kept himself occupied by defending his freedom.
• His primary concerns were affairs in the northwest states and Bengal in the east, because of this he spent more time in Lahore than in Delhi.

Religion of Qutb ud-Din Aibak

• Aibak was a devout Muslim who "uprooted idolatry" and "destroyed temples" in Kuhram.
• During Aibak's reign, Hindu temples in Meerut, Banaras, and Kalinjar were converted into mosques, including "a thousand temples" in Banaras alone.
• The architectural remains at the Qutb Minar complex in Delhi and the Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer were built using the remains of demolished Hindu temples.
• Aibak's army eventually began recruiting Hindu soldiers and his army included Hindu soldiers during the siege of Meerut (1192).
• Similarly, Hindu chiefs (ranas and thakurs) were among the "forces of Hindustan" (Hasham-i Hindustan) that accompanied him to Ghazni in 1206.

Death of Qutb ud-Din Aibak

• Qutb-ud-din Aibak died in an accident while playing polo in 1210.
• He was severely injured when he fell from his horse. He was laid to rest near the Anarkali bazaar in Lahore.
• He was succeeded by Aram Shah, who ruled only for 8 months and then Iltutmish succeeded him.
• His tomb is now located in Anarkali bazaar, Lahore.
• The tomb was built in its current form during the 1970s by Pakistan's Department of Archaeology and Museums, which attempted to replicate Sultanate-era architecture.

Tomb of Qutb ud-din Aibak

Conclusion

The first Turkish Sultan of Delhi, Qutb-ud-din became the ruler of Delhi in 1206. He is regarded as the true founder of Turkish rule in India. Aibak was completely self-sufficient by the time he became Sultan of Delhi. As a result, he is rightly known as Delhi's first Turkish Sultan. He did not, however, find Delhi's throne to be a bed of roses. He faced numerous challenges both within and outside the country. He built Adhai Din Ka Jhonpra in Ajmer and started the construction of Qutub Minar which was later completed by his successor Iltutmish.

FAQs

MCQs

1. Who was the founder of the Mamluk Dynasty in India?

A. Iltutmish
B. Balban
C. Qutb-ud-Din Aibak
D. Alauddin Khalji

2. Which monument’s construction was initiated by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak?

A. Red Fort
B. Qutub Minar
C. Jama Masjid
D. Gol Gumbaz

3. Who succeeded Qutb-ud-Din Aibak as the ruler of Delhi?

A. Razia Sultan
B. Iltutmish
C. Muhammad Ghori
D. Balban

4. Which mosque was constructed by Qutb-ud-Din Aibak in Delhi?

A. Jama Masjid
B. Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque
C. Fatehpur Sikri Mosque
D. Moti Masjid

5. How did Qutb-ud-Din Aibak die?

A. Assassination
B. In battle
C. Horse-riding accident
D. Natural causes

GS Mains Questions and Model Answers

Q1: Discuss the role of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak in establishing Muslim rule in India.

Answer: Qutb-ud-Din Aibak played a pivotal role in establishing Muslim rule in India by founding the Delhi Sultanate in 1206 AD. As a trusted general of Muhammad Ghori, Aibak successfully expanded Ghori's Indian territories and defended them after Ghori’s death. By declaring himself the Sultan of Delhi, he laid the foundation for the Mamluk Dynasty, the first of five dynasties that would rule the Delhi Sultanate. His administrative groundwork, combined with his military achievements, ensured the longevity of the Sultanate. Aibak's patronage of architecture, particularly the Qutub Minar, signified the establishment of Islamic architectural traditions in India.

Q2: Analyze the significance of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak’s contributions to architecture in medieval India.

Answer: Qutb-ud-Din Aibak’s contributions to architecture were significant as they marked the beginning of Islamic architectural styles in medieval India. He initiated the construction of the Qutub Minar, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which is one of the most important monuments of Islamic architecture in India. Additionally, Aibak built the Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, the first mosque in Delhi. His patronage of such monumental projects laid the foundation for the development of Islamic art and architecture in India, a tradition that was continued by his successors.

Q3: Evaluate the political and administrative achievements of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak during his reign.

Answer: Politically, Qutb-ud-Din Aibak consolidated the territories won by Muhammad Ghori and successfully expanded the influence of the Delhi Sultanate. He managed to keep the Sultanate intact despite threats from internal factions and external enemies. Administratively, Aibak laid the groundwork for the centralized governance system that would be further developed by his successors, particularly Iltutmish. His brief reign was significant in shaping the early administrative structures of the Delhi Sultanate, which helped stabilize the newly established empire and laid the foundation for future growth.

Previous Year Questions from Qutb ud-Din Aibak (1206-1210 AD)

1. UPSC CSE Prelims 2019

Question: Which Sultan of Delhi initiated the construction of the Qutub Minar?
A. Iltutmish
B. Balban
C. Qutb-ud-Din Aibak
D. Alauddin Khalji

Answer: C

Explanation: Qutb-ud-Din Aibak initiated the construction of the Qutub Minar during his reign as the first Sultan of Delhi.

2. UPSC CSE Mains 2020 (GS Paper 1)

Question: Discuss the role of Qutb-ud-Din Aibak in the establishment of Muslim rule in India.

Explanation: Qutb-ud-Din Aibak, a former slave of Muhammad Ghori, established the Mamluk Dynasty and became the first Sultan of Delhi in 1206 AD. His reign marked the beginning of Muslim rule in India. Aibak successfully defended the Sultanate from external threats and consolidated the territories won by Ghori in northern India. His architectural legacy, including the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque, symbolized the establishment of Islamic culture in India. Aibak’s contribution laid the foundation for the Delhi Sultanate, which lasted for over three centuries.