Analyzing Statements about Malik Ambar

The question asks us to identify the correct statements among the given options regarding Malik Ambar, a prominent figure in the history of the Deccan Sultanates.

Let's examine each statement:

• Statement (A): Malik Ambar was sold at Ahmadnagar to Chingiz Khan, the minister of Murtaza Nizam Shah.
• Analysis (A): Historical accounts confirm that Malik Ambar, an Abyssinian by origin, was brought to India as a slave. He was eventually purchased by Chingiz Khan, a powerful minister of the Nizam Shahi sultanate of Ahmadnagar. This statement is historically accurate.
• Statement (B): Battle of Bhatvadi was one of the decisive battles in the history of Deccan won by Malik Ambar.
• Analysis (B): The Battle of Bhatvadi, fought in 1624, was a significant military engagement where the forces led by Malik Ambar decisively defeated a combined Mughal and Bijapur army. This victory greatly enhanced Malik Ambar's reputation and temporarily checked Mughal expansion in the Deccan. This statement is correct.
• Statement (C): In 1607, Malik Ambar transferred his capital to Khirki, about 10 miles from Daulatabad.
• Analysis (C): Malik Ambar did establish a new capital city at Khirki (later renamed Aurangabad by the Mughals) near Daulatabad. Khirki became the administrative and military center under his leadership. However, the precise year of the *transfer* or establishment as the official capital varies in historical sources. While he founded Khirki and made it his base, the year 1607 is considered inaccurate based on the provided correct answer option.
• Statement (D): Malik Ambar defeated Abdullah khan, the Governor of Gujarat.
• Analysis (D): Abdullah Khan Firoz Jung was a notable Mughal general who was appointed Governor of Gujarat and tasked with operations in the Deccan. Malik Ambar engaged Mughal forces on multiple occasions and inflicted defeats upon them. Specifically, Malik Ambar's forces defeated the Mughals under Abdullah Khan around 1610. This statement is correct.
• Statement (E): Malik Ambar's revenue system was based primarily on Raja Todarmal's model.
• Analysis (E): Malik Ambar implemented significant administrative and revenue reforms in the Ahmadnagar kingdom. His land revenue system was indeed based on the principles similar to those introduced by Raja Todar Mal during the reign of Emperor Akbar, particularly focusing on systematic land measurement and assessment. This statement is correct.

Based on the analysis, statements (A), (B), (D), and (E) are historically correct, while statement (C) is considered incorrect regarding the specific year mentioned.

Therefore, the correct combination of statements is (A), (B), (D), and (E).

Revision Table: Correctness of Statements

Additional Information on Malik Ambar

Malik Ambar (c. 1548–1626) was an Abyssinian military leader and regent of the Ahmadnagar Sultanate in the Deccan region of India. He played a crucial role in resisting the expansion of the Mughal Empire in the Deccan.

• Early Life: Born in Ethiopia (Abyssinia), he was brought to the Deccan as a slave and eventually gained freedom and rose through the ranks.
• Military Prowess: He was known for his effective use of guerrilla warfare tactics against the larger Mughal armies.
• Administration: Besides military leadership, he was a skilled administrator, implementing revenue reforms and promoting agriculture.
• Conflict with Mughals: Malik Ambar spent decades defending the Nizam Shahi kingdom against Mughal attempts to conquer it, engaging in numerous battles with prominent Mughal generals.

His career is a significant chapter in the history of the Deccan Sultanates and their interactions with the Mughal Empire.