Ala ud din khilji

 

Answer: Ala-ud-din Khalji: Military and Market Reforms

Ala-ud-din Khalji was one of the strongest rulers of the Delhi Sultanate in India. He ruled from 1296 to 1316 CE and belonged to the Khalji dynasty. Before him, the Sultanate was weak with many rebellions and threats from outside. Ala-ud-din changed that with his smart ideas in the army and economy. He is famous for his military reforms, which made the army big and loyal, and his market reforms, which controlled prices to help the people and soldiers. These changes helped him conquer new lands and keep the kingdom safe. Ala-ud-din was born around 1266 CE in a Turkish family. He started as a soldier under his uncle, Jalal-ud-din Khalji, the first Khalji Sultan. In 1296, Ala-ud-din killed his uncle and became Sultan. He was ambitious and wanted to be like Alexander the Great. To do that, he needed a strong army and money. His reforms were practical and strict. He believed in hard work, discipline, and fear to control people. In this notes, I will explain his military and market reforms in simple words, step by step. These reforms made the Delhi Sultanate powerful and influenced later rulers.

Why Reforms Were Needed

Before Ala-ud-din, the Delhi Sultanate faced big problems. The army was not well-organized. Soldiers were often from different groups like Turks, Afghans, and Indians. They got land (iqtas) instead of cash pay, which made them lazy and rebellious. Nobles had too much power and could plot against the Sultan. There were constant attacks from Mongols in the north. Inside, Rajput kings and local chiefs rebelled often. The economy was also bad. Prices of food and goods were high, especially in Delhi, the capital. Merchants cheated people, and there was hoarding during wars. Soldiers couldn't afford basic things, which made them unhappy. Ala-ud-din saw that a weak army and high prices would destroy his dreams of conquest. So, he made reforms to fix these issues. His advisor, Malik Kafur, a clever slave, helped him plan these changes. Ala-ud-din wanted a big army that was cheap to maintain, so he controlled the market to keep prices low. These reforms were connected: a happy, well-fed army could win wars, and victories brought money to the treasury.

Ala-ud-din's reforms were inspired by Persian and Islamic ideas, but he made them fit for India. He read books on kingship and learned from past rulers like Balban, who was strict but not as bold. Ala-ud-din went further by using spies, punishments, and new rules. He said, "I am the deputy of God on earth," to make people obey him. Now, let's look at his military reforms first.

Military Reforms

Ala-ud-din knew that a strong army was the key to power. He built the largest standing army in India at that time, with about 475,000 soldiers. This was huge compared to earlier Sultans who had smaller forces. To manage such a big army, he made many changes.

First, he introduced a system of paying soldiers in cash instead of land. Before, soldiers got iqtas (land grants) where they collected taxes themselves. This made them like small kings, independent and corrupt. Ala-ud-din stopped this for most soldiers. He paid them fixed salaries from the royal treasury. This made them depend on the Sultan for money, so they stayed loyal. Officers still got iqtas, but Ala-ud-din watched them closely. He took back iqtas if they misbehaved. This reform helped him control the army better and stop rebellions.

Second, Ala-ud-din created the "dagh" and "chehra" systems. "Dagh" means branding horses with a hot iron mark. Every soldier's horse got a unique brand to show it belonged to the royal army. This stopped soldiers from using fake or weak horses during reviews. "Chehra" was a description roll, like an ID card. It had the soldier's face sketch, age, height, and other details. This prevented cheating, like sending someone else in place during musters (army checks). Ala-ud-din held regular reviews where soldiers and horses were inspected. If anything was wrong, they got punished. These rules made the army honest and ready for war.

Third, he built a spy network called "barids." Spies were everywhere – in the army, court, markets, and even homes of nobles. They reported directly to the Sultan about any disloyalty or problems. Ala-ud-din punished traitors harshly, like executing them publicly. This created fear, but it kept the army disciplined. No one dared to plot against him.

Fourth, Ala-ud-din recruited soldiers from all groups, not just Turks. He hired Afghans, Mongols who converted to Islam, and even some Hindus. This made the army diverse and strong. He trained them well in archery, sword fighting, and horse riding. He also increased the cavalry (horse soldiers), which was fast and effective against enemies like Rajputs who used elephants.

Fifth, he set up a central department called "Diwan-i-Arz" for the army. It was headed by the Ariz-i-Mumalik, who handled recruitment, pay, and equipment. Ala-ud-din made sure weapons like swords, bows, and armor were of good quality. He stored extra supplies in forts for emergencies.

These reforms helped Ala-ud-din win many wars. He conquered Gujarat in 1299, taking lots of wealth and slaves. In 1301, he captured Ranthambore fort from Rajputs after a long siege. In 1303, he took Chittor, another strong Rajput fort. His biggest success was in south India. From 1307 to 1311, his general Malik Kafur attacked kingdoms like Devagiri (Yadavas), Warangal (Kakatiyas), Dwarasamudra (Hoysalas), and Madurai (Pandyas). They didn't occupy the south fully but made the kings pay tribute (yearly money). This brought huge wealth to Delhi, like gold, jewels, and elephants.

Ala-ud-din also defended against Mongols. Between 1299 and 1308, Mongols attacked five times, but Ala-ud-din's army stopped them. In 1299, at the Battle of Kili, his general Zafar Khan defeated 200,000 Mongols with just 30,000 men. Ala-ud-din built forts along the northwest border and kept a big army there. He even dreamed of conquering the world but focused on India.

The military reforms had some downsides. The strict rules made soldiers unhappy sometimes. Pay was low to save money, and branding was painful for horses. But overall, they made the Sultanate safe and expanded it to its biggest size under Ala-ud-din.

Market Reforms

Ala-ud-din’s market reforms were unique. He controlled prices of everyday goods to keep them cheap, especially for the army. Why? His big army needed low-cost food and supplies. If prices were high, soldiers would complain or rebel. Also, during wars, merchants raised prices, which hurt the poor. Ala-ud-din wanted to stop this.

He set up a department called "Diwan-i-Riyasat" for markets, headed by an officer called Shahna-i-Mandi. This office fixed prices for everything in Delhi and nearby areas. For example:

• Wheat: 7.5 jitals per maund (about 37 kg)
• Rice: 5 jitals per maund
• Sugar: 1.5 jitals per seer (about 1 kg)
• Cloth: Fixed rates for different types
• Horses: 100-120 tankas for good ones
• Slaves: 5-12 tankas

These prices were very low, about half of before. To make it work, Ala-ud-din used strict rules.

First, he controlled supply. Farmers had to sell grains to the government at fixed rates. He built big storehouses (granaries) in Delhi to store food for three years. During shortages, the government sold from these stores at low prices. This stopped hoarding.

Second, he regulated merchants. All traders had to register with the government. They got licenses and had to sell at fixed prices. If they cheated, they got heavy punishments like fines, jail, or even skinning alive. Spies watched shops to catch violators.

Third, he banned black marketing. No one could store extra goods at home. Ration cards were given to people for buying limited amounts. For example, a family could buy only a certain amount of grain per week.

Fourth, he controlled transport. Bullocks and carts for carrying goods were registered. Prices for transport were fixed too. This helped bring goods from villages to Delhi cheaply.

Fifth, he reduced luxuries. He banned wine, parties, and gambling to save money and keep people focused. Nobles couldn't have big weddings or buy expensive things without permission.

These reforms were mainly in Delhi and Doab, where the army was based. They worked because Ala-ud-din was strict. Once, when merchants complained about low profits, he said, "I am not a trader; I am a king." Prices stayed low for years, helping the army and poor people. Soldiers could live on their pay without problems.

But the reforms had issues. Farmers didn't like selling cheap and sometimes hid crops. Merchants lost money and tried to cheat. Punishments were too harsh, scaring people. After Ala-ud-din's death, the system collapsed because no one was as strict.

Impact of Reforms

Ala-ud-din's reforms changed the Sultanate. Militarily, he created a professional army that won against strong enemies. The Sultanate grew from Gujarat to Bengal and south to Tamil Nadu (as tributaries). He collected huge taxes and tribute, making the treasury rich. Delhi became a grand city with new buildings like the Alai Darwaza and Siri Fort.

Economically, market controls stopped inflation and famines in Delhi. Trade grew because roads were safe. But it hurt free business; merchants couldn't make big profits. Socially, the reforms made society more equal in some ways – rich nobles couldn't show off, and poor people got cheap food. But fear was everywhere due to spies and punishments.

Ala-ud-din's legacy is strong. Later rulers like Muhammad Tughlaq tried similar ideas but failed. Historians say he was a genius administrator but a tyrant. He died in 1316 from illness, possibly poisoned. His son Qutb-ud-din Mubarak Shah ruled next, but the dynasty ended soon.

In simple terms, Ala-ud-din Khalji's military and market reforms made him a legend. He showed how a strong leader can change a kingdom with bold ideas. His story teaches about power, control, and the need for balance.