Canberra, 23 January 2022 While the Persian adventurer Ahmad Shah Abdali was repeatedly attempting to make inroads into North India, and the French were laying the foundations upon which the English would later build their Eastern Empire, the Maratha king Shahu continued to dither as an indecisive head of the greatest power of the time […]
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Tag Archives: Delhi Sultanate
Indian History Part 80 Humayun Section IV: Interlude – The Ambitious Sher Shah Sur
May 2, 2020 
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Canberra, 2 May 2020 [The description of the 15-year reign of the Sur dynasty, founded by Sher Shah after the defeat and flight of Humayun, is being included as two independent chapters within the section on Humayun. While Sher Shah and his successors did indeed rule North India during Humayun’s exile; neither did they leave […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 79 Babur – First of the Great Mughals Section V: A Dynasty is Established
April 6, 2020 0 Comments
Canberra, 6 April 2020 On arrival at Agra, Babur was presented a magnificent diamond by Humayun his son, who had taken charge of the Lodi capital. The stone had been given to Humayun by the family of the Raja of Gwalior who had taken shelter in the Agra fort, since the Raja had died in […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 79 Babur – First of the Great Mughals Section III: Hindustan Beckons
March 28, 2020 0 Comments
Canberra, 28 March 2020 ‘A few days later, after the army had been mustered, the persons acquainted with Hindustan were summoned and questioned about its every aspect. The consultation ended with a decision to march on Hindustan. In Shaaban [January AD 1505] when the Sun was in Aquarius, we rode out of Kabul for Hindustan.’ […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 71 South India – 14th Century Section I: Islamic Rule Permeates the Deccan
March 1, 2019 0 Comments
Canberra, 1 March 2019 The establishment of the Delhi Sultanate altered the character of North India irrevocably. However, this event did not have any direct impact on the lands to the south of River Narmada and the Vindhya Mountain ranges that could be called, in a very generic manner, Peninsular or Southern India. The historical […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 64 South India Section II: Prologue to Hindu Revival
March 4, 2018 0 Comments
Canberra, 4 March 2018 As in any number of cases in history before and after, there was an interim period of uncertainty and confusion following the overthrow of the Khilji dynasty by the Tughluqs. No doubt, the Tughluqs went on to establish one of the more significant dynasties of the Delhi Sultanate and also […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 63: The Bridge Between Two Eras
February 16, 2018 0 Comments
Canberra, 16 February 2018 The geo-cultural axis, forged along the ancient trade routes that wound its way east through the Khyber and Bolan Passes, gradually became migratory corridors into North India. Subsequently they linked South Asia and the Iranian plateau by joining Lahore to Delhi. At Delhi the migratory route trifurcated—one led directly south to […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 60 Section II The Caliphate and the Sultanate – Debating the Relationship
December 5, 2017 0 Comments
Canberra, 5 December 2014 The status of Delhi Sultanate vis-à-vis the Caliphate in Baghdad and the relationship that existed between the two continues to be open to a number of interpretations. Some of these interpretations are provided by few well-known historians, but with superficial proof and therefore do not stand the test of investigation. […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 60 The Encroaching Islamic Influence Section I Governance of the Sulatanate
November 24, 2017 0 Comments
Canberra, 24 November 2017 From its very beginning, the Delhi Sultanate was governed in accordance with the Islamic Law, as laid down in the Sharia. Even though there were few exceptions to the strict adherence to the laid down norms, successive Sultans largely followed the injunctions of the Sharia in the administration of their kingdom. […]
Continue readingIndian History Part 59 The Lodi Dynasty Section III Sikandar Lodi: Life and Times
October 19, 2017 0 Comments
Singapore, 19 October 2017 SIKANDAR SHAH LODI: LIFE AND TIMES Bahlul Lodi had nine sons, of whom the eldest Khwaja Bayezid has predeceased his father. Bahlul’s sudden death was seized as an opportunity by the Afghan nobles to push forward the claims of their favourite princes for succession. Before proceeding to Gwalior on his last […]
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Sanu Kainikara 
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