Muhammad Bin Tughlaq-ugc

Muhammad Bin Tughlaq-ugc

1-He tried to introduce many administrative reforms.

2-He had five ambitious projects for which he has become particularly debatable.

a) Taxation in the Doab: The Sultan made an ill-advised financial experiment in the Doab between the Ganges andJamuna. He not only increased the rate of taxation but also revived and created some additional Abwabs or cessess. Although the share of the state remained half as in time of Alauddin. it was fixed arbitrarily not on the basis of actual produce. Prices were also fixed artificially for converting the produce into money. It is said that the increase was twenty-fold and to this were added Ghan or House tax and the ‘Charahi’ of pasture tax.

3-The Sultan created a new Department of Agriculture called Diwan-i-Kohi. The main object of this Department was to bring more land under cultivation by giving direct help to peasants.

4- Transfer of Capital: The most controversial step which Muhammad Tughlaq undertook soon after his accession was the so called transfer of capital from Delhi to Deogir. Deogir had been a base for the expansion of Turkish rule in South India. It appears that the Sultan wanted to make Deogir second capital so that he might be able to control south India better. Deogir was thus named Daulatabad. After a couple of years

Muhammad Tugluq decided to abandon Daulatabad largely because he soon found that just as he could not control South India from Delhi, he could not control North from Daulatabad.

5- Introduction of Token Currency: Muhammad Tughlaq decided to introduce bronze coins, which were to have same value as the silver ones. Muhammad Tughlaq might have been successful if he could prevent people from forging the new coins. He was not able to

do so and soon the new coins began to be greatly devalued in markets. Finally Muhammad Taghlaq decided to withdraw the token currency. He promised to exchange silver pieces for bronze coins.

6-Proposed Khurasan Expedition: The Sultan had a vision of universal conquest. He decided to conquest Khurasan and Iraq and mobilized a huge army for the purpose. He was encouraged to do so by Khurasani nobles who had taken shelter in his court. Moreover there was instability in Khurasan on account of the unpopular rule of Abu Said

7- Quarachil expedition: This expedition was launched in Kumaon hills in Himalayas allegedly to counter Chinese incursions. It also appears that the expedition was directed against some refractory tribes in Kumaon Garhwal region with the object of bringing them under Delhi Sultnate. The first attack was a success but when the rainy season set in, the invaders suffered terribly.

8-His five projects had led to revolts all around his empire. His last days were spent in checking the revolts (altogether 36 revolts in 25 years).