Malik Maqbul | |
|---|---|
| Died | 1369 (1370) |
| Resting place | Tomb of Khan-i Jahan Tilangani |
| Known for |
|
Malik Maqbul (Mala Yugandharudu[1]), also referred to asKhan-i-Jahan Maqbul Tilangani[2] andJahan Khan[3] (d. 1369), was an Indian commander in theKakatiya Empire who was converted toIslam and rose to become theWazir of theDelhi Sultanate underFiruz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–1388).[4] He was appointed as the governor ofHyderabad in service of the Delhi Sultanate and he ruled and governed all the lands of present dayTelangana on behalf of the Delhi Sultanate.[5]
Malik Maqbul or Mala Yugandharudu (another name of him is Gannama Nayaka), was a commander of theKakatiya Empire underPrataparudra (r. 1289–1323). Marana'sMarkandeya Puranamu (in Telugu) names him as "Pedda Mala Devudu" & "Gannavibhudu" and describes him as the commander (Kataka paludu) ofWarangal Fort, the capital of Kakatiyas.[1] The term "Mala Devudu" (meaning "Lord") implies that he was very high up in the Kakatiya administrative hierarchy.
AfterGhiyasuddin Tughluq's son and general Ulugh Khan (Muhammad bin Tughluq)captured Warangal in 1323, Ulugh Khan himself took over the Governorship of what is now a new province of "Teling" (Telangana) in the Sultanate. Gannaya was captured and converted toIslam, given the name Malik Maqbul and found a place in the new regime. When Ulugh Khan left for Delhi soon afterwards, he left Warangal in the charge of Malik Maqbul. Ulugh Khan succeeded Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq as the newSultan of Delhi under the name Muhammad bin Tughluq.[1][6]
The new regime was beset with rebellions and the Muslim governors were not welcomed as rulers. The coastal region aroundRajahmundry slipped out immediately after Ulugh Khan's departure, the area south ofKrishna River in 1325,Bhadrachalam area in 1330 and western Telangana between 1330–1335.[7] The Sultan marched on South India in 1334 in order to suppress the rebellions, but his army was struck by an epidemic, and he was forced to return to Delhi.[8] Soon afterwards, captured Warangal, and Malik Maqbul fled to Delhi. Facing significant losses in his army due to the epidemic, the Sultan was in no position to recover Telangana.[9]
Malik Maqbul was initially made the governor ofMultan and sent to administerPunjab.[10] When he was the governor of Cambay, the Moroccan travellerIbn Battuta met him who was on his journey towards south of India.
After his return toDelhi, Maqbul earned the trust ofMuhammad bin Tughluq. He accompanied the sultan on an expedition toGujarat to subdue the rebels inBroach. He put all the rebels to death and captured enormous amount of wealth.[11] Subsequently, by making himself indispensable in the Delhi durbar (court), he became thefinance minister and finally, theWazir, of theDelhi Sultanate underFiruz Shah Tughlaq.[12] When Firuz Shah was away on a Campaign toSindh andGujarat for six months and no news was available about his whereabouts Maqbul ably protected Delhi.[3] He was the most highly favoured among the significant number of the nobles in Feroz Shah's court and retained the trust of the sultan.[13] Feroz Shah used to call Maqbul as 'brother'. The sultan even remarked that Khan-i-Jahan was the real ruler of Delhi. The fiscal and general administration were entirely left to Maqbul. On his part, Maqbul never exceeded his powers, and kept the sultan fully informed. He was also scrupulously honest. Although he did take presents from the governors of the provinces, he entered them in the royal treasury. He was also strict in collecting government dues. His powers, however, were restricted by the auditor (mustaufi) and by the Accountant-General (mushrif). Sometimes it led to bitter disputes in which the sultan mediated.[14] On one occasion, Maqbul threatened to leave for Mecca when he came into conflict withAin-i-Mahru, the Accountant General. Sultan had to retrench Ain-i-Mahru. Maqbul was paid annually 13lakh tankas over and above the expenses of his army and servants and separate allowances for his sons and sons-in-law. Maqbul also maintained a retinue of 2000 concubines.[15]
Firoz Shah gave an undertaking that the position of Wazir will be inherited by Maqbul's son. After the death of Maqbul in 1369 CE, his son Jauna Khan became the Wazir.[16]
Jauna Khan was as competent as his father but he was no military leader. He failed in the conflict for succession, which began even during the lifetime of Feroz Shah. Jauna Khan was captured and executed. Also known as Junan Shah, he built seven large mosques in and around Delhi includingKhirki Masjid andKalan Masjid.[17][18]
Built in 1388 by Junan Shah (son of Malik Maqbul), histomb[19][20][21] was the firstoctagonalmausoleum to be built in Delhi. The only other octagonal mausoleum that pre-dates this tomb in the Indian subcontinent is the Tomb of Shah Rukn-i Alam inMultan.The mausoleum occupies the northwestern corner ofNizamuddin West.[22] The plan is composed of an octagonalburial chamber wrapped by a largeroctagonal veranda. The verandah has three arched openings on each side, with a finial bearing cupola crowning the central arches. A large raised dome sits on top of the central chamber. While the parapet wall of the veranda is articulated with crenellations, a slanting stone overhang (chhajja) runs beneath it, encasing all sides of the structure.The main entry to the structure is through the central arch of its south façade. The walls of the chamber are substantially thick. Themihrab is set in a stepped niche on the west wall of the chamber. A stairwell leading to the crypt below is also built into the western wall and accessed from inside a doorway. A large rectangularsarcophagus sits centred in the chamber beneath the dome in a two tiered arrangement. The tomb stands today in a very poor state of repair.[23]