Question

For his unbounded generosity, who among the following Sultans was styled by all writers of the time as ‘lakh baksh’ or giver of lakhs?
A) Nasir-ud-din Mahmud
B) Feroz Tughlaq
C) Qutb-ud-din Aibak
D) Balban

Answer 1

Hint: He was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate and ruled from 1206 AD – 1210 AD. The Delhi Sultanate was a Delhi based Islamic Empire that consisted of 5 dynasties.

Complete answer:
The Delhi Sultanate was a Delhi based Islamic Empire which spread over large parts of the Indian subcontinent from 1206-1526 AD. There were five dynasties that ruled over the Delhi Sultanate, namely the Mamluk or the Slave dynasty (1206–1290), the Khalji dynasty (1290–1320), the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1414), the Sayyid dynasty (1414–1451), and the Lodi dynasty (1451–1526).

Let us analyze the given options:
Option A) Nasir-ud-din Mahmud: Also known as ‘Sultan Mahmud of Bengal', he was the son of Iltutmish and ruled from 1246 AD- 1266 AD. He was the eighth Sultan of the Slave Dynasty. Thus, this option is incorrect.
Option B) Feroz Tughlaq: The Tughlaq Dynasty ruled over Delhi from 1320 to 1412 AD and Firoz Shah Tughlaq was the third ruler of this dynasty. After the demise of Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq, his cousin, he ascended the throne of Delhi. He remained in power from 1351 to 1388 AD. The British referred to him as the ‘father of the irrigation department’ because of the various gardens and canals that he constructed. Thus, this option is incorrect.
Option C) Qutb-ud-din Aibak: He was the founder of the Delhi Sultanate and ruled from 1206 AD – 1210 AD. He was originally a Turkish Slave but was bought by Muhammad Ghori and because of his military abilities he slowly rose to be his trusted general. In 1206, he assumed power. He was given the title of “Lakh Bakhsh'' or “giver of Lakhs” for his generosity. Thus, it is the correct option.
Option D) Balban: In 1266, Ghiyas-ud-din Balban succeeded to the throne of Delhi after the death of Nasir-ud-din. He was an Ilbari-turk. His initial name was ‘Bahauddin’. He was the slave of Iltutmish and gradually he occupied the position of sultan. He was given the title of ‘Ulugh Khan' or ‘the Great Khan’. Thus it is an incorrect option.

Thus, the correct answer is Option ‘C’ i.e, Qutb-ud-din Aibak.

Note: Qutub-ud-din was also known to be a great builder. He began the construction of ‘Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque' (Delhi), ‘Adhai Din Ka Jhopra' (a mosque at Ajmer) and ‘Qutb Minar', 72 ½ meters (238 feet) stone tower in Delhi, after the name of a Muslim saint, ‘Qutb-ud-din Bakhtiyar Kaki'. Qutb Minar’s construction was finally completed by Iltutmish, his successor.