In Mughal history, some names are known for bravery and administration, while some become synonymous with infamy due to their eccentricity and luxury. One such name is Jahandar Shah, during whose time the Mughal court became less a center of power and more a stage of spectacle. This emperor, who used to hold court sometimes without clothes and sometimes in the guise of a woman, became one of the most controversial rulers in history in just nine months. His story of power, love and cruelty still shocks.

Power struggle after the death of Bahadur Shah

After the death of Mughal Emperor Bahadur Shah I in the year 1712, a fierce struggle for succession began in the Sultanate. In this fight between his sons, Jahandar Shah ultimately emerged victorious and ascended the throne of Delhi. However, as soon as he got power, he started losing hope that he would prove to be a stable and strong ruler. According to historians, Jahandar Shah became more interested in luxury than governance.

Lal Kunwar’s influence and centralization of power

Lal Kunwar played the most important role in the life and rule of Jahandar Shah. Lal Kunwar was the daughter of a famous singer Khasurait Khan and was known for dancing and beauty. As soon as he assumed power, Jahandar Shah gave her the status of queen and awarded her the title of ‘Imtiaz Mughal’. After this, the reins of governance gradually passed into his hands. Many important decisions of the court started being taken on the advice and wish of Lal Kunwar.

Abundance of relatives and weakness of administration

Lal Kunwar used his influence to get high mansabs and jagirs for his family and close people. Kinship started getting preference over qualification in administrative posts. Due to this, dissatisfaction spread in the Mughal court and the old nobles and generals started losing confidence in the emperor. The seriousness of governance started waning and power became weaker.

cruel decisions and crazy actions

In history, Jahandar Shah is remembered not only as a debaucher but also as a cruel ruler. It is mentioned in many accounts that he took tough decisions considering his own sons as a threat to his power. Apart from this, his behavior towards the common people is also said to be merciless.

The naked court and the image of the ‘lewd’

Jahandar Shah is most discussed about his strange activities. It is said that sometimes he used to reach the court without clothes, and sometimes he used to attend meetings wearing women’s clothes. These actions deeply hurt the dignity of the Mughal Sultanate. This was the reason why contemporary historians and courtiers called him a ‘licentious’ and incompetent ruler.

Only nine months of reign and a painful end

Jahandar Shah’s rule was very short-lived. In just nine months, taking advantage of his weak policies and court discontent, his nephew Farrukhsiyar rebelled against him. After the decisive defeat on 6 January 1713, Jahandar was forced to flee with Shah Lal Kunwar, but was soon captured. Jahandar Shah’s end after being captured was very painful. He was brutally killed in jail itself.

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Delhi Sultanate: Every street and every intersection of Delhi tells a unique story. Today we are going to tell you about the oldest and beautiful place of Delhi, Hauz-e-Shamsi, which is today known as Hauz Khas Lake. This reservoir is 800 years old. Let us know its history and the story behind it.

Construction of Hauz Khas Lake

It is said that Prophet Mohammad once appeared in a dream to Sultan Iltutmish. He showed a place in the forest of Mehrauli where his horse Burak had laid his head. When the Sultan woke up, he set out to search for that place along with his spiritual guide Khwaja Qutubuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki. Miraculously a spring of sweet water burst forth there and the Sultan out of devotion ordered the digging of a huge reservoir.

How did Hauz-e-Shamsi get its name?

This reservoir was named Hauz-e-Shamsi which means Lake of the Sun. It was named after Iltutmish’s own title Shamsuddin which means Sun of Faith. Its construction started around 1230 AD. Iltutmish had built a red sandstone pavilion with a domed roof in the middle of the lake. A stone was also placed inside it on which there are hoof marks of the Prophet’s divine horse Buraq.

Praised by Ibn Battuta

Ibn Battuta, the famous Moroccan traveler of the 14th century, visited Delhi during the reign of Mohammed bin Tughlaq and also wrote about this lake. Ibn Battuta had described it as a freshwater river. With the passage of time, different dynasties have left their mark on this lake.

During the Lodi period, a grand ship palace was built on its banks. This palace Panipat seemed to be floating, which served as a resting place for pilgrims and travelers. Later, during the reign of Jahangir, Shahjahan and Bahadur Shah II, the Mughals gave it a new look by adding fountains, pavilions and gardens. Today this place has become a precious part of the cultural and historical landscapes of Delhi. In 2023, local residents formed a group named Pride of Shamsi. This group, along with ASI NGO SEEDS, conducted a cleanliness campaign here.

Qutbuddin Aibak was the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate, who laid the foundation of the Islamic Empire in India. He was born in the Turki’s clan. As a child, he got separated from his family and was sold in the slave market. He was brought to Neeshapur, where he was bought by Qazi Fakhruddin Abdul Aziz Kufi. Qazi not only considered him a slave but gave him a son -like love and upbringing. He gave Aibak training in Quran’s education, horse riding and archery. In no time, Aibak started winning everyone’s heart with his skill and behavior.

Historian Minhaj-ul-Siraj wrote in Tabakat-e-Nasiri that after Qazi’s death, Aibak was sold again and this time he reached Ghazni, where Sultan Mohammad Gauri bought him. This was the moment that changed the direction of Aibak’s life. Gauri recognized her honesty and generosity and gradually made her her most reliable officer.

Demopes of temples and changes in mosques
Aibak’s reign is often remembered because of his vandalism. Many historians write that many temples and Sanskrit schools were destroyed on his orders. The Sanskrit school of Ajmer was destroyed and converted into a two -and -a -half -day hut mosque. Many ancient temples and religious places were also damaged at places like Delhi, Banaras and Meerut. This demolition shocked the religious and cultural heritage of the then Indian society. Historians see this aspect as a strategy of breaking religious symbols for the strengthening of Aibak’s barbaric policies and power.

Contradictory personality
The life and rule of Qutubuddin Aibak was filled with contradictions. On the one hand, he demonstrated his military power by establishing Ottoman rule in North India. On the other hand, he showed vandalism by breaking cultural and religious heritage. This contradiction makes Aibak a unique and complex character in Indian history.

Kutbuddin Aibak’s death and legacy
Aibak’s reign was not long. In 1210, he died after falling from a horse while playing Polo in Lahore. His untimely death shocked the Sultanate, but later on the foundation he laid, rulers like Iltutmish and Balban strengthened the Delhi Sultanate. His tomb is in Lahore, which is called Aibak’s tomb near Anarkali.

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There is a lot of mention of male rulers in the pages of history. Their rule has been explained in detail. Whether it is Akbar, Babur or Jahangir. However, in the meantime we will tell you about a female ruler who expressed his authority over power on the strength of his ability. This is the story of Razia Sultan, the daughter of the ruler of Delhi Sultanate Shamsuddin Iltutmish, who was born in 1206. At that time Genghis Khan’s forces were destroying Central Asia. Iltutmish completed the construction of Qutub Minar and was considered a just ruler. Contemporary historian Minhajus Siraj Jujjani praised him. Passenger Ibn Batuta also wrote that Iltutmish had put an hour of justice outside his court, which any victim could directly reach his problem to the Sultan.

When Iltutmish became old, he chose his daughter Razia as heir. He said that his sons are not worthy of governance, but Razia is capable of administration. Razia proved her ability by handling administrative work on several occasions. After the death of Iltutmish, the courtiers made his half -brother Ruknuddin Feroze Sultan against his wish. Feroze ignored the rule and drowned in Ayyashi. His mother Shah Turkan took power in his hand and started taking revenge on the opponents. According to historians, rebellion and chaos increased in this era.

Razia’s right to power
The public and governors, who were troubled by the courage, revolted, when Feroze went out of Delhi, Razia gained public support. The rebels caught Shah Turkan and overturned Feroz’s power. According to historian Abdul Malik Isami, Razia waving a scarf from the window said that I am the daughter of His Majesty. I was chosen as his heir. Give me the crown for some time, if I fail, then give the throne to someone else. In this way, in November 1236, Razia sat on the throne of Delhi and became the first female ruler of India.

Importance and heritage of Razia
Razia broke the curtain system and ruled in the open court. He established the leadership capacity of women. Although his rule continued to struggle with the court conspiracies and male dominated society, Razia Sultan is still considered an example of courage and perseverance.

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The history of India is very interesting and full of ups and downs. There have been many great rulers here who created big empire with their valor, foresight and diplomacy. But, one of the truth of history is that the hard work that makes a king empire, it does not take much time to waste and sometimes the biggest reason was the absence of capable children. When the heir of an empire is unworthy, no matter how big the empire is, it does not stand. Let’s know some such examples in the history of India.

Scatter

Who does not know Emperor Ashoka, he was a great king. He united the whole of India and gave the message of peace. But after Ashok, no one turned out to be so competent in his son and ahead generation. His son Kunal and grandchildren also could not handle the empire. As a result, within a few decades of Ashoka’s death, the Mauryan Empire ended with laminate.

Collapse

The Gupta period is called the Golden Age of India. Emons like Samudragupta and Vikramaditya gave a golden phase in science, art and literature. But the Gupta ruler who came after Skandgupta became so weak that invaders like Huns easily broke the empire. After which gradually the identity of the Gupta dynasty disappeared.

Weak children of Delhi Sultanate

The same story was repeated during the Delhi Sultanate era. Iltutmish made his daughter Razia Sultan a heir, who was capable, but the courtiers and Amir-Umra removed them and put the disqualified rulers on the throne. The pattern was seen in Khilji, Tughlaq and Lodhi dynasty that the next generation was not worth taking power and the Sultanate continued to disintegrate.

Mughals collapse

The Mughal Empire is considered to be the largest empire of India. From Babur to Aurangzeb, this empire flourished a lot. But after Aurangzeb, his children did not come out. Weak rulers like Jahadar Shah, Farrukhsiyar, Muhammad Shah Rangeela took command of the empire. As a result, the Mughal strength gradually remained just a name and the British took a chance and captured the entire country.

Marathas defeat

Shivaji Maharaj raised a tough challenge to the Mughals by creating the Maratha Empire, but after his death his son Sambhaji too soon was martyred and the front rulers did not prove to be as competent. The Peshwas definitely came to power, but internal discord and unqualified heirs weakened the Marathas and then finally the British defeated them too.

Sikh Empire after Ranjit Singh

Maharaja Ranjit Singh is called Sher-e-Punjab. He formed a strong and rich Sikh empire in Punjab. But after his death, his successors continued to fight among themselves. Taking advantage of this opportunity, the British also captured Punjab and this empire also collapsed.

Also read: These Hindu rulers were built on their own, the throne was not found in Nepotism