Question Discussion & Solution

• In 1544 AD, the battle of Giri-Sumel fought between the armies of Rao Maldev and Afgan ruler Sher Shah Suri at Sumel, a Palace between Ajmer and Jodhpur.
• Trusted generals of Rao Maldev’s army name Jaita and Kumpa ware killed during this battle.
• Sher Shah Suri defeated the Rao Maldev army.
• According to Satish Chandra - Sher Shah Suri quoted remark for this battle " I had given away the country of Delhi for a handful of millets"

The correct answer is Five.

Key Points

• The first sermon was delivered to his 5 disciples at Sarnath in a deer park.
• The first sermon delivered by Buddha was on deliverance from suffering.
• The event of the first sermon is known as "Dharmachakra Pravartana" which means turning the wheel of dharma.
• In the first sermon, Buddha gave two elements of the Holy Trinity of Buddhism.
  • Dhamma: Teachings
  • Sangha: Order of Buddhist monks and nuns
• His five disciples became Arhats.
• Buddha obtained Mahaparinirvana at the age of 80 in Kushinagar.

Additional Information

• After attaining Enlightenment Buddha discovered four noble truths:
  • The truth of suffering (Dukkha)
  • The truth of the cause of suffering (Samudaya)
  • The truth of the end of suffering (Nirodha), and
  • The truth of the path that leads to the end of suffering (Astangika-Marga).
• Buddha attained Enlightenment at the age of 35 at Gaya under a Peepal tree at Uruvela.
• The Peepal tree under which Buddha attained Enlightenment is the famous Bodhi tree.

The correct answer is Muhammad bin Tughluq.

• Ibn Batuta's full name was Muhammad bin Abdullah ibn Battuta.

Key Points

• Ibn Battuta was the greatest of the Muslim travellers.
• He is estimated to have travelled about 75,000 miles.
• Hardly any other traveller of that era has travelled so long.
• He went on to tour the world at the age of 22 and roamed continuously for 30 years.
• During his visit to India, he reached the court of Muhammad Tughluq, where, impressed by his intelligence, Muhammad Tughluq appointed him as Qazi.

Additional Information

• Alauddin Khilji was the ruler of the Khilji dynasty who ruled over the Delhi Sultanate.
  • He is well known for his effective administration related to controlling prices, revenues, and societal development.
• Iltutmish is the first Muslim ruler who ruled from Delhi and is also considered the founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
  • He was the third of the Mamluk dynasty.
• Firoz Shah Tughluq was the ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty who ruled over Delhi from 1351 to 1388. He was succeeded by Muhammad Bin Tughlaq.

Important Points

Tughluq Dynasty (1320 to 1413):

• Ghiyas-ud-din Tughluq or Ghazi Malik was the founder of the Tughluq dynasty.
• Ghiyas-ud-din reinstated order in his empire.
• He brought Bengal, Utkala or Orissa, and Warangal under his control.
• The Mongol leaders who invaded North India were seized and confined by him.
• In 1325 A.D. Ghiyas-ud-din was crushed to death while attending an event for his victories in Bengal.
• Junakhan, the crown prince succeeded him.

Lodi Dynasty (1451 to 1526):

• Bahlul Lodi was the founder of the Lodi Dynasty.
• Sultanate Period ended with Lodi Dynasty.
• He took various measures to gratify his nobles.
• Gwalior, Samthal, Sakit, Mewat was conquered by Bahlul Lodi.
• He died in 1489 A.D.

Slave Dynasty (1206 to 1290):

• The first ruler of the Mamluk Dynasty.
• Mamluk Dynasty is also called the Slave Dynasty.
• Sold as a slave to Muhammad Ghori, the ruler of Ghor in Afghanistan.
• Aibak became Ghori’s trusted general and commander.
• He was given charge of Ghori’s Indian possessions after 1192.
• When Ghori was assassinated, Aibak declared himself Sultan of Delhi in 1206.
• Started construction of the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi. This is one of the first Islamic monuments in India.
• He began the construction of Qutb Minar in Delhi.
• He reigned till his death in 1210. He was said to have been trampled to death by a horse.
• He was succeeded by Aram Shah.

 Khilji Dynasty (1290 to 1320):

• Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khilji was the founder of the Khilji Dynasty.
• He was also called “Clemency Jalal-uddin” as he followed peace and wanted to rule without violence. 
• He suppressed Malik Chhajju’s revolt at Kara
• He appointed Ala-ud-din Khilji as the Governor of Kara. Alauddin was his son-in-law and also nephew.
• In 1292 A.D. Jalal-ud-din defeated the Mongols who had come up to Sunam.
• Jalal-ud-din was treacherously murdered by Ala-ud-din Khilji his son-in-law.

• Western India or Malwa region was covered under the Avanti Mahajanapada.
• The capital of the kingdom was Mahishmati and Ujjaini.
• Northern capital was Ujjaini, while southern capital was Mahishmati.

The correct answer is Nalanda.

Important Points

• Chinese traveler Hiuen-Tsang studied at the University of Nalanda.
• Nalanda University was the first ever university of India which was founded in the 5th century CE but got abandoned in the 13th century.
• Its ruins are found in present-day Bihar.

Additional Information

• Xuanzang, born Chen Hui / Chen Yi, was a Chinese Buddhist monk, scholar, traveler, and translator who traveled to India in the seventh century and described the interaction between Chinese Buddhism and Indian Buddhism during the early Tang dynasty.