Rise of Provincial Dynasties: Bengal | History Optional for UPSC (Notes) PDF Download

Political Situation and Balance of Power in North India

Timur's Invasion and the Tughlaq Downfall:

• Timur's attack on Delhi in 1398 accelerated the decline of the Tughlaq dynasty and the end of the Sultanat of Delhi.
• Before Timur's invasion, the Sultanat had already weakened, evident with the rise of two rival kings—one in Firuzabad and another in Delhi—and the fragmentation of provincial kingdoms.
• During Muhammad bin Tughlaq's rule, regions like the Deccan,Bengal,Sindh, and Multan gained independence, a situation that Firuz Tughlaq had to accept.
• After Timur's invasion, governors of Gujarat,Malwa, and Jaunpur proclaimed independence. The expulsion of the Muslim governor from Ajmer led to the independence of various Rajputana states.
• Even within the Delhi region, local rulers struggled to maintain control.

Political Landscape in the 15th Century:

• The 15th century in north India was marked by a dynamic political landscape, not decline.
• Warfare between states was mostly confined to border regions, with a balance of power emerging among various regional states.
• In the west,Gujarat,Malwa, and Mewar kept each other's growth in check.
• In the east,Bengal was balanced by the Gajapati rulers of Orissa and the Sharqi rulers of Jaunpur.
• In the north,Kashmir remained detached, while the rise of the Lodi dynasty in Delhi in the mid-15th century led to a struggle for dominance with Jaunpur over the Ganga-Jamuna doab.

The Disintegration of Malwa and the Rise of the Lodis:

• By the end of the 15th century, the balance of power began to shift.Lodi victories over Jaunpur and the extension of their rule from Punjab to Bengal effectively re-established the Sultanat of Delhi.
• Malwa started to disintegrate internally, leading to intensified rivalries between Gujarat and Mewar.
• The Lodis aimed to expand their influence over the Malwa region, making it a central battleground for control over north India.

Cultural Dynamics in the New Kingdoms:

• The emerging kingdoms sought to leverage local cultural forms and traditions for their objectives, especially in architecture, where they blended Turkic architectural styles with local traditions.
• Many of these kingdoms promoted local languages and, out of political necessity, forged closer ties with Hindu ruling elites.
• This period saw a significant process of cultural rapprochement between Hindus and Muslims, reflecting a melding of diverse cultural influences.

Eastern India: Bengal

Factors Enabling Bengal's Independence from Delhi:

• Geographical Distance: Bengal's far-off location from Delhi made it easier for the region to assert its independence.
• Communication Challenges: The difficulty of communication by land or water further facilitated Bengal's separation from Delhi.
• Climate Differences: The hot and humid climate of Bengal was unsuitable for soldiers and officials accustomed to the drier climate of northwestern India, making it harder for Delhi to maintain control.

Bengal's Breakaway and Rise of Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Khan:

• In 1338, taking advantage of Muhammad Tughlaq's preoccupation with rebellions in other parts of India, Bengal broke away from Delhi's control.
• In 1342, a noble named Ilyas Khan seized control of Lakhnauti and Sonargaon, declaring himself Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Khan.

Sultan Shamsuddin Ilyas Khan (1342-1358)

Key Points about Ilyas Shah and the Ilyas Shahi Dynasty:

• Ilyas Shah became the sultan of Lakhnauti in 1342 and later conquered Sonargoan in 1352, unifying Bengal under his rule and founding the Ilyas Shahi dynasty.
• The Ilyas Shahi dynasty ruled Bengal for 73 years from 1342 to 1415, then again for 52 years from 1435 to 1487, with a 20-year gap in between.
• Ilyas Shah expanded his territory westward to Tirhut, Champaran, Gorakhpur, and Banaras.
• He faced challenges from Firuz Tughlaq, who occupied Pandua and besieged Ilyas in Ekdala.
• After a two-month siege, a treaty was established, setting the Kosi River as the boundary between Bengal and Delhi.
• Ilyas maintained friendly relations with Delhi, allowing him to extend his influence to Kamrup (Assam) and conduct raids into Kathmandu (Nepal) and Orissa.
• He was a popular ruler, successfully resisting Firuz Tughlaq’s attempts to win over Bengal during the siege.
• After Ilyas's death, his son Sikandar Shah continued his father’s tactics, successfully defending Ekdala against Firuz Tughlaq.
• Following these events, Bengal remained largely untouched for about 200 years until the Mughals reestablished control in 1538, with Akbar reconquering it after the Sur dynasty.

Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1389-1409)

Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah: A Just and Influential Sultan of Bengal:

• Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, the third Sultan of the Iliyas Shahi dynasty in Bengal, was known for his strong sense of justice and his support for scholars and poets. His tomb is located in Narayanganj, Bangladesh.
• He maintained close relationships with renowned figures of his time, including the famous Persian poet Hafiz of Shiraz. Bengali poet Shah Muhammad Sagir wrote his celebrated work, Yusuf-Zulekha, during Ghiyasuddin’s reign, while Krittibas Ojha translated the Ramayana into Bengali.
• Azam Shah re-established friendly relations with China, sending envoys and receiving gifts in return. This revival of contact boosted Bengal's overseas trade, with Chittagong becoming a thriving port for trade with China. Bengal began exporting fine textiles and re-exporting Chinese goods.
• Chinese interpreter Mahuan noted Bengal's silk production, mulberry trees, and glossy paper during this period. The growth in trade and cultural exchanges marked a significant development in Bengal's history.
• During Ghiyasuddin's rule, many Sufi saints arrived in Bengal, supported by the Sultan with grants of rent-free lands. These saints, known for their simple living and deep devotion, played a significant role in converting people to Islam, especially in eastern Bengal, where Buddhism was prevalent and poverty was widespread. The conversions were influenced by various social and cultural factors as well.

Other rulers

Powerful Hindu rajas continued to live under the Muslim rulers of Bengal, and to be associated with the affairs of the state.

• Raja Ganesh of Dinajpur, who had a large estate and his own army, first became a king-maker to the successors of Sultan and later assumed the throne himself.
• Some of the Turkish nobles and theologians sent an invitation to the ruler of Jaunpur to reclaim the land of Islam from Hindus.
• A Jaunpur army was sent to Gaur for the purpose and won a victory. But it could not stay on because of the active struggle between the rulers of Jaunpur and Delhi.
• Raja Ganesh, who was an old man, died soon after and was succeeded by his son who preferred to rule as a Muslim.
• However, the affairs in the kingdom remained unsettled till Alauddin Husain succeeded to the throne in 1493 and set up a new dynasty which continued to rule till the rise of Sher Shah.

Alauddin Husain Shah (reign 1494–1519)

Husain Shah and the Hussain Shahi Dynasty:

• Husain Shah founded the Hussain Shahi dynasty in Bengal.
• He became the ruler after assassinating Muzaffar Shah, the Abyssinian Sultan he had served as wazir.
• After Husain Shah's death in 1519, his son Nusrat Shah became the ruler.
• Husain Shah's reign was marked by peace and prosperity.

Initial Administrative Actions:

• Upon taking power, Husain Shah ordered his soldiers to stop pillaging Gaur, the capital.
• When the pillaging continued, he executed soldiers and recovered stolen items, including 13,000 gold plates.
• He disbanded the paiks(palace guards) who were causing unrest.
• Husain Shah replaced Habshis in administrative roles with Turks,Arabs,Afghans, and locals.

Engagement with the Delhi Sultanate:

• Hussain Shah Sharqi, after being defeated by Bahlol Lodi, retreated to Bihar.
• After further defeats, Sharqi fled to Bengal, where Sultan Ala-ud-Din Husain Shah granted him asylum.
• This led to a 1495 expedition against Bengal by Sikandar Lodi.
• The armies met at Barh near Patna, where a treaty was concluded.
• The treaty divided land between Sikandar Lodi and Husain Shah.

Territorial Expansion

• After the dissolution of the Jaunpur Sultanate, Jaunpur soldiers strengthened the Bengal army.
• Husain Shah aimed to expand into Assam,Orissa, and Chittagaon.
• He was most successful in extending control over Chittagaon and Arakan.
• Control over Chittagaon was vital for overseas trade with Southeast Asia, extending to China and Africa.

Kamata-Kamrup Expedition

Shah Ismail Ghazi's Expedition to Kamata:

• Led by Shah Ismail Ghazi under Hussain Shah, an expedition targeted the Kamata Kingdom, successfully annexing territory up to Hajo.
• Nilambara, the king of Kamata, was captured, and the capital city was plundered. This achievement was documented in an inscription at Malda.

Orissa Campaigns:

• Shah Ismail Ghazi launched a campaign from Mandaran Fort in the Hooghly district during 1508-1509, advancing towards Puri and raiding Jajpur and Katak.
• The Gajapati ruler of Orissa,Prataparudra, was preoccupied with a southern campaign.
• Upon learning of the invasion, Prataparudra returned, confronting and ultimately defeating the Bengal forces.
• He laid siege to Mandaran Fort but was unable to capture it.
• Throughout Husain Shah's reign, sporadic conflicts persisted along the Bengal-Orissa border.

Portuguese Relations:

• In 1498, the Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama arrived in India by sea.
• Subsequently, a Portuguese mission visited Bengal to establish diplomatic relations towards the end of Husain Shah’s reign.

Cultural contribution

The reign of Husain Shah was a time of significant growth in Bengali literature.

• Kabindra Parameshvar, supported by Paragal Khan, Husain Shah's governor of Chittagong, penned the Pandabbijay, a Bengali version of the Mahabharata, and praised Husain Shah as a divine figure, likening him to Krishna.
• Shrikar Nandi, under the guidance of Chhuti Khan, Paragal's son and successor, created another Bengali adaptation of the Mahabharata.
• Bijay Gupta composed the Manasamangal Kavya, also during Husain Shah's rule, comparing the king to the heroic figure Arjuna.
• Yashoraj Khan, an official under Husain Shah, wrote several Vaishnava padas, praising his ruler in one of them.

Religious tolerance

• Husain Shah’s Reign and Religious Tolerance: Husain Shah’s rule in Bengal is noted for its religious tolerance towards Hindu subjects. His administration included prominent Hindu figures, such as his wazir (chief minister), chief physician, chief of the bodyguard, and master of the mint, all of whom were Hindus.
• Influential Hindu Officials: Two Vaishnava brothers, Rupa and Sanatan, held significant positions in Husain Shah’s court, with one serving as the sultan’s private secretary. Krittibas, known for translating the Ramayana into Bengali, was closely associated with Sanatan.
• Destruction of Temples: Despite his overall tolerance, during his campaigns in Orissa, Husain Shah ordered the destruction of Hindu temples.
• Support for Chaitanya Mahaprabhu: During Husain Shah’s reign, the revered saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu and his followers spread the Bhakti cult across Bengal. Upon learning of Chaitanya’s significant following, Husain Shah instructed his qazis (Islamic judges) not to harm him and to allow him freedom of movement.
• Devotion of Rupa and Sanatana Goswami: Later, Rupa Goswami (Private Secretary) and Sanatana Goswami (Intimate Minister), both high-ranking Hindu officials in Husain Shah’s administration, became devoted followers of Chaitanya Mahaprabhu, further illustrating the religious dynamics of the period.

Language

The Sultans' Support for the Bengali Language:

• The Sultans of Bengal were strong supporters of the Bengali language.
• One notable figure from this time was the poet Maladhar Basu, who is known for his work Sri Krishna-Vijaya. The Sultans recognized his talent and awarded him the title of Gunaraja Khan.
• Maladhar Basu's son was also honored, receiving the title of Satyaraja Khan.
• The period under Alauddin Hussain(1493-1519) was particularly important for the development of the Bengali language. Many famous Bengali writers thrived during his reign.
• Alauddin Hussain's rule marked a time of great progress and support for the arts. Some of his nobles actively sponsored Bengali poets, contributing to the flourishing of the language and literature.