Chapter : Three

Muslim Conquest : Bengal Sultanate

Anindita Tasneem
Department of Finance
University of Dhaka
1. What factors contributed to the establishment of Muslim rule in Indian sub-continent?

The factors that contributed to the establishment of Muslim rule:

1. Previous commercial contacts of the Arabs:

The Arabs had established commercial contacts with Bengal, particularly, with coastal areas long
before the territorial conquest by the Muslim rules.

2. Conquest of Sind and Multan:

The Arab conquest of Sind and Multan in 712 AD and their settlement in the region brought the
Arabians direct contact with the Indus valley.

3. Invasion of Sultan Mahmud:

Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni invaded Kanauj in the east and Somnath in Gujrat and consolidated his
position in a small portion of the north-west of India.

4. Muhammad Ghori’s Establishment:

Finally, Muhammad Ghori established the sultanate in Delhi and laid the basis of expansion of
Muslim rule through the sub continent. Following Ghori’s establishment Bakhtiyar Khalji led an
expedition to Bengal from his base in south Bihar.

2. How did Bakhtiyar Khalji conquer Bengal?

Ikhtiyaruddin Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji was a Turkish adventurer and came to Delhi in search for
a job in the army. While his effort to obtain employment in Delhi failed, he came to Baduan and then
moved to Oudh.

The ruler of Oudh, Hushamuddin offered him jaigir of two parganas (Bhagwat & Vhuili) in the south-
west of Mirzapur. He created a sizable army with the money obtained from his jaigirs and
established his power base there.

He then invaded the neighbouring Hindu Kingdoms and further strengthened his position. At one
stage, he occupied Odantapuri Vihar, a Buddhist monastery of Bihar.

From Bihar, Bakhtiyar marched towards Bengal with his army. He avoided the traditional “Teliagarh”
pass (in Rajmahal) to enter Bengal and advanced through Jharkhand, the forest belt.

Only eighteen horsemen could keep pace with him when he reached Nadia, where Lakshman Sen,
the last of the Sen kings of Bengal staying. The main army was following him. The city guards took
them as horse dealers from upper India and such did not stop them.

They went straight to the gate of the King’s palace. Then they suddenly attacked the palace security
forces and killed them. At that time, the old king was having his mid-day meal. When he heard this
news he thought that the city had already overpowered by the invaders. He hurriedly left the palace
through the back door, took a boat and arrived at his capital Vikrampur in east Bengal.

Bakhtiyar’s main army soon joined them and captured the city. The Muslim army kept Nadia under
siege for a couple of days. Bakhtiyar then moved to Lakhnawati (Gaur) and established his capital
there.
3. What were the initiatives taken by Bakhtiyar Khalji after conquering Bengal?

The initiatives taken by Bakhtiyar Khalji:

1. Military initiatives:

To protect his territory, he established military outposts in the border area.

2. Administrative initiatives:

In his administrative arrangements, he assigned different areas of his territory to the military chiefs
for maintenance of law and order and collection of revenues. It was also their duty to look after the
well being of people under their charge.

3. Religious Initiatives:

To establish a Muslim society he constructed Mosques, Madrasas and Khanqas.

4. What was the motive behind the expedition of Bakhtiyar Khalji to Tibet and what was the
end result?

The last important event in Bakhtiyar’s carrier was his expedition to Tibet. It is difficult to ascertain
his motive behind this hazardous expedition through unconventional route while the largest portion
of East Bengal remained outside his domain.

Motive behind the expedition:

Might have been his motives it seems that he took adequate preparation for Tibet expedition. He
marched at the head of a large army of ten thousand cavalry through the strongholds of various
tribes at the foot of the Himalayans.

End result of the expedition:

This expedition met with disasters as most of his soldiers were lost in the journey facing a hostile
army on the way. The main body of his army was drowned on its return journey while attempting to
cross the river Baranadi near Gauhati in North Assam. Bakhtiyar somehow managed to cross the
river with about one hundred of his soldiers.

The fiasco of the Tibet expedition shattered him both physically and mentally. He died of a
consuming fever or was killed by his ambitious general Ali Mordan Khalji within three months of his
return to Devkot (Dinajpur) in 1206 AD.
5. What contributions were made by Bakhtiyar Khalji’s conquest of Bengal?

The contributions made by Bakhtiyar Khalji’s conquest:

1. Foundation of Muslim domination:

The conquest was the foundation of Muslim domination when there was political turmoil and unrest
in Central Asia

2. Immigration of Muslims:

The conquest led to the immigration of Muslim chieftains, nobles, ulemas and other people in the
deltaic Bengal.

3. Change in society:

With the arrival of the new rulers, a stage was set for subsequent changes in the society and the
body politic of the country as a whole.

4. Foundation of Bengal Sultanate:

The conquest of Bakhtiyar Khalji was the foundation of Bengal Sultanate which lasted for more than
three centuries.

5. Contribution of independent sultans:

During the mediaeval period independent sultans contributed enormously to the growth of an
enlightened and prosperous Bengal.

6. What were the contributions made by Giasuddin Iwaj Khalji?

The contributions made by Giasuddin Iwaj Khalji:

1. Establishing Muslim rule: He firmly established Muslim rule in Bengal.

2. Expanding Bengal territory: He also expanded Bengal territory.

3. Overcoming internal politics: He succeeded in overcoming the internal power politics.

4. Building naval power: He strengthened his position in riverine Bengal by building a naval
power.

5. Several constructions: He constructed roads and wide canals which saved the agricultural land
and dwelling houses from flood.
7. Why Alauddin Husain Shah is considered the greatest sultan of Bengal?

The reasons that made Alauddin Husain Shah the greatest sultan of Bengal:

1. Internal peace and stability:

Alauddin Husain Shah brought internal peace and stability by suppressing the Habshis.

2. Territory expansion:

Husain Shah expanded his territory by conquering neighbouring kingdoms.

3. Welfare administration:

Husain Shah introduced a welfare administration and led Bengal to prosperity.

4. Secular policy:

Husain Shah treated all his subjects equally irrespective of religious faith as he wanted to bring
Hindus and Muslims closer.

5. Patronage for learning:

Husain Shah was a great patron of learning. Under his liberal patronage many books were written in
the Bengali Language. Mahabharata and Bhagabata Gita were also translated into Bengali.
Various literary works of his period earned distinct fame for the country.

6. Architectural contribution:

Husain Shah erected many buildings including mosques, madrasas, khanqas and tombs. Choto
Sona Masjid of Gaur and other buildings constructed during his period bear testimony to his love of
architecture.

8. Describe the educational contribution made by the independent sultans.

The sultans of Bengal attached great importance to education as it was considered part of their
religious duties. As a result there was a remarkable progress of learning and knowledge in medieval
Bengal in which the Muslim and the Hindu scholars greatly contributed.

Translation of Sanskrit works into Bengali added significance to literary life. Lakhnawati, Sonargaon,
Nagor, Mandaram, Rangpur and Chittagong became centre of Islamic learning. Besides, Navadip,
Sylhet and Vishnupore were developed as the center of Sanskrit and Hindu religious studies.

Development of Bengali language and literature was more significant during the sultanate period. It
helped the integration of the Bengali speaking territory and population. Bangla language was given
a respectable place at the court as well as in the civil society.

Sultan Ghyasuddin Azam Shah and Alauddin Husain liberally patronized the Bengali poets and
literature in his effort to promote Bengali language.

A large body of literature grew up round the life and teachings of Chaitanya. This brought forth a
new social and cultural understanding between the Hindus and the Muslims in building a common
platform of the two communities of Bengal.
9. Describe the society and culture during Bengal Sultanate.

Before Muslim rule population of Bengal was composed mainly of the Hindus, the Buddhists, the
aboriginals and a few Jains. The Hindus outnumbered the other religious communities and were
also politically and economically advanced.

The caste system dominated their social life including their manners, morals and thoughts. The four
heredity groups were Brahmans (the priestly class), Khatriyas (the political and military group),
Vaishas (in charge of trade, agricultural and commerce) and Sudras (service groups). Each class
was separated from the other by its obligatory rules. The social contacts in any form were
prohibited. The oppression of the lower castes by the Brahmins had a demoralizing effect on the
existing society.

Muslim population began to grow after the conquest of Bakhtiyar Khalji. It was composed of local
converters as well as the Muslims who came from outside and settled in Bengal. The main tenets of
Islam-its unqualified faith in universal God, the brotherhood of Muslims and equal status of men,
accountability and duties to God as well as to creation attracted many local people who became
suspicious of their own religion or were oppressed under the strict regulations and practices of the
caste system.

The Bengal society under the sultanate was by and large divided into a number of classes. The
ruling class was at the top and the slaves lay at the bottom. Between these two classes there were
the aristocrats consisting of high officials, big landlords and members of the nobility. There was also
a sizable middle class that included teachers, clerks, traders, officers and other professional groups
earning a living by their physical and mental wok. Below them there was the large group of
commoners consisting of cultivators, small manufacturers, shopkeeper, agricultural and industrial
labour and other lower class employees.

The Hindu social structure was mostly caste ridden, though the policy pursued by the independent
sultans had some liberalizing effect on Hindu society. Educated Hindus other than Brahmans could
also be appointed to the higher administrative positions and by their influence could cross the caste
barrier.
10. Who contributed to the building of Muslim society in Bengal?

The sultans, Muslim scholars and Sufi saints contributed enormously to the formation and growth of
the Muslim society and culture in medieval Bengal.

Contributions of sultans:

1. Creation of mosque to perform religious duties.

2. Establishment of Maqtab and Madrasas for imparting religious education.
3. Offering facilities to pilgrims during Hajj to visit Makkah and Madina.
4. Encouraging Islamic education for their subject.
5. Benevolent activities such as construction of wells, excavation of tanks and grant of lands to
maintain almshouses.

Contribution of Muslim scholars:

1. Imparting religious education in many ways such as including lessons on Islamic sciences,
named Fiqh and Hadith.
2. Upholding Muslim religious tradition.

Contribution of Sufi saints:

1. Preaching and expansion of Islam in rural Bengal.

2. Extending help to expand Muslim political power when needed.
3. Influence over the ruling class.
4. Giving religious instructions to everybody who gathered round their Khanqas.
5. Influence over society as spiritual leaders.
6. Comforting people in distress.
11. Describe the action and reaction between Islam and local Hinduism during Muslim rule.

The spread of Islam and the formation of the Muslim society under the Bengal sultanate did not go
unchallenged. There were reactions which took different forms.

 At first, people accepted the new faith as they thought it would be their conversion to faith
with a manifest ideology of equity.

 Secondly, the orthodox section adhered to their own faith, right or wrong.

 Lastly, the establishment of Islam created an urge among a section of enlightened people.
They took good things of Islam and shun bad things from their own to reform their own
separate religion.

The best example in the early sixteenth century is the preaching of Vaishnavism by Chaitanya
Dev who ignored the caste rules and advocated equality of all worshippers. He emphasized the
importance of Bhakti or ardent love and devotion to one God.

The preparation of Tazia to observe Moharram festival in the way of Durga sacrifice and
Rathajatra, worship of Panchpir, Satya Pir, Saint Worship and Tirtha or visits to the shrines of
Sufis are some of the example of liberalization of the society.

The caste system was also unconsciously imitated by the Muslims and this created a sense of
aristocracy among the upper class. They ignored the Islamic idea of brotherhood and equality.

In the Muslim social structure the sultans and their family formed the upper class. The Sheikhs,
Syeds, Mughals and the Pathans formed the traditional aristocrat groups. The Ulemas,
Mashaekhs and the professional groups like Mufti, Muhasib and other officials belonged to the
enlightened group. Below them there were common people, servants and slaves.

According to Islamic principles, Muslim society can’t be structured like that. Yet it seems that
there was influence of Hindu caste system prevailing all over the country.

Thus, action and reaction between Islam and local Hinduism continued all through the Muslim
rule in Bengal.
12. Describe the significance of Bengal sultanate.

The significance of Bengal sultanate:

1. Expansion of Muslim rule:

During this period the Muslim society expanded.

2. Formative phase:

The period was the formative phase of political and socio-cultural life.

3. Real identity:

The real identity of Bengal and Bengali people established.

4. Distinctive characteristic:

It also contributed to the growth of distinctive characteristic and institutions of Bengali people,

5. Syncretistic tradition:

The interaction of Islam and Hinduism in practical life led to “syncretistic tradition” in the Bengal
society.

6. Sense of unity:

Bengali language brought about a unique sense of unity among the people.

7. Economic prosperity:

There was economic prosperity due to internal stability. External trade based on indigenous
manufacture and agricultural products also extended.

8. Strength based on unity:

The unity that was achieved under the independent sultanate provided the basis for the strength of
the people of Bengal.

9. Popular civil and military administration:

Besides, the civil and military administration with popular support left a precious legacy for
prosperity.

10. Secular policy:

At last the secular policy based on religious tolerance led Bengal sultanate to the most constructive
period of the history of Bengal.