Delhi Sultanate

The society of this time was going through some changes, with a fusion between Islamic culture and the Indian culture of the time. Many Indians were embracing the new religion and this resulted in a new variant of the religion, one that absorbed many Indian ideas and beliefs as well. The caste system went through some interesting changes. The Hindus continued to follow the caste system that had been existing. As for the Muslims the situation was a little different. Islamic society did not formally recognize caste. However with the entry in India, many Indian ideas were being incorporated and the caste system was one of them. The development of the caste system in Islamic society started with divisions based on ethnicity. The highest caste was the Ashraf which include the Turks, Afghans and the Persians. The next highest caste were upper class Hindu converts. After this there was the usual division of occupation castes and sub castes. Marriages were usually held within caste boundaries. The foreign settlers ,although initially attempting to preserve a unique identity, were slowly absorbed into Indian society as they adopted the same dress and food and married outside their community.

Religious rituals of the two religions however remained more or less distinct and did not really join in the fusion process. As a result the education, at least at the primary level remained separate for both communities. Education at the primary level was conducted at the temple or mosque and covered religious learning. Higher education focused on theology and linguistics. Education however did receive patronage from the Sultanate rulers and there was a growth of educational institutions in the country. Unfortunately however, such sponsorship was mainly confined to religious education.

The society of this period was highly polarized with vast differences in the standard of living between the aristocracy and tiller. While the former was rolling in the lap of luxury, the latter was just able to make ends meet. Slavery became more prevalent but apparently they were taken care of and were usually set free after some years. Many former slaves rose to political power and social eminence. However the existence of slavery was a negative aspect of the society.

Women enjoyed a position of respect but their freedom was increasingly being limited. They were entirely dependant on their fathers, husbands or male relatives. They lived in the seclusion of their homes, and purdah (veil worn to cover one's face) became prevalent both in Muslim as well as Hindu families. A justification for such developments is the general air of uncertainty with foreign invaders roaming all over the country. Women were free to take up education and many women from higher classes excelled in the arts and science. Peasant women had more freedom, though this was largely for economic reasons. The inhuman practice of Sati (a widow burning herself on her husbands funeral pyre) was increasingly taking place amongst certain classes. Apparently a pass had to be obtained from the Sultan of Delhi before a Saticould take place.

A major change that had taken place now, was that previously the rulers and the ruled belonged to the same culture, whereas now they came from two completely different cultures. However, the two cultures were able to peacefully co-exist and in time embraced each others ideas to form a composite Indian culture. This has been a consistent feature of Indian history, whenever a new set of ideas and beliefs were put forward, t

The society of this time was going through some changes, with a fusion between Islamic culture and the Indian culture of the time. Many Indians were embracing the new religion and this resulted in a new variant of the religion, one that absorbed many Indian ideas and beliefs as well. The caste system went through some interesting changes. The Hindus continued to follow the caste system that had been existing. As for the Muslims the situation was a little different. Islamic society did not formally recognize caste. However with the entry in India, many Indian ideas were being incorporated and the caste system was one of them. The development of the caste system in Islamic society started with divisions based on ethnicity. The highest caste was the Ashraf which include the Turks, Afghans and the Persians. The next highest caste were upper class Hindu converts. After this there was the usual division of occupation castes and sub castes. Marriages were usually held within caste boundaries. The foreign settlers ,although initially attempting to preserve a unique identity, were slowly absorbed into Indian society as they adopted the same dress and food and married outside their community.

Religious rituals of the two religions however remained more or less distinct and did not really join in the fusion process. As a result the education, at least at the primary level remained separate for both communities. Education at the primary level was conducted at the temple or mosque and covered religious learning. Higher education focused on theology and linguistics. Education however did receive patronage from the Sultanate rulers and there was a growth of educational institutions in the country. Unfortunately however, such sponsorship was mainly confined to religious education.

The society of this period was highly polarized with vast differences in the standard of living between the aristocracy and tiller. While the former was rolling in the lap of luxury, the latter was just able to make ends meet. Slavery became more prevalent but apparently they were taken care of and were usually set free after some years. Many former slaves rose to political power and social eminence. However the existence of slavery was a negative aspect of the society.

Women enjoyed a position of respect but their freedom was increasingly being limited. They were entirely dependant on their fathers, husbands or male relatives. They lived in the seclusion of their homes, and purdah (veil worn to cover one's face) became prevalent both in Muslim as well as Hindu families. A justification for such developments is the general air of uncertainty with foreign invaders roaming all over the country. Women were free to take up education and many women from higher classes excelled in the arts and science. Peasant women had more freedom, though this was largely for economic reasons. The inhuman practice of Sati (a widow burning herself on her husbands funeral pyre) was increasingly taking place amongst certain classes. Apparently a pass had to be obtained from the Sultan of Delhi before a Saticould take place.

A major change that had taken place now, was that previously the rulers and the ruled belonged to the same culture, whereas now they came from two completely different cultures. However, the two cultures were able to peacefully co-exist and in time embraced each others ideas to form a composite Indian culture. This has been a consistent feature of Indian history, whenever a new set of ideas and beliefs were put forward, t

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Mohammedans ruled parts of the sub-continent with Delhi as their capital for over two centuries. Few of the Mohammedan rulers maintained patience towards Hindu rituals and maintained communal harmony encouraging Hindu scholars and prophets.

Delhi was in Adil Shah's rule concurrently while Sri Krishna Deva Rayalu was ruling Vijaya Nagar. A war broke out between the two kingdoms for supremacy over one another. At one stage, both the rulers felt there was a need to establish peace in the region. Adil Shah invited Rayalu to Delhi for finalising the peace treaty.

Hoping to utilise the opportunity to establish a cordial relation between the two empires, Rayalu headed for Delhi with a big team comprising of poets, dancers, scholars and others. At Delhi, Adil Shah gave red carpet welcome to Rayalu. During the pleasant rounds of discussions, Adil Shah urged the scholars and poets from the Rayalu band to recite some sequences from the epic Mahabharat.

The visitors recited several sequences to please the Delhi Sultan. It was then that trouble shot up for the Vijaya Nagar ruler. Adil Shah expressed his wish and requested Rayalu to make his men rewrite the Mahabharat portraying him and his friends as Pandavas and his rivals as Kauravas. The total visiting team was shocked to hear the Sultan. They somehow managed to close the day's meeting immediately.

Rayalu was worried about the development. He called for an emergency meeting with the learned persons of his team. In the meeting, he sought suggestions from them to avert the problem. Everyone started scratching their heads to find an amicable solution. None could come out with any concrete proposal. After watching all this, suddenly Ramalinga raised and put his proposal before Rayalu.

He said, "My Lord! I think there is not much for you or us to get so much worried and burdened about the Delhi Sultan's wish about Mahabharat. You please leave the problem onto my shoulders and have a relaxed sleep. I will solve the problem without any problem." The King Rayalu had his own doubts about the safety of the kingdom and its people.

"Ramalinga…" Rayalu said, "…I am aware that you are a genius. However, it is not a common situation. Dealing with the Delhi Sultan is not an easy job. It is similar to fete on the edge of a sword. You should be very careful!" He was worried that if the problem was not dealt properly, there was a chance that Delhi Sultan might declare a war on Vijaya Nagar.

Ramalinga was stiff to his argument and assured everyone to leave the matter to him. The big heads of the meeting could not comprehend how Ramalinga was confident that he could solve this 'so easily!' Anyway, they told each other, as we could not come out with any proposal for the solution, let him handle this. The meeting finally nominated Ramalinga to take care of the situation.

Next morning, the court was packed with both the rulers and their henchmen. Adil Shah recalled his wish about re-composing of the Mahabharat. Ramalinga rose from his seat and saluted the Sultan. "Huzoor! All of our poets are into the job assigned by your majesty's wish. However, every one of us is stuck at one specific issue. It is not proper for us to discuss the subject in the court. If you can kindly permit me, I wish to present the poking issue before you in private."

Adil Shah thought that there should really be some problem and consented for the one-on-one meeting with Ramalinga in a separate room. Ramalinga folding hands and presenting all respects to the Sultan in his words started, "Your Highness! You are the king of kings! It was our pleasure to know about your inclination about our epics like Mahabharat. The poets and scholars started re-composing the whole epic, in accordance to your majesty's wish. You are being portrayed as Dharmaraja, eldest of Pandavas and your friends as Bheema, Arjuna, Nakula and Sahadeva."

Ramalinga paused a second and continued, "This is where we had to scratch our brains…" However he was not forth coming with the problem. Adil Shah waited and when it was clear that he has to get it out of Ramalinga he ordered, "What is the problem? Tell me clearly and quickly."

"You are aware Huzoor! That Pandavas are five. All the five were married to Draupadi and were sharing her equally…" Ramalinga stressed, "We are unable to portray your image as Dharmaraja in this regard, thinking about the prestige of the King of Kings…."

Long before Ramalinga could complete, Adil Shah hastened to say, "Stop this nonsense now. I cannot take this anymore. Stop rewriting Mahabharat immediately. I can never accept this."

Ramalinga tried to say… "Huzoor! We started to work as per your wish…now, how can we turn away from the word given to you by us…we…" "Look Poet!" Adil Shah raised his voice, "you should drop the Mahabharat topic as of now if you wish the friendship and co-operation between the two kingdoms to last long. Is that clear" and walked off the room.

Ramalinga bubbling with joy returned to his King Rayalu and his bandwagon of delegation and explained the whole sequence. Everyone including Rayalu appreciated the sharp intelligence and presence of mind Ramalinga had in solving the toughest problem just like that

Answer 1

they hid in other countries and studied the religion of Islam.

Answer 2

Depending on the Muslim ruler of India, there were events of forcible conversion. King Aurangzeb is well-known in India for this act. However, the majority of Islamic converts in India came from the Untouchable and Sudra Hindu Castes who never would have had a chance to be well-treated in Hindu society. However, in Islam all men were equal before God, making conversion an escape from this social suppression.

However, unlike other areas that came under Muslim domination, Islam did not penetrate India nearly as well as it did in North Africa or the Middle East. Similar to the situation in Southeastern Europe, the indigenous faith (Christianity in Europe and Hinduism in India) was deeply entrenched, many places were remote and difficult to access, and Islamic rule did not come until at least the mid-1500s. This led to lower conversion rates and of Islam only becoming dominant in relatively small pockets and is the reason why today, the ratio of Muslims to Hindus on the Indian Subcontinent is still 1:2.

The construction of Qutab Minar was started by Qutub-ud-udin Aibak in 1199 and it was completed by his son-in-law Iltutmish in 1236

Qutub-udin Aibak

Arab beduins, Turks and Mongols, the Muslims who invaded India were barbarians, nomadic, uncivilised people. They never had any buildings in their own countries which are still mainly deserts. They could not design a building like Qutub Minar or Taj Mahal.

Qutub Minar was a Hindy astronomical observatory. When the Turkish invader occupied Delhi, they destroyed more than 90 Hindu temples located in the same area along with the Asoke's steel pilar.

Uncivilized Turks did not know the significance of these; so they called it just a minar.

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