Qutub Minar : Tourism Affecting Due to Protest 

Key Takeaways

• Qutub Minar, one of potential tourist spots, is affected due to protests and political controversies that have led to a fall in tourism.

About Qutub Minar

• It is a five-story red sandstone tower (72.5 metres tall) built by Muslim conquerors in the thirteenth century to mark their ultimate victory against Delhi’s Rajput rulers (Qutub means victory), as well as a tower from which muezzins (criers) call for prayer at the adjoining Quwwatu’l-Islam mosque.
• Its surrounding contains Alai-Darwaza Gate ( built in 1311)
• On the surface of the minar (tower), beautiful arabesque designs, mostly Quran passages, are etched.
• The construction of Qutub Minar took around 75 years. 
• Qutub-ud-din Aibak (1206-1210) began building in 1193 and Iltutmish (1211-1236) completed it in 1210. 
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Alai Darwaza in Qutub  Minar Complex

• The Quwwat-ul-Islam Mosque’s southern entryway, the Ala’i Darwaza, is located in Mehrauli, Delhi, India. 
• It is a square domed gatehouse with arched openings and holds a single chamber, built by Sultan Alauddin Khalji in 1311 and composed of red sandstone.

Slave Dynasty (1206 to 1290)

• Qutb ud-Din Aibak founded Slave Dynasty.
• The Delhi Sultanate was founded by the first of the Slave Dynasty.
• Jalal ud din Firuz Khilji ousted the final Mamluk monarch Muiz ud din Qaiqabad in 1290, bringing the dynasty to an end.
• The Khilji (or Khalji) dynasty, the second dynasty of the Delhi Sultanate, succeeded the Dynasty.

Rulers of Slave Dynasty 

Major Rulers of Slave Dynasty 

• Qutb ud-Din Aibak (Reign: 1206 – 1210)
  • The Mamluk Dynasty’s first king.
  • Born in Central Asia to a Turkish family.
  • Muhammad Ghori, the ruler of Ghor in Afghanistan, sold him as a slave.
  • Ghori’s loyal general and leader was Aibak.
  • After 1192, he was assigned command of Ghori’s Indian holdings.
  • In 1206 after Ghori’s assassination, Aibak declared himself Sultan of Delhi.
  • The Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque in Delhi has begun construction. This is one among northern India’s first Islamic monuments.
  • In Delhi, he began work on the Qutb Minar.
  • For his generosity, he was dubbed Lakh Bash (Giver of Lakhs).
  • He ruled until 1210, when he died. A horse was claimed to have trampled him to death.
  • Aram Shah was his successor.

•  Iltutmish (1210-1236)
  • Samshuddin Iliyas was his first name.
  • He was Qutbuddin Aibak’s son-in-law.
  • His mongol policy rescued India from Chengis Khan’s onslaught.
  • His capital was moved from Lahore to Delhi.
  • The Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and the Qutb Minar were completed during his reign.
  • He established the feudal system called Iqtadari/iqta
  • He formed a pact with forty Muslim Nobel Laureates (Chalghani).
  • He established the Delhi Sultanate’s coinage system.
    • Silver coin – tanka
    • Bronze coin – Biranz
    • Copper coin – Jittal
  • As his successor, he nominated his daughter Raziya.

• Razia Sultana (1236-40)
  • Raziya took the throne of Delhi after her brother Ruknuddin Feroz was deposed.
  • In Indian history, she was the first Muslim woman ruler.
  • Yakuth, an African(absynnian) slave, was selected as the cavalry commander.
  • Her authority caused friction with Chahalgani ( 40 nobels)
  • Altuniya was her husband (governor of Bhatinda).
  • Both Razia and Altuniya were later slain by a Chalghani coup.

• Ghiyasuddin Balban(1266-86)
  • Balban was the most powerful slave dynasty.
  • Chahalghani was destroyed by him.
  • Balban introduced Persian rituals and traditions such as 
    • sizda
    • paibas (kissing the Sultan’s feet)
    •  jamnibas (kissing the Sultan’s hands)
    • Navroz  ( Persian new year)
  • He formed the Diwan-i-Ariz which is a defence department.
  • Balabn dealt harshly with robbers and dacoits, making Delhi’s roadways safe to navigate.
  • Balban dealt with the Mongol problem using a blood and iron policy. He fortified the western boundaries. He dispatched his son Mahamud to the western boundaries to confront the Mongols.
  • Mahamud was killed by Mongols.
  • Balban became ill and died in 1286 as a result of this tragedy.
  • Kalimullah and Qaimus succeeded him as sultans after his death.
  • The final sultan of the slave dynasty was Qaiqubad/Kaiqubad.
  • Qaiqubad got paralysed after a few years. Jalaluddin khalji deposed him from the throne.

Content Source : The Hindu