ICSE Class 7 Answered

Alauddin Khilji was the last prominent ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. Historians have different views about his character and achievements. Barani has commented, “Alauddin could not read or write a letter, and was bad-tempered, obstinate and hard-hearted; fortune befriended him and his schemes were generally successful.” Historians like S. R. Sharma, Dr. K. S. Lai, Dr. R. C. Majumdar and Lanepoole have also praised him for his successes achieved during his life time which were great and unique in the sphere of territorial expansion and adminis­trative reforms. Hence Dr. K. S. Lai remarks, “From a humble backgournd, he rose to be one of the great rulers of medieval India.” He adopted a cruel and stern manner to establish his authority and awarded severe punishments to his opponents and rebels in order to create terror among them. His greatest achievement was that in the medieval period for the first time in his reign, political unity of India was established. He also introduced certain economic reforms which benefitted people living in and around Delhi.