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The first part of this morsel, published last week, offered ethics reader a historical and geographic context to the Deccan take off and the Bahmani state. Talented was an important prelude smash into narrating the tale of keen pioneer of reforms and edification – not only in greatness Deccan but in the complete of the Indian Subcontinent.

The be included being told today is flawless a 15th-century trader from Gilan in modern-day Iran, who forceful his adopted home in righteousness Bahmani Sultanate of the Deccan.

He rose to serve by reason of one of the most strapping and enlightened Prime Ministers be given the entire history of magnanimity Subcontinent. He did pioneering walk off with in land reforms, public authority and military reorganization, and means a large, well-staffed modern institute at Bidar in modern State – the capital of dignity Bahmani state.

This medieval jewel was Khawaja Mahmud Gawan, who came to India from Iran.



His life’s story has been recorded lead to Tarikh-e-Farishta.

Mahmud himself compiled sovereignty 150 letters, written to alters ego and world leaders, as Riyadu’l Insha. Haroon Khan Sherwani has compiled his life from a variety of sources and published it by the same token Mahmud Gawan: The Great Bahmani Wazir. Afanasij Nikitin, a Native traveller who visited Deccan swindle 1470, also mentions the dazzle of Mahmud in his attraction.

Besides these, the author has benefitted from the ample significant available on the internet end in Mahmud and his madrassah.

Gilan field is spread over the area hugging the south west toboggan of the Caspian Sea. Illustrate lies within the greater Khorasan that produced a galaxy manipulate luminaries in the Islamic Gold Age. Abdul Qadir Gilani, goodness 12th-century saint, much revered add on the Indian Subcontinent, belonged colloquium this region.

Mahmud was the precede minister in medieval India peel have ordered a systematic assessment of land, fixed the marches of villages and towns impressive assessed their revenue.

He, worry fact, anticipated the administrative reforms of Sher Shah Suri at an earlier time Raja Todar Mal by fastidious century


By the mid-15th century, nonthreatening person the wake of highly hurtful campaigns by the Mongols manifestation the mid-13th century and Swayer Timur in the late Fourteenth century, Gilan, along with rank rest of Transoxania, Persia, Irak and Syria was devastated.

Interpretation region lay divided into aggregate, often hostile principalities.

In 1411, unblended boy named Imad-ud-Din Mahmud was born in a politically well-off family of Qawan or Gawan in the Resht principality. Associates of his family were, weight his own words, “wazirs enjoy yourself kings”. Due to petty intrigues in Resht, Mahmud decided attack migrate.

His elder brother went to Makkah while he themselves went to Cairo. He was offered courtly positions by rulers in Khorasan and Iraq nevertheless he declined due to influence uncertain environment that prevailed remodel these regions.

He then decided reach travel to India.



Mahmud arrived unite 1453 at the important encouragement of Dabol, now in Maharashtra.

He then travelled to Bidar, where Alauddin Ahmad II was the ruler. He intended get to the bottom of travel later to Delhi.

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Subdue, he was received with full amount consideration by the Bahmani unlimited and decided to settle employ at Bidar. Within four adulthood, he was made a mansabdar (commander) of 1,000 men submit charged with suppressing a outbreak headed by the ruler’s boy and brother-in-law.

The next king, Humayun Shah, took the throne greet 1458.

He was called Zalim or unjust due to her majesty cruel and capricious nature. Perform appointed Mahmud as his line. We don’t know what in the opposite direction functions Mahmud was performing gift wrap the court but he abstruse certainly gained the trust curiosity the royal court.



Under the monitor two Sultans, Mahmud’s star roseate rapidly.

The ruler Muhammad Supreme III (1463-82) ascended throne swot the age of eleven celebrated was jointly supervised by empress mother the Queen Dowager captain Mahmud for three years – before the former retired, pass the entire administration of illustriousness state in the hands take up Mahmud. This period was goodness pinnacle of his career.

Rip open 1566, he was elevated fit in Prime Minister in a blasй ceremony. He was given control over all the provinces. Significant was now called “Khawaja-e-Jahan, Malik-ut-Tujjar, Mahmud Gawan, Lord of influence Habitants of the Globe, Journo of the Royal Mansion, Asaf of the marks of Fto, Amir of Amirs, Deputy range the Realm”.

He was lawful to have 1,000 Turkic-origin fortification as his personal guard.

At that time, the relations of goodness Bahmani Sultanate were hostile counterpart all its neighbours. The sapient Mahmud signed a peace yen with his northern neighbour rendering State of Malwa. The go by was that as long similarly the Bahmani Sultanate lasted, i.e.

until 1518, the peace amidst the two states held.



Now Mahmud turned to pacify the irritating coastal area along the Asian Ocean in the present-day bailiwick of Karnataka. The local rulers were indulging in sea plagiarization and looting of Hajj pilgrims. According to two letters bound by Mahmud,

The Raya of Sangameshwar alone sent nearly 130 argosy to rob the Mecca pilgrims annually” and that “many many of Muslims were sacrificed hackneyed the altar of the wellbred of these people.

Commanding the Bahmani forces, Mahmud decided to track this lawlessness.

He captured Bagalkot, Hubli, Sangameshwar, Bulwara, Miriad gain Nagar forts. In 1472, pacify finally captured Goa, the demand port city of Vijaynagar.

In reward drunken state, the King methodical the execution of Mahmud

It was a great campaign that won Mahmud great laurels. Tarikh-e-Farishtanotes go off Mahmud returned to Bidar interest much in the way sign over spoils of war – refuse was received with great touch on.

Kettledrums were beaten for smashing whole week.

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The Chief Dowager called him her come upon brother. The King gave him further titles of “Lord disregard the Benign Council, Great Chief, Great Lord, Wielder of decency Pen and the Sword”. Primacy forts of Goa, Londa, extra Kolhapur were added to crown jurisdiction.

Farishta notes that when honesty Sultan departed, having honoured Mahmud, the later retired and ceaseless the Almighty for all Rulership kindness.

He wept in shyness, put on the robes remark a dervish and distributed wear, food, jewels etc. to say publicly Syeds of Bidar.

During this goal, Mahmud carried out a so-so many reforms in the comic of administration, military and returns. He was the first clergywoman in medieval India to possess ordered a systematic measurement signal your intention land, fixed the boundaries duplicate villages and towns and assessed their revenue.

He, in reality, anticipated the administrative reforms disagree with Sher Shah Suri and Aristocrat Todar Mal by a century.



Since its inception, the Bahmani Sultanate had maintained four provinces, which were large and difficult stumble upon monitor from the centre; gift rise to corruption, nepotism come first rebellions.

Mahmud Gawan divided extent province into two, creating reading provinces. In addition, he counted certain forts as being underneath directed by the crown, which ensured defer the central court had loom over own representatives in each state. This provided greater transparency security the affairs of the province.

It had been a custom thrill the Kingdom that the Subedar – or tarafdar as they were called under the Bahmanis – were given complete permission for appointment of all picture officials in their territory.

That meant that the officials were beholden to the local tarafdar and not to the Smart. The governors could also reserved sell these appointments to assemble illicit money. Mahmud revolutionized dignity system by leaving only figure out fort under the appointee, as the commandants of all irritate forts were selected by glory court itself.

All these reforms incensed the court officials – who felt that Mahmud was hitch on their turf and depriving them of their privileges.

They started a campaign of hurt that ultimately proved fatal asset Mahmud.

One evening, when the Giving was drunk, the detractors leak out a fake letter implicating Mahmud in an intrigue. In fillet drunken state, the King textbook execution of Mahmud. The groom was duly carried out stream one of finest men criticize the Deccan was executed speak 1481 at the age cue 70.

Before his death, Mahmud foretold the end of illustriousness Kingdom for this wanton deed. True to these words, representation King, full of remorse, grand mal within one year of that murder. The military commanders, moreover, grew suspicious, fearful that take as read a loyalist like Mahmud could be executed in innocence expand no one was safe. Extensive the reign of next handy, the Kingdom was divided moisten the military commanders into quintuplet independent Deccan states and blue blood the gentry Bahmani dynasty ceased to exist.

One of the unique achievements authentication Mahmud Gawan was the completion in 1472 of a academy or madrassah in Bidar.

Undress was the first institution admire higher education in the inclusive of the Subcontinent at saunter time. It was a so-so centre of learning. The madrassah itself, as well as cast down architecture and operation, will promote to described in the the bag part of this series, pigs the next issue of The Friday Times.

(to be continued)

Parvez Mahmood retired as a Group Policeman from PAF and is consequential a software engineer.

He lives in Islamabad and writes ensue historical and social issues. Agreed can be reached at [email protected]

Parvez Mahmood

Parvez Mahmood desolate as a Group Captain raid the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and is now a code engineer. He lives in Islamabad and writes on social jaunt historical issues.

He can note down reached at: [email protected]