Social Condition Under The Delhi Sultanate

For the period of the Sultanate, we have to depend on accounts of court poets and Muslim historians. Of those noted poets and historians are Amir Khusru, Zia-Ud-din Barani, Minhaj-us-Siraj, Ain-ul-Mulk Mutani, and Alberuni. Alberuni’s work “An Enquiry into India” is of great historical value. Zia-ud-din Barani’s work, the history of the Delhi Sultans entitled “Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi”, brings information on the social matters, the administration, and revenue system. Ibn Batuta writes with commendable frankness showing clearly that antagonism between the rulers and the ruled. It shows the social life of that age. The itinerary accounts of foreign travelers who visited India during that time of Sultans are useful for knowing the social and cultural conditions of the people.

Social Division

The Turkish conquests over India paved the way for the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate in India. The subsequent rule by different dynasties namely the Slaves, Khiljis, Tughlaqs, Sayyids, and Lodis transformed Indian society considerably. Before the coming of the Muslims, the Indian society was a homogeneous society. The existence of other religions like Buddhism, Jainism, Saivism, and Vaisnavism did not produce any major difference in the cultural life of the people of India. The influx of Muslims because of the Muslim Invasions added more sections and sub-sections in the Indian society. Unlike other early invaders who adopted Hindu manners and customs, the Mohammedans, were of an absolutely distinct type and retained their independent entity.

The Foreign Muslims constituted the ruling class and it was the most respected and privileged section of the society. They held high offices of the state. They were given extensive jagirs in return for their services. Because of this, the foreign Muslims had great respect and influence in society. They were not united as they belonged to different nationalities such as the Persians, the Afghans, the Arabs, the Turks, the Abyssinians, etc. Within them there was a division on the basis of their religious sects, Shias and Sunnies.

The Indian Muslims, either converts or the descendants of the converts, were not given equal status with the foreign Muslims. They were not treated as equal as the foreign Muslims either in the administration or in the society. There had been division among them on the basis of different nationalities of birth, religious sects, education, and profession etc. Only under the reign of the Khiljis the social forces began to work so powerfully that Indian converts were freely entrusted with the work of administration. The credit goes to Alauddin Khilji as he appointed Malik Kafur, a converted slave, as his deputy. Balban declared that he could not bear the sight of the native Musalmans in his government. Iltutmish is also reported to have felt an equal abhorrence for the Indian Musalmans. Thus, we observe that Indian Muslims were far inferior in wealth and position to the ruling Turks.

Hindus constituted the majority of the population in India. Already they were divided under the caste system. During the reign of the Delhi Sultanate, the caste system became so rigid that they tried to defend themselves from the onslaughts of the Muslims. That resulted in the formation of new sub-castes and further division among them. There were some social evils prevalent in the Hindu society — they were untouchability, sacrifice of animals and human beings, and sati etc. Their position in society was that they were the less privileged section when compared to the Indian Muslims. The Hindus were treated as second-rate citizens of the State. They were not only devoid of high offices of the state but had to pay higher taxes as compared to the Muslims. But the services of the Hindus were essential in the revenue department. Hindus monopolized trade and agriculture. The well-to-do Hindu chiefs had to give their daughters in marriage to the Sultans and nobles. As it became the favourite hobby of the Turks to pick up beautiful Hindu girls as their wives, child marriage became common.