Indian History

Mohammad-bin-Bakhtiar Khalji, the Turkic general, invaded Bengal in the early 13th century and defeated Lakshmana Sen, the Hindu ruler of the Sena dynasty who ruled from Nadia (in present-day West Bengal). This marked the beginning of Muslim rule in Bengal.

All three statements are correct: A) The Turk influence did increase when Ghazni rose to power in the 10th-11th centuries; B) Mahmud of Ghazni indeed invaded India 17 times between 1001-1027 AD; C) Halaku Khan (grandson of Genghis Khan) sacked Baghdad in 1258, effectively ending the Abbasid Caliphate.

Murshid Quli Khan, originally named Mirza Hadi, was born into a Zoroastrian (Parsi) family in Persia before being sold as a slave and eventually converting to Islam. He rose to become the first Nawab of Bengal. The other options (Asad Khan, Khafi Khan, Ayub Khan) were Muslim nobles who did not have Zoroastrian origins.

The Naib-i-Mamalikat (Vicegerent) post was created by Turk nobles to ensure administrative continuity and stability during periods when the Sultan's position was weak or contested. This was a safeguard mechanism to protect the administration from collapse during political crises. Option B is too idealized - the officers were primarily concerned with maintaining stability and their own influence rather than selfless service.

The revolt of Sadah Amirs (nobles claiming descent from the Prophet) occurred during Mohammad-bin-Tughlaq's reign (1325-1351). His controversial policies - including the disastrous capital shift to Daulatabad, introduction of token currency, and ill-conceived military expeditions - provoked widespread rebellion among the nobility. Balban faced noble dissent but not specifically Sadah Amirs, while Razia and Mubarak Khalji's reigns were too brief for such organized noble revolts.

Changez Khan (Genghis Khan) pursued Jalaluddin Mangbarni, the last Khwarazmian ruler, to the Indus River. After the Mongol conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire (1218-1221), Mangbarni fled across Central Asia with Genghis Khan's forces in pursuit. He was eventually granted refuge in India by Iltutmish but became a source of political tension. The other options were Indian rulers of different eras - Nasiruddin Mahmud (Iltutmish's son), Nasiruddin Qubacha (a rival governor), and Mohammad Ghori (12th century invader).

Iltutmish made two major contributions to currency: he was the first Turkish ruler to issue pure Arabic (Islamic) coins, and he introduced the silver Tanka and copper Jital as standardized currency. The Tanka became the standard coin for centuries. Option A alone is incomplete, option B alone misses the historical significance of being first, and option D is irrelevant.

Sultan Bahram Shah, a successor of Mahmud of Ghazni, killed in his court a noble who was also the brother of the then king of Shamsbani dynasty - Alauddin Jahansoz (in the 1150s). This became the cause of intense rivalry between the two dynasties. The rulers of the two dynasties fought several battles in the years that followed and finally Mohammad Ghori, the nephew of Alauddin, put an end to the Shamsi dynasty by occupying Ghaznah in 1173, Multan in 1175 and Lahore by 1190.

This matching question pairs historical statements about Aibak and Iltutmish with the historians who wrote them. The correct pairing is: (a) Aibak made the limits of sovereignty of Delhi Sultanate; Iltutmish was the first Sultan - A.B.M. Habibullah (3); (b) The real beginning of Muslim sovereignty was done by Iltutmish - R.P. Tripathi (1); (c) Aibak had only drawn the shape of Delhi Sultanate in his mind, Iltutmish gave it real shape - Nizami (4); (d) None had been so philanthropic, sympathetic and reverential to scholars and seniors as Iltutmish - Minhaj-us-Siraj (2).

Rajraja I (985-1014 CE) built a temple at Polannaruwa (modern Polonnaruwa in Sri Lanka) to commemorate his Chola conquest of the island. This temple was dedicated to Lord Shiva, reflecting the Shaivite tradition of the Chola dynasty. The Cholas were devout Shaivas and built numerous Shiva temples across their empire, including the famous Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. Vishnu, Ganesha, and Murugan were also worshipped in South India but were not the primary deities of Chola patronage.

The correct chronological order of Mahmud Ghaznavi's invasions is: Multan (1005 and 1011), Kashmir (1012), Thaneshwar (1015), and Somnath (1025). The Somnath raid was Mahmud's most famous and controversial expedition, occurring late in his reign. The dates represent Mahmud's systematic campaign across North India between 1000-1026 CE.

Rajendra Chola I invaded Sri Lanka during the fifth year of his reign (c. 1017-1018 CE). He completed his father Rajraja I's conquest of the island, defeated the Sinhalese king Mahinda V, and captured the capital Anuradhapura. This was part of the Chola expansion that brought all of Sri Lanka under Chola control for several decades. Options A, C, and D are incorrect.

Vijayalaya (c. 850-870 CE), the founder of the Chola empire, adopted the title 'Nar Kesari' (Lion of Men). This title reflected his prowess as a warrior and ruler. He revived the Chola dynasty after centuries of Pallava dominance. Rajendra Chola and Parantaka I were later Chola rulers with different titles, while Aditya I was Vijayalaya's son who expanded the kingdom.

Surya Varman I, the Khmer ruler of Kambuja (Cambodia), sent diplomatic missions and gifts to Rajendra Chola I after Rajendra's successful military expedition to Kedaram (on the Malay Peninsula). Rather than confronting the powerful Chola navy, Surya Varman chose friendship. This represents early medieval diplomatic recognition of Chola naval power in Southeast Asia. The other options are names of South Indian rulers, not Southeast Asian ones.

Kulotunga I (1070-1120 CE) fought against Vikramaditya VI of the Western Chalukya dynasty. The Chola-Chalukya conflict was a major power struggle in medieval South India. Vikramaditya VI, a powerful Chalukya ruler, engaged in prolonged warfare with Kulotunga I over territorial claims in the Vengi region (modern Andhra Pradesh). The other options represent different rulers and periods - Someshwar II was Vikramaditya's brother and predecessor, Surya Varman I was Khmer, and Raj Varman II is not a historically significant figure in this context.

The question asks which statement is NOT correct. Qutub Minar was started by Qutubuddin Aibak, not Iltutmish. Iltutmish only added the next three stories to complete it. Therefore statement C is indeed the incorrect statement among the options. The other statements are historically accurate - Iltutmish did receive the caliph's investiture in 1228, he rightly refused to help Jalaluddin Mangbarni to protect his kingdom, and he is considered the true founder of the Delhi Sultanate.

Rajendra Chola led a famous military expedition from the Coromandel coast to the Ganges valley in the early 11th century. During this campaign, he defeated Mahipala, the ruler of Bengal. This expedition earned Rajendra Chola the title 'Gangaikonda' (conqueror of Ganga) and he built the city of Gangaikonda Cholapuram to commemorate this victory.

Tughluqabad was the third city of Delhi, built by Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, whose original name was Ghazi Malik. He was the founder of the Tughlaq dynasty. The city was built in the 14th century as a fortified settlement. Ghazi Malik was a former governor who rose to become Sultan and established his new capital at Tughluqabad.

Rajendra Chola's famous expedition to the Ganges valley was led by his general Araiyyan Raj Rajan (also referred to in some records). This military campaign was one of the most significant achievements of the Chola empire, extending their influence northward. The expedition successfully defeated the Pala ruler Mahipala of Bengal.

The Chola rulers were devout Shaivites, meaning they were followers of Shiva. This is evidenced by the numerous Shiva temples they built, including the Brihadeeswarar Temple at Thanjavur. The Chola period is considered the golden age of Shaivaite Tamil literature and devotional poetry. Nataraja, the cosmic dancer form of Shiva, was particularly revered by the Cholas.

Chola temples were not just religious monuments but served as multifunctional centers. They were major economic hubs, employing thousands of people and managing vast land grants. Socially, they served as community centers for festivals, education, and public gatherings. Culturally, they supported dance, music, and art, making them truly comprehensive institutions beyond their architectural significance.

The Chola period is renowned for its bronze sculptures, with the Nataraja idol being considered the finest example. These Nataraja bronzes depict Shiva as the cosmic dancer and are masterpieces of Indian art. The Chola artists perfected the lost-wax casting technique (cire perdue) to create these intricate bronze statues. The Nataraja from Chola period is now recognized worldwide as an icon of Indian art.

Dravidian architecture is primarily associated with the Pallava dynasty, who pioneered this style in the 7th-8th centuries. While the Cholas and later dynasties also built in this style, the Pallavas are credited with its founding and early development. The shore temples at Mahabalipuram and the Kailasanatha temple at Kanchipuram are classic examples of Pallava Dravidian architecture. The style is characterized by pyramid-shaped towers (vimanas) and intricate temple complexes.

This matching question correctly pairs Delhi Sultans with their reign periods. Iltutmish ruled from 1210-1236 and consolidated the Delhi Sultanate. Balban (1266-1287, though 1246-1286 in options likely accounts for his earlier role) strengthened the monarchy. Alauddin Khalji (1296-1316) expanded the empire significantly. Firoz Shah Tughlaq (1351-1388) ruled for a long period and is known for his administrative reforms and public works.