Q. With reference to the reign of Muhammad Bin Tughlaq (MBT), consider the following statements:
1.He maintained diplomatic ties with the Chinese emperor, sending an envoy to seek permission to reconstruct damaged Buddhist temples in the Himalayas.
2.He established the Diwan-i-Kohi, a separate government department dedicated to the improvement of agriculture and extension of cultivation.
3.His administrative style successfully centralized control, leading to the complete suppression of regional revolts and the peak territorial extent of the Delhi Sultanate.
How many of the statements given above are correct?
Answer: B
Notes:
Explanation:
- Statement 1: Correct. MBT did maintain diplomatic contact with the Mongol/Yuan emperor of China (Toghon Temür) for this specific religious purpose, highlighting his broader engagement beyond the Islamic world.
- Statement 2: Correct. Diwan-i-Kohi was a crucial agricultural department established by MBT, tasked with bringing fallow land under cultivation and providing loans (sondhar) to peasants.
- Statement 3: Incorrect. MBT’s later reign was plagued by numerous revolts, largely due to his controversial policies. This fragmentation led to the rise of independent kingdoms like the Vijayanagara and Bahmani kingdoms, directly challenging the Sultanate’s territorial integrity.
