Sultan Sikander Lodi, the Pakhtun-Punjabi ruler

[Hamza913]

Sikander Lodi was a Sultan of the Lodi dynasty, ruling from 1489-1517. Of the three Sultan's of the Lodi dynasty (Bahlul, himself and Ibrahim), Sikander is considered to have been the most powerful, bringing the dynasty to it's peak. He gave ample evidence of his qualities as a general, as an administrator, a consolidator of the empire and even as a poet, composing a Persian diwan of 9000 verses.

Through his paternal lineage, Sikander Lodi was the descendent of Pakthuns who came from Multan, and through his maternal lineage, he was the descendent of Punjabis from Sirhind.

Once his father had died, Sikander was poised to take the throne as he was nominated by his father for the position (before his passing of course), however, Sikander's brother (Barbak Shah) also had the desire to rule over the powerful Lodi Sultanate. Through peaceful negotiations as well as warfare, Sikander managed to convince his brother to let him become the Sultan, without actually killing him. He also peacefully settled any hostilities between himself and his uncle (Alam Khan). This struggle for power proved the Sultan to be a capable statesman and military leader.

He also proved himself to be a generally good ruler, encouraging trade across his territory. He also built the city of Agra, showing his architectural skills.

There were also several innovations introduced by him, such as the introduction of auditing into accounts. He also introduced a system of Gaz-e-Sikandari, a 32 digit measuring system of cultivated lands.

Under Sikander's rule, the Sultanate also expanded substantially. He conquered many nearby Kingdoms, such as Dholpur, Bidar, Gwalior, Chanderi, etc. His conquests were done primarily due to his strong religious fervour, compelling him to strike his sword into the Hindu lands which surrounded him.

The Sultan was also a ruler who cared about the state of his people, creating an efficient legal system designed to give justice to the common man, and he would even go around his Sultanate in disguise, in order to witness the state of his people and find out what else he could do to improve their standard of living.

He passed away in 1517, and is buried in the Lodi gardens of Delhi.

Lodi Dynasty under Sikander Lodi:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sikandar_Lodi
http://www.historydiscussion.net/history-of-india/15-main-achievements-of-sikandar-lodis/2716
https://www.importantindia.com/9060/sikandar-lodi/
http://historypak.com/sikandar-lodhi/

 

[Hamza913]

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[Hamza913]

@Talwar e Pakistan

 

[Ahmad Sajjad Paracha]

"Whosoever captures Lahore and Delhi,this subcontinent puts whole subcontinent in his lap. I would vanish both of these areas if i could do so." SHER SHAH SURI

 

[Mian Babban]

His mother was a Hindu by name of Ambha, a daughter of goldsmith. His half-brother Barbak Shah was born from an Afghan mother, and was customarily expected to be the successor. Sikandar Lodi only succeeded because of sheer talent , otherwise he was at disadvantage because of his Hindu-goldsmith ancestry from mother side. An Afghan noble even refused to give his daughter to him because of that. Perhaps to prove that he is more of Afghan-Musalman than Hindu, he severely oppressed Hindus. He sacked the Hindu temples and built mosques in their place, and He re- imposed the jizyah on the Hindus.

Family of Hasan Khan Sur had similar case. Farid Khan (Sher Shah) was from an Afghan mother but beloved sons of his father were from a Hindu woman. Customarily Farid Khan was supposed to succeed as head of his family but his father favored his half-Indian sons from his favorite wife. Farid Khan was able to become head of the family of sheer talent.........

 

[Hamza913]

His mother was a Hindu by name of Ambha, a daughter of goldsmith. His half-brother Barbak Shah was born from an Afghan mother, and was customarily expected to be the successor. Sikandar Lodi only succeeded because of sheer talent , otherwise he was at disadvantage because of his Hindu-goldsmith ancestry from mother side. An Afghan noble even refused to give his daughter to him because of that. Perhaps to prove that he is more of Afghan-Musalman than Hindu, he severely oppressed Hindus. He sacked the Hindu temples and built mosques in their place, and He re- imposed the jizyah on the Hindus.

Family of Hasan Khan Sur had similar case. Farid Khan (Sher Shah) was from an Afghan mother but beloved sons of his father were from a Hindu woman. Customarily Farid Khan was supposed to succeed as head of his family but his father favored his half-Indian sons from his favorite wife. Farid Khan was able to become head of the family of sheer talent.........

Asalamu Alaikum

Do you think it was racism, or because they were Hindu?

I think even if they were Muslim, both Sher Shah Suri and Sikander Lodi would have been viewed as inferior.

It's a shame certain idiots had to have such racist views, luckily the majority seem to have been mostly free of this.

 

[Mian Babban]

Asalamu Alaikum

Do you think it was racism, or because they were Hindu?

I think even if they were Muslim, both Sher Shah Suri and Sikander Lodi would have been viewed as inferior.

It's a shame certain idiots had to have such racist views, luckily the majority seem to have been mostly free of this.

Excerpt from book "The History of Afghans in India, 1545-1630" by M.A.Rahim ;

"The Afghans detested marriage with non-Afghans. Intermarriage should in exceptional cases take place. The Afghans, however, denied the children of such marriages the status of a pure born Afghan. Islam Shah Ludi preferred his nephew Bahlul to his son Qutb Khan to be his successor as the latter was born of a non-Afghan mother, and would not have been acceptable to the Afghans. In 1561 on his way to Makkah, Bairam Khan halted at Patan and arranged the betrothal of his son Abd al-Rahim with a daughter of Islam Shah. The news of this betrothal displeased the Afghans and they killed him. " [page-25]

 

[Hamza913]

Excerpt from book "The History of Afghans in India, 1545-1630" by M.A.Rahim ;

"The Afghans detested marriage with non-Afghans. Intermarriage should in exceptional cases take place. The Afghans, however, denied the children of such marriages the status of a pure born Afghan. Islam Shah Ludi preferred his nephew Bahlul to his son Qutb Khan to be his successor as the latter was born of a non-Afghan mother, and would not have been acceptable to the Afghans. In 1561 on his way to Makkah, Bairam Khan halted at Patan and arranged the betrothal of his son Abd al-Rahim with a daughter of Islam Shah. The news of this betrothal displeased the Afghans and they killed him. " [page-25]

Ouch.

 

[Hamza913]

Asalamu Alaikum

@waz

Could I please get this thread moved to the history section?