THE BAHAMANI KINGDOM
INTRODUCTION
Out of all the independent Muslim kingdoms that emerged when the Delhi Sultanate collapsed, the most potent one was the Bahmani empire in the Deccan. The Deccan Amirs, known as the Amiran-i-Sadah, rose up against the Emperor during Muhammad Tughluq's reign, took control of Dualatabad fort, and proclaimed Ismail Mukh as the Deccan King, going by the name Nasir-ud-Din Shah. But because Hasan, also known as Zafar Khan, was older and preferred leisure, Ismail Mukh willingly resigned in favour of Hasan, who was crowned king Abul Muzaffar Ala-ud-din Bahman Shah on August 3, 1347, by the nobles
Modern historians do not believe Ferishta's account of the Bahmani kingdom's founding. Ferishta has the opinion that Hasan worked for Gangu, a Delhi-based Brahman astrologer who had Muhammad Tughluq's confidence. When Hasan was ploughing the Gangu grounds one day, he discovered a copper cup filled with gold coins in a furrow. After introducing himself to Gangu, Hassan found that the latter was impressed by his candour and suggested Hassan to Muhammad Tughluq. Gangu received 100 horses under the leadership of Muhammad Tughluq. Gangu christened his dominion with his master's name. Although Ferishta's perspective is rejected, it is noted that Hassan traceshis lineage from Bahman-bin-Isafandiyar and omits any reference to Delhi's Brahman astrologer Gangu. Nizam-ud-Din Ahmad, the author of Tabqat-i-Akbari, Ahmad Amin Razi, the author of Haft Iqlim, and Haji-ud-Dabir, the author of Arabic History of Gujarat, all disagree with Ferishta's viewpoint. The evidence of coins and inscriptions refutes Ferishta's theory as well. Architectural monuments flourished throughout the kingdom of the Bahamas. By bringing in architects from Persia, Turkey, and Arabia and fusing their designs with native ones, the Bahamanis helped to establish the unique architectural style. The culture that emerged at this time combined elements of the north and south with its own unique forms. Two of the most well-known examples of Bahamani architecture are the Gol Gumbaz, the largest dome in the world, and the Charminar in Hyderabad. South India now has a rich legacy of Indo-Islamic art, language, and custom thanks to the Bahanamis of Deccan. The Bahamani kings supported the famous Suti saint Hazrat Banda Nawaz (1321–1422, CE), whose Dargah of Gulbarga is a site of pilgrimage for both Muslims and Hindus. The Hindu Vijayanagar Empire to the south and the Bahmani fought each other for dominance of the Deccan. During Mahmud Gawan's vizierate (1466–1481), the sultanate attained its zenith. In 1453, Mahmud Gawan travelled from Persia to Bidar. A renowned expert on Islamic tradition, he used his personal wealth to establish the Madarassa (institution) in the tradition of the universities of Samarkhand and Khorasan. Once a slave, he rose to the position of prime minister under Mahmud III (1462-82), the monarch of the Bahamas, whom he had previously trained. However, Gawan fell prey to the court intrigue and the inebriated monarch executed him. The Deccan sultanates, also known as Ahmednagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur, and Golconda (Qutb Shahi dynasty), were formed after the sultanate split into five republics after 1518.
CENTRAL AND PROVINCIAL ADMINISTRATION
The Bahmanis seem to have copied the administrative structure of the Delhi Sultans. The king was at the helm of affairs, followed by Wakil, Wazir, Bakhshi and Qazi. Besides, there were Dabir (secretary), Muftí (interpreter of law), Kotwal, Muhtasib (censor of public morals). Munihians (spy) were appointed not only in every corner of their kingdom, but we are told that during Muhammad's reign, munihians were posted at Delhi too. During Muhammad I's reign, the Bahmani kingdom was divided into four Tarafs or provinces, ie. Daulatabad, Berar, Bidar and Gulbarga each ruled by a Tarafdar. Since Gulbarga was the most important province, only the most trusted nobles were appointed who were called Mir Naib (viceroy) distinct from the governors of other provinces. Later on, as the boundaries of the kingdom expanded, Mahmud Gawan divided the empíre into eight provinces. Certain parts of the empire were put under the direct control of the Sultan (khassrr-i Sultani).
ECONOMIC LIFE
Mahmud Gawan ordered for systematic measurement of land fixing the boundaries of the villages and towns. Thus, in this regard he was the forerunner of Raja Todar Mal. AIl this greatly helped the exchequer. First, the income of the empire was ensured and became known in advance; secondly, it also curbed the corruption of the nobles to the minimum, there by increasing the state income. In the Bahmani kingdom trade and commerce was in a flourishing state. Nikitin, a Russian traveller, who was in the Deccan during 1469-74, provides ample information regarding the commercial! activities of Bidar. He says that horses,cloth, silk, and pepper were the chief merchandise. He adds that at Shikhbaludin Peratyr and. at Aladinand bazar people assembled in large numbers where trade continued for ten days. He also mentions the Bahmani seaport Mustafabad-Dabul as a centre of commercial activity. Dabul was well connected not only with the Indian but also with the African ports. Horses were imported from Arabia, Khurasan and Turkestan. Trade and commerce was mostiy in the hands of the Hindu merchants. Musk and fur were imported from China.
SOCIETY AND CULTURE
The social structure of the Bahmanis was cosmopolitan in character. There were Muslims, Hindus, iranians, Transoxonians, Iraqis and Abyssinians (Habshis). The Portuguese came during the early 16th century. This heterogeneous character becomes more prominent if we look at its linguistic pattern: Persian, Marathi, Dakhni (proto-Urdu), Kannada and Telugu languages were widely spoken in various parts of the kingdom. Broadly, two classes existed in the society. According to Nikitin, there were poor, and the nobles who were "extremely opulent". He says that "the nobles were carried on their Silver beds, preceded by twenty horses caparisoned in gold and followed by three hundred men on horseback and five hundred on foot along with ten torchbearers." Nikitin also gives a graphic account of the grandeur of the Bahmani Wazir Mahmud Gawan. He mentions that everyday along with him 500 men used to dine. For the safety of his house alone, everyday 100 was poor. Though Nikitin mentions only two armed personnel kept vigilance. In contrast, the general population Classes, there was yet another class - the merchants (the so-called middle class). The Sufis were great & venerated by the Bahmani rulers. Initially, they migrated to the Deccan as religious auxiliaries the Khaljis and the Tughluqs. The infant Bahmani kingdom required the support of the
Sufis for popular legitimizations of their authority. The Sufis who migrated to the Bahmani kingdom were chiefły of the Chishti, Qadiri and Shattari orders. Bidar emerged as one of the most important centres of the Qadiri order. Shaikh Sirajuddin Junaidi was the first Sufi to receive the roval favour. The Chishti saints enjoyed the greatest honour. Syed Muhammad Gesu Daraz, the famous Chishti saint of Delhi. migrated to Gulbarga in 1402-3. Hindu traditions and culture also influenced the Bahmani court. Sultan Feroz's (1397-1422) marriage with a daughter Of the royal family of Vijayanagar helped greatly in the Hindu-Muslims cultural harmony. There is a legend that Under that Feroz even once went to Vijaynagar in the guise of a Hindu faqir. Even in the most important ceremony like the celebration of urs, Hindu influences are to be seen. During the urs celebrations, the Jangam (the head of the Lingayats of Madhyal in Gulbarga district) would perform the ceremony in typical Hindu fashion-conch-blowing, flower offerings, etc. What is interesting is that the Jangam wore Muslim apparel with the usual cap that the Muslim darvesh (hermit) used.
