60th-62nd BPSC (Pre) 2016

Rise of Regional Sultanates

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Founder of Bahamani Kingdom?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: A

Concept The Bahmani Sultanate was the first independent Islamic kingdom of the Deccan. Its founding was a direct result of the decentralization and rebellions that plagued the late reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq.

Explanation Alauddin Hasan Bahman Shah (originally known as Zafar Khan) founded the Bahmani Kingdom in 1347. He was a military commander who led a successful revolt against the Delhi Sultanate. He established his capital at Gulbarga and began a dynasty that would dominate the Deccan for nearly 150 years.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Firuz Shah was a later great ruler of the same dynasty, and Mahmud Gawan was a famous Prime Minister, but neither was the founder.
Logic 2: Alauddin Hasan claimed descent from the legendary Persian hero Bahman, which is why the kingdom was called 'Bahmani'.

Active Recall

Question

What was the capital of the Bahmani kingdom?

Answer

The initial capital was Gulbarga (Ahsanabad), but it was later shifted to Bidar in 1424.

Core Insight

The founding of the Bahmani kingdom in 1347 and Vijayanagara in 1336 permanently split the Deccan into two competing cultural and political zones.