Jharkhand P.C.S. Prelims 2003

The Slave Dynasty

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Which Sultan of Delhi Sultanate is known as 'Lakh Baksh'?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: D

Concept The first Sultan of Delhi was known as much for his military conquests as for his extreme charity and large-heartedness toward the poor and the learned.

Explanation Qutbuddin Aybak (r. 1206–1210) was bestowed with the title Lakh Baksh, which literally means 'Giver of Lakhs'. Historical accounts describe him as a ruler who distributed immense wealth in charity and never turned away a beggar.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Option D is correct. His generosity helped him gain the support of the local population and the religious elite during the fragile early years of the Sultanate.
Logic 2: Despite being a short-lived ruler, his reputation for fairness and charity left a lasting impression on the chroniclers of the era.

Active Recall

Question

What other major monuments did Aybak commission in Delhi?

Answer

He commissioned the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and initiated the construction of the Qutub Minar.

Core Insight

The title 'Lakh Baksh' illustrates the role of royal charity as a tool for political legitimacy in the newly founded Islamic state.