Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation
Who among the following was the founder of Ghaznavid dynasty?
Solution & Analysis
Answer: C
Concept
The Ghaznavid dynasty was a Persianate Muslim dynasty of Turkic mamluk origin. While Alptigin established the principality of Ghazna, it was his successor and former slave, Sebuktigin, who formally founded the dynasty and began the expansion toward the Indian frontier.Explanation
According to Satish Chandra’s *Medieval India*, Sabuktigin (977–997 CE) was the actual founder of the Ghaznavid state. He was a slave who married the daughter of Alptigin and eventually seized control, defeating the Hindu Shahi ruler Jayapala.Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Alptigin was a Turkish slave-commander who seized Ghazna, but he functioned more as a regional governor under the Samanids.
Logic 2: Sebuktigin (Option C) established the hereditary line and the sovereign political structure of the Ghaznavids.
Logic 3: Mahmud (Option B), the son of Sebuktigin, was the most famous ruler who achieved full independence and conducted 17 raids into India, but he was a successor, not the founder.