U.P.P.C.S. Pre 1999

Religious Policy of Medieval Indian States

Authentic Past Paper Standard Evaluation

Who among the following granted financial aid for the restoration of a demolished mosque in Khambhat?

Solution & Analysis

Answer: B

Concept This historical event highlights the secular and tolerant nature of certain medieval Indian rulers who protected the religious sites of minority communities to maintain social harmony.

Explanation As documented by the chronicler Minhaj-i-Siraj in *Tabaqāt-i-Nasiri*, Jayasimha Siddharaja of the Chaulukya dynasty personally investigated communal clashes in Khambhat and provided funds to rebuild a mosque that was destroyed.

Logical Breakup
Logic 1: Jayasimha Siddharaja (Option B) is renowned for his impartiality. His act of restoring the mosque was a strategic move to ensure stability in a major trading port.
Logic 2: Other rulers like Kumarapala were also tolerant but the specific instance of the Khambhat mosque is linked directly to Jayasimha Siddharaja's reign.

Active Recall

Question

What does Jayasimha's action reveal about medieval trade centers?

Answer

It shows that rulers prioritized communal peace in trade hubs like Khambhat to ensure the safety and continuity of international commerce.

Core Insight

The restoration of the mosque by a Hindu king for a Muslim minority serves as a prime example of administrative secularism in medieval India.