Eastern Expansion of the Sultanate

Who conquered Bengal and Bihar? | Bakhtiyar Khalji

Bakhtiyar Khalji, a general under Muhammad Ghori, was responsible for the military conquest of Bihar and Bengal in the early 13th century.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class VII - Our Pasts II

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Which slave of Muhammad Ghori conquered Bengal and Bihar?

[U.P.P.C.S. Pre 1991]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


While Ghori and Aibak focused on the North Indian heartland, one ambitious general pushed the frontiers of the Islamic conquest into the far east of the subcontinent.

Authentic Source Evidence


Ikhtiyar-ud-din Bakhtiyar Khalji was the military general who overran Bihar (destroying monasteries like Nalanda) and conquered Bengal by surprising the Sena king Lakshmana Sena in his capital, Nadia.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: Option C is correct. Bakhtiyar Khalji operated with a high degree of independence from Delhi to establish his rule in the east.

  • Logic 2: Aibak and Iltutmish were concentrated in Delhi and Lahore, while Yaldiz was a rival of Aibak in Ghazni.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "How did Bakhtiyar Khalji capture Nadia?"

    He led a daring raid with only 18 horsemen, masquerading as horse traders, which caught the palace guard of Lakshmana Sena completely off guard.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "Bakhtiyar Khalji's campaign fundamentally changed the religious and political landscape of Eastern India, leading to the decline of Buddhism in the region."

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