[Solved] Ibn Battuta on the Medieval Postal System | UPSC

Who of the following has given a detailed description of the postal system obtained during the Sultanate period?

[Uttarakhand P.C.S. Prelims 2002]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

Efficiency in communication was the backbone of the Delhi Sultanate's vast empire. Travelers from more advanced regions like Morocco were still impressed by India's speed of information transfer.

Authentic Source Evidence

Ibn Battuta, in his travelogue The Rihla, describes a highly organized dual postal system: the Uluq (horse post) using royal horses at 4-mile intervals, and the Dawa (foot post) which was actually faster and had three stations per mile.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Option B is correct. He noted that while travel from Sindh to Delhi took 50 days, the 'Dawa' system allowed news to reach the Sultan in just 5 days.

Logic 2: This system was used not just for news but for transporting fresh fruits from Khurasan and water from the Ganges for the Sultan.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"Which of the two postal systems was considered faster by Ibn Battuta?"

The foot post (Dawa) was considered faster than the horse post (Uluq) due to the frequency of relief runners.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The sophisticated postal network allowed for a level of centralized control and espionage that was vital for the Sultan's survival against rebellions."

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