[Solved] Motives for MBT's Capital Shift to Daulatabad

Which one among the following was/were the motive/motives behind Mohammad Tughlaq's transfer of capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?
1. The shift to Daulatabad would give him a chance to establish control over Deccan and Gujarat.
2. It would provide access to the Western and Southern ports.
3. It would protect him from direct Mongol invasions from the North-Western frontier.
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

[UPSC CAPF 2014]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept

The decision to move the capital was not an act of 'madness' but a strategic attempt to re-center the empire to better manage its new southern conquests while avoiding the vulnerable northern border.

Authentic Source Evidence

Historians confirm that Daulatabad (formerly Devagiri) was chosen for its central location. It was nearly equidistant from Delhi, Gujarat, and the Far South (Telangana/Dwarasamudra), allowing the Sultan to monitor the lucrative coastal ports and ports of Gujarat while being far from the Mongol raiding zones of the North-West.

Analytical Breakdown

Logic 1: Statements 1, 2, and 3 are all correct motives. The Sultan aimed for subcontinental integration and strategic depth.

Logic 2: The failure was in the execution—the forced migration of the entire population—not necessarily in the geographical logic of the capital's placement.

Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

"What led to the ultimate failure of the capital shift?"

Logistical challenges during the 700-mile march, an outbreak of plague, and the strategic realization that Northern India could not be defended from the Deccan.

Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

"The Daulatabad experiment was a precursor to modern administrative decentralization, though its forced nature made it a tragic failure."

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