The Slave Dynasty

Who was 'Lakh Baksh'? | Qutbuddin Aybak Title

Qutbuddin Aybak was known as 'Lakh Baksh' due to his extraordinary generosity and his practice of giving away hundreds of thousands in charity.

Primary Reference: NCERT Class VII - Our Pasts II

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Which Sultan of Delhi Sultanate is known as 'Lakh Baksh'?

[Jharkhand P.C.S. Prelims 2003]

Detailed Solution & Historical Context

Concept


The first Sultan of Delhi was known as much for his military conquests as for his extreme charity and large-heartedness toward the poor and the learned.

Authentic Source Evidence


Qutbuddin Aybak (r. 1206–1210) was bestowed with the title Lakh Baksh, which literally means 'Giver of Lakhs'. Historical accounts describe him as a ruler who distributed immense wealth in charity and never turned away a beggar.

Analytical Breakdown


  • Logic 1: Option D is correct. His generosity helped him gain the support of the local population and the religious elite during the fragile early years of the Sultanate.

  • Logic 2: Despite being a short-lived ruler, his reputation for fairness and charity left a lasting impression on the chroniclers of the era.
  • Conceptual Deep Dive & Logic

    "What other major monuments did Aybak commission in Delhi?"

    He commissioned the Quwwat-ul-Islam mosque and initiated the construction of the Qutub Minar.

    Examiner's Mindset & Pro-Tip

    "The title 'Lakh Baksh' illustrates the role of royal charity as a tool for political legitimacy in the newly founded Islamic state."

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