53rd to 55th B.P.S.C. (Pre) 2011

What was ‘Dar-ul-Shafa’ established by Firoz Tughluq?

aAn almshouse
bA Charitable hospital✓ Correct
cA library
dA guest house for pilgrims

Explanation

Firoz Tughlaq was the first Indian ruler who arranged Hajj at the expense of the state. He also established a charitable hospital named Dar-ul-Shafa (also written Dar-ul-Shifa) and appointed skilled physicians (hakims) there. <!-- layout: ghgm, xqkr --> According to the famous book 'History of Khalijis' written by famous historian K.S.Lal, around 1299 CE, during Alauddin Khilji’s Gujarat campaign, the commander Nusrat Khan attacked the wealthy port of Cambay (Khambhat) and obtained a large amount of gold, silver, jewels, and other valuable items. During the same campaign, the slave Malik Kafur was captured. This was the time when Nusrat Khan seized Malik Kafur from his owner. Since Malik Kafur’s owner had purchased him for one thousand dinars, he came to be called “Hazar-Dinari.” Along with the booty, Nusrat Khan sent Malik Kafur to Delhi to Alauddin. Later, impressed by Kafur’s extraordinary ability and personality, Sultan Alauddin Khilji made him his most trusted commander. The credit for Alauddin’s Deccan campaigns and victories is mainly given to Malik Kafur. From this description, it is clear that Nusrat Khan did not purchase Malik Kafur; rather, he captured him during the Gujarat campaign. Therefore, the closest answer is option (c). <!-- layout: jmca, lswo, nnjw, bpje, trxc -->

medieval-history