Why did Muhammad bin Tughlaq transfer his capital from Delhi to Daulatabad?
Mention any two effects of the transfer of the capital.
Answers
Mainly because, like his predecessors Mohummad Tughlaq too faced the threat of Mongol Invasion. However previously rulers such as Alaudin Khilji had garrissoned the city aka siri fort and strengthened the army. This needed increased tax collection which was done by taxing the peasantry at almost 50 percent the produce.
However in the case of Md Tughlaq instead of creating a new fortification against the mongols. He asked the resident of old city Dilli-i-kuha to move to new place ie Daulatagir and let the army take refuge in their place in the old city. This meant two things. Firstly that the capital of the empire would be a lot more distant geographically thus saving his capital from recurring Mongol raids, the move would cement his control over the rich fertile lands of the Deccan and ensure access to the busy ports on the Gujarat and the Coromandel coast.
While there was nothing fundamentally wrong with Tughlaq’s pragmatic decision, his blunder lay in ordering the entire population of Delhi to move to the new capital (instead of just shifting his official court). Despite the many arrangements that were made for the convenience of the travellers, the suffering of the people was terrible and many people died on the way.
However, no sooner had the Sultan reached Daulatabad when trouble broke out in Bengal as well as on the northwestern frontier. Tughlaq realized that while his new capital was distant enough to be safe from Mongol invasions, it was also too far away to protect northern India. So, the mercurial ruler re-ordered his people to return to Delhi. Thousands died in the punishing 1500 km return march to Delhi. While Tughlaq did try to make amends by abolishing multiple taxes and organising relief measures, the financial loss was immense and the consequences for Delhi grave.