Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq was also known as Ghazi Malik. (Ghazi, is an Arabic term referring to an individual who participates in military expeditions.) He was the founder of the Tughluq dynasty in India. He ruled India for five years between 1321 and 1325. He passed away under mysterious conditions and was succeeded by his son Muhammad bin Tughluq.
Ghazi’s father was a Turkish slave and his mother was a Hindu. He worked under the Khiljis as the governor of Dipalpur. The Khilji dyanasty ruled North India and Alauddin Khilji was the last in power. On one expedition, Alauddin prepared 10,000 men under Ghazi to head to Dipalpur and fight the Chagatai Khanate Mongols. Ghazi took Multan, Uch and Sindh.
Ala-ud-din Khilji died in January 1316, of oedema. It is believed that his lieutenant Malik Naib Kafur, blinded his two sons, and was eventually killed when he attempted the blinding of Ala-ud-din’s third son, creating much chaos.
Rewind
Ghazi Malik and his son Fakhr Malik collected the forces of Sindh and Multan and overthrew Khusro Khan, a military leader, and ruler of Delhi. On September 8, 1320 he was crowned Sultan of Delhi with the title of Ghiyath al-Din Tughluq. His son Fakhr Malik was given the title of Muhammad Shah Tughluq.
Ghazi was known for his harshness towards the Mongols and the killing of some of the important envoys of the Ilkhan Oljeitu. He also ordered the construction of Tughlakabad, a city near Delhi with a fort to protect Delhi Sultanate from Mongol attacks. In 1323, he appointed his son Muhammad Shah as his heir and successor and took a written promise from ministers and nobles of the state to ensure that his will would be carried out.
In 1324, Ghazi also eyed Bengal which was in the midst of a civil war. He took over Bengal and then on his way back conquered Tirhut in North Bihar.
In 1335, on his return to Delhi a reception was arranged to celebrate his success.
A wooden pavilion on which he stood collapsed, killing him and his second son.
