Assertion (A) : Muhammad bin Tughlaq left Delhi, and, for two years lived in a camp called Swarga-dwari. Reason (R) : At that time, Delhi was ravaged by a form of plague and many people died.

1. Foundation of the Tughlaq Dynasty (basic)

Welcome to our journey into the Delhi Sultanate! To understand how India was governed during the medieval period, we must look at the Tughlaq Dynasty (1320–1414), the third and longest-ruling of the five dynasties that shaped the Sultanate History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p. 136. The Tughlaqs rose to power after the decline of the Khaljis, inheriting a vast but unstable empire that stretched across much of the Indian subcontinent.

The dynasty was founded by Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq (r. 1320–1325), a capable military commander who had served as the Governor of Punjab. Upon taking the throne, his primary goal was to restore the authority of the Sultanate, which had been weakened by internal strife. Unlike his predecessor Ala-uddin Khalji, who ruled with an iron fist and strict control over the elite, Ghiyas-ud-din followed a policy of reconciliation toward the nobility History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p. 144. He focused on internal stability and agricultural growth, notably reducing the heavy land taxes that had burdened the peasantry under the previous regime.

Ghiyas-ud-din's short but impactful reign is also remembered for its architectural grandeur. He built the massive Tughlaqabad fortress in Delhi. This was not just a military stronghold but a feat of engineering; his architects created an artificial lake around the fortress by cleverly blocking the flow of the river Yamuna History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p. 152. However, his reign ended abruptly in 1325 when he died in an accident involving a wooden pavilion. He was succeeded by his son, Jauna Khan, who took the title Muhammad bin Tughlaq, marking the beginning of one of the most intellectually ambitious yet turbulent eras in Indian history History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p. 144.

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.136, 144, 152; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII. NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map, p.25

2. Governance Philosophy of Muhammad bin Tughlaq (intermediate)

To understand the governance of Muhammad bin Tughlaq (r. 1324–1351), one must look past the label of the 'Mad King' and see him as a rationalist innovator. He was a highly 'learned, cultured, and talented prince' who sought to modernize the Sultanate's administration History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p.144. However, his philosophy was characterized by visionary ideas executed with poor timing and a lack of grassroots pragmatism. His reign is defined by five major administrative 'experiments' that, while theoretically sound, led to widespread economic and social distress.

His first major move was increasing taxation in the fertile Doab region (c. 1326) to fund a massive standing army. Unfortunately, this coincided with a severe famine. When officials used force to collect taxes from starving peasants, it triggered a massive rural rebellion. His most famous experiment was the Transfer of Capital (c. 1327) from Delhi to Daulatabad (Devagiri). He believed a central capital would allow better control over the Deccan. While a logical strategic move, forcing the entire population of Delhi to march 1,500 km resulted in immense suffering. Realizing the North was now vulnerable to Mongol threats, he eventually ordered everyone back to Delhi History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p.145.

Perhaps his most modern idea was the Introduction of Token Currency (c. 1329–1330). Facing a global silver shortage, he issued copper and brass coins, declaring them equal in value to silver tankas. However, the state failed to maintain a monopoly on minting, leading to a situation where 'every house became a mint.' The economy collapsed under the weight of forged coins, forcing the Sultan to buy back the worthless brass with genuine gold and silver. His governance was further strained by ambitious military projects like the Khurasan Expedition (abandoned after paying soldiers a year's advance) and the Qarachil Expedition in the Himalayas, where his army was decimated by the climate and terrain.

Despite his reputation for cruelty, Tughlaq showed a capacity for crisis management. When Delhi was hit by a 'pestilence' (plague) and famine, he established Swarga-dwari ('Gate of Heaven'), a temporary capital in a fertile area near the Ganges, to provide relief and manage the state until conditions improved. This illustrates the central paradox of his rule: a ruler with the intellect to solve complex problems, but whose methods often alienated his subjects.

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.144-145

3. Agrarian Distress and Revenue Reforms (intermediate)

To understand the agrarian distress under Muhammad bin Tughlaq, we must first look at the geography. The Doab—the incredibly fertile land between the Ganga and Yamuna rivers—was the economic backbone of the Sultanate. Seeking to strengthen the treasury for his ambitious military projects, the Sultan increased the land revenue (taxation) in this region around 1326. However, this policy was a classic case of right intention, wrong timing. The increase coincided with a severe, prolonged famine. Instead of tax relief, the local officials resorted to harsh collection methods, forcing peasants to abandon their lands and flee into the forests, leading to widespread rural rebellion History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.146.

Unlike many medieval monarchs who might have simply ignored the plight, Muhammad bin Tughlaq was a rationalist who attempted a systemic institutional response. He established a dedicated department for agriculture known as the Diwan-i-Amir Kohi. This department aimed to bring uncultivated land under the plow and improve crop rotation. To support this, the state issued Sondhar (agricultural loans) to farmers for purchasing cattle, seeds, and digging wells—one of the earliest historical examples of state-sponsored agricultural credit History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.146. This is a direct ancestor to the modern Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and interest subvention schemes we see today, which provide institutional credit to prevent farmers from falling into the hands of non-institutional moneylenders Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania (ed 2nd 2021-22), Agriculture, p.321.

When the plague and famine in Delhi became unbearable (c. 1338), the Sultan took another radical step: he moved his residence to a temporary camp called Swarga-dwari (Gate of Heaven) near the Ganges in Kannauj. This wasn't a permanent capital shift, but a relief measure to manage the crisis from a more fertile, disease-free area. Despite these visionary efforts, the reforms largely failed. The officials were corrupt, the land chosen for "model farms" was often poor, and the loans were often misused. This disconnect between a brilliant central policy and its flawed local execution remains a key lesson in governance.

Sources: History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.146; Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania .(ed 2nd 2021-22), Agriculture, p.321

4. Connected Concept: Firoz Shah Tughlaq's Public Works (intermediate)

Following the turbulent and often chaotic reign of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, his successor, Firoz Shah Tughlaq (r. 1351–1388), adopted a governance model rooted in public welfare and appeasement. Recognizing that the Sultanate was fracturing, he sought to win back the loyalty of the nobility and the common people by focusing on massive infrastructure projects rather than military expansion. His reign is often described as a period of "administrative peace" and internal development.

Firoz Shah is most celebrated as the 'Father of Irrigation' in medieval India. He constructed a vast network of canals to bring water to arid regions, primarily in the Punjab and Haryana areas. The most significant was the 150-mile canal connecting the Yamuna to Hissar. As highlighted in geographical studies of the region, canal irrigation is particularly effective in the Northern Plains where perennial rivers provide a steady water source Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania, Irrigation in India, p.359. To fund this, he introduced the Haq-i-Sharb (water tax), but the resulting agricultural boom—specifically in wheat, sugarcane, and fruit orchards—vastly increased the state's revenue and food security.

His commitment to social infrastructure was equally pioneering. He established several specialized departments to manage different facets of human resources and welfare:

• Dar-ul-Shifa: Charitable hospitals that provided free medicine and food to the public. This early focus on public health aligns with the modern understanding that a healthy population is a vital state resource Economics, Class IX NCERT, People as Resource, p.24.
• Diwan-i-Khairat: A department created specifically for charity, focusing on providing financial assistance for the marriage of poor Muslim girls and supporting orphans.
• Diwan-i-Bundagan: A dedicated department for slaves. Firoz maintained nearly 180,000 slaves, many of whom were trained in various crafts and incorporated into the state's administrative and military machinery.

Beyond welfare, Firoz was a prolific builder of cities, founding nearly 300 towns, including Firozabad (near Delhi), Jaunpur, Fatehabad, and Hissar. Interestingly, he was one of the few medieval rulers who prioritized restoration; he repaired the Qutub Minar after it was damaged by lightning and took great care to transport and preserve two Ashokan pillars from Topra and Meerut, installing them in Delhi as symbols of historical continuity.

Sources: Indian Economy, Nitin Singhania, Irrigation in India, p.359; Economics, Class IX NCERT, People as Resource, p.24

5. Connected Concept: Tughlaq Architecture and Urban Planning (intermediate)

The architecture of the Tughlaq dynasty (1320–1413) represents a significant shift from the ornate, decorative style of the Khaljis to a more austere, functional, and massive aesthetic. This change was partly due to the empire's vast size requiring rapid construction and a preference for local gray sandstone over expensive red sandstone or marble. A defining characteristic of Tughlaq masonry is the 'Batter' — the deliberate sloping of walls inwards to provide extra strength and a formidable, fortress-like appearance to their buildings. Urban planning under the Tughlaqs was equally ambitious, characterized by the creation of massive fortress-cities. Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq founded Tughlaqabad, which is noted for its high, battered walls and the innovative use of a dam to create an artificial lake around the fortress by blocking the river Yamuna History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.152. Later, Muhammad bin Tughlaq established Jahanpanah to enclose the previous settlements of Delhi. His experiment with moving the capital to Daulatabad reflected a vision of a pan-Indian empire; the traveler Ibn Battuta noted that Daulatabad was so vast and prosperous that it rivaled Delhi in size THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Through the Eyes of Travellers, p.127. Firuz Shah Tughlaq, perhaps the greatest builder of the dynasty, took a keen interest in restoration and public works. He didn't just build new cities like Firozabad and Hisar; he also repaired historical monuments. For instance, he added to the Qutb Minar, increasing its height to 74 meters History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.152. His architecture introduced the arch-and-beam (architrave) combination, blending the traditional Indian lintel with the Islamic arch, often seen in the many mosques and madrasas he commissioned across the empire.

Comparison: Khalji vs. Tughlaq Architecture

Feature	Khalji Architecture	Tughlaq Architecture
Style	Highly decorative (e.g., Alai Darwaza)	Austere and military-like
Walls	Vertical/Straight	Batter (Sloping walls)
Material	Red Sandstone	Gray Sandstone / Rubble masonry

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.152; THEMES IN INDIAN HISTORY PART II, History CLASS XII (NCERT 2025 ed.), Through the Eyes of Travellers, p.127

6. The Famous Failed Administrative Experiments (exam-level)

Muhammad bin Tughlaq is perhaps the most debated figure in the history of the Delhi Sultanate. A man of immense intellectual caliber, he was a scholar of logic, philosophy, and mathematics. However, his reign is defined by five ambitious projects that, while visionary in concept, were catastrophic in execution. These failures illustrate a crucial lesson in governance: policy is only as good as its implementation.

His most famous administrative gamble was the Transfer of Capital (c. 1327). Recognizing that Delhi was too far north to effectively manage the newly conquered Deccan territories, he decided to move the seat of power to Devagiri (renamed Daulatabad) in Maharashtra. While the logic of a centrally located capital was sound, the execution was brutal. He ordered the entire population of Delhi—not just the court—to march 1,500 km. The human cost was enormous, and when he realized the North was now vulnerable to Mongol threats, he ordered everyone to march back to Delhi History, Class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p. 145.

Equally revolutionary was his Introduction of Token Currency (c. 1329–1330). Long before modern central banking, Tughlaq understood the concept of fiat money—currency that has value because the government says so, rather than having intrinsic value like gold Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24), Money and Banking- Part I, p. 54. He issued copper and brass coins, declaring them equal to silver tankas. However, the state failed to maintain a monopoly on minting. Because the coins were easy to forge, "every house became a mint," leading to hyperinflation and a total collapse of trade Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII, NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2, p. 27.

Ultimately, these failures were compounded by environmental disasters. During a period of plague and famine in Delhi (c. 1338), the Sultan established Swarga-dwari ("Gate of Heaven"), a temporary camp on the banks of the Ganges. This move was a rare practical success, providing relief to his subjects and keeping the administration functional during a crisis. However, the cumulative effect of his failed "experiments" left the Sultanate bankrupt and politically fragmented.

Sources: History, Class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.145; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Social Science, Class VIII, NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map, p.27; Indian Economy, Vivek Singh (7th ed. 2023-24), Money and Banking- Part I, p.54

7. Crisis Management: Famine, Plague, and Swarga-dwari (exam-level)

To understand the governance of Muhammad bin Tughlaq, we must look beyond the label of a "mad sultan" and analyze his reign as a series of high-stakes administrative experiments that collided with natural disasters. His reign was defined by five major projects: the taxation in the Doab, the transfer of capital to Daulatabad, the token currency initiative, and the failed Khurasan and Qarachil military expeditions History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10, p.145. While these were visionary in theory, their execution was rigid and lacked empathy for the peasantry, leading to a state of perpetual crisis.

The most devastating turning point occurred when his attempt to increase revenue in the fertile Doab region (the land between the Ganges and Yamuna) coincided with a severe, multi-year famine. Instead of providing relief, officials used force to collect taxes, driving peasants to abandon their lands and flee into the forests. This ecological and social collapse was further compounded by a bubonic plague (pestilence) that decimated the army and the population of Delhi Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain, BASIC CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY, p.12. The capital became uninhabitable due to the stench of death and the scarcity of food.

In response to this absolute breakdown, the Sultan established Swarga-dwari (meaning "Gateway to Heaven") around 1338. This was a temporary thatched city or residential camp located on the banks of the Ganges near Kannauj. By moving the court here, the Sultan aimed to escape the plague-infested capital and manage the famine from a region where water was more abundant and agriculture was still viable Exploring Society: India and Beyond, NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2, p.27. During his 2.5-year stay at Swarga-dwari, he took proactive steps like distributing Sondhar (agricultural loans) and ordering the digging of wells to restore the agrarian economy.

Crisis Factor	Administrative Response	The Outcome
Doab Famine	Tax hike followed by Sondhar (loans)	Widespread peasant rebellion; long-term agricultural decay.
Plague in Delhi	Establishment of Swarga-dwari	The Sultan survived, but the central administration remained fractured.
Token Currency	Copper/Brass coins exchanged for Silver	Massive drain on the royal treasury; economic inflation.

Sources: History, class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.), Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks, p.145; Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain, BASIC CONCEPTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND ECOLOGY, p.12; Exploring Society: India and Beyond, NCERT (Revised ed 2025), Chapter 2: Reshaping India’s Political Map, p.27

8. Solving the Original PYQ (exam-level)

This question synthesizes your understanding of Muhammad bin Tughlaq’s reign, moving beyond his five major experiments to his practical response during a crisis. While you have learned about the Transfer of Capital and Token Currency, the Swarga-dwari episode (c. 1338) highlights a period where the Sultan was forced to abandon his capital not by choice, but by environmental necessity. As a student of history, you must connect the famine in the Doab and the pestilence in Delhi to his temporary move to the banks of the Ganges. This camp served as a relief measure to sustain the court and the army when Delhi became a site of mass death.

To arrive at the correct answer (A), you must follow a two-step logical process. First, validate each statement independently: Assertion (A) is true because MBT did spend roughly two years at Swarga-dwari; Reason (R) is true because bubonic plague and famine had indeed decimated the population of Delhi. Second, test the causal link by joining them with the word "because." Since the move to the camp was a direct strategic retreat to escape the plague and ensure food security from the fertile Ganges region, the Reason perfectly explains the Assertion. This systematic verification prevents you from falling into the trap of guessing based on memory alone.

UPSC frequently uses Option (B) as a trap, where both statements are historically accurate but have no functional relationship. For example, if the Reason had discussed the Qarachil Expedition, both would be true, but (B) would be the answer. Another common pitfall is confusing the Swarga-dwari stay with the Daulatabad capital transfer; however, as noted in Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Class VIII NCERT and History, Class XI Tamil Nadu State Board, the move to Swarga-dwari was a temporary humanitarian and administrative shift necessitated by the plague, making it a unique event in his timeline.