Sultana Razia

The earliest Muslim invaders of India were the Arabs. They came into prominence in the 8th century with the conquest of Sind. But India as a whole, remained free of Muslim influence till the beginning of the 11th century, when Mahmud of Ghazni invaded India.

Mahmud Ghazni was followed a century and a half later by Muhammad Ghori. His defeat of Prithviraj Chauhan at the Second Battle of Tarain in 1192 A.D. brought the whole of northern Indian under Muslim rule. The credit for this achievement was due to Muhammad Ghori?s slaves, notably Kutub-ud-din Aibak, the first Slave King to rule over Delhi.

His slave and son-in-law Iltutmish succeeded Aibak in 1210 A.D. Before his death in 1236 A.D., Iltutmish made his daughter Razia, heir to the kingdom and the successor to the throne. When objections were raised, he is said to have replied, ?My sons are devoted to the pleasures of youth, and not one of them is qualified to be a king. After my death you will find that there is no one more competent to guide the state than my daughter.?

His prophetic words came true. In the three and a half years of her rule, Razia demonstrated that she was a great monarch. She was wise, just and generous, a benefactor to her kingdom, a dispenser of justice, the protector of her subjects and the leader of her armies.

[Based on the book ?Razia ? Queen of India? by Dr Rafiq Zakaria published by Popular Prakashan