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Which influential tribe of the Punjab region, known for its resistance to the Ghurids and the Delhi Sultans, was active in the 12th to 14th centuries?
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Answer: Option B — Khokhars
Detailed Solution
The Khokhars were an influential and warlike tribe of the Punjab region, who were active from the late 12th to the 14th centuries, and frequently resisted the Turkish rulers.
About the Khokhars:
- They lived mainly in the Salt Range and the area between the Jhelum and Chenab rivers (in present-day Pakistan Punjab).
- They were known as brave fighters, and often rebelled against the rulers of Lahore and Delhi.
Their resistance to the Ghurids:
- In the early 13th century, the Khokhars rebelled against Muhammad Ghori and cut off the route between Lahore and Ghazni.
- Muhammad Ghori came to India to suppress them, and defeated them.
- On his way back, in 1206, he was assassinated at Damyak, on the banks of the Jhelum; according to many historians, the assassins were Khokhars (though some accounts blame Ismaili Shias).
Their relations with the Delhi Sultanate:
- They continued to raid and rebel during the reigns of Iltutmish, Raziya and Balban.
- They sometimes allied with the Mongols, who were attacking the north-west.
- Balban took strong measures to control them and other rebellious groups in the north-west, building forts and posting strong garrisons.
- Under the Tughlaqs, they again rebelled.
Jasrath Khokhar:
In the early 15th century, Jasrath Khokhar was a powerful Khokhar chief who fought against the Sayyid Sultans of Delhi and also took part in the politics of Kashmir.
Other tribes mentioned in Sultanate history:
- Mewatis (Meos): of the Mewat region near Delhi; they raided Delhi, and were suppressed by Balban.
- Bhattis: of the region of present-day Haryana and Rajasthan.
- Mers: of the region around Ajmer.
Importance:
The Khokhars and other tribes show that the Sultans faced continuous resistance from local groups, and had to spend much effort on maintaining control.
Why not the other options?
- ✗The Mers, Meos and Bhattis were other tribes, but the Khokhars are best known for their power in Punjab.
Quick tip
Remember: Khokhars = powerful tribe of Punjab (Salt Range; Jhelum-Chenab area); linked with Muhammad Ghori's death (1206, Damyak); Meos (Mewat) suppressed by Balban.
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Delhi Sultanate — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Delhi Sultanate, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
The Delhi Sultanate ruled much of northern India from 1206 to 1526 under five dynasties: the Slave (Mamluk), Khalji, Tughlaq, Sayyid and Lodi dynasties. This topic covers its rulers, administration, market and revenue reforms, architecture and the foreign invasions of the period. Typical questions cover the founder of each dynasty, Alauddin Khalji's market reforms, Muhammad bin Tughlaq's token currency and transfer of the capital, and Firoz Shah Tughlaq's public works. The First Battle of Panipat (1526), in which Babur defeated Ibrahim Lodi, ended the Sultanate. Keep the five dynasties in order with their founders. Practise the Delhi Sultanate questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.