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Section 1
Early Bengal
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Janapad’s of Bengal

In the earliest phase of its history, Bengal is thought to have been divided into six territorial units, each of
them representing a janapada (human settlement). The janapadas were:

 Vanga: probably part of today's 24 Pargana Districts of India and the Khulna Division of Bangladesh.
 Pundra: situated in the district of Bogra and adjacent areas. From archaeological sources, it is
known that the capital of Pundra, Pundranagara, was the earliest urban
centre in Bangladesh.
 Radha: (also described as Rarha, Ladha) probably included a large part of the modern Indian state
of West Bengal. This janapada had important centres of trade, commerce and administration in the
ancient as well as medieval period.
 Gauda: lay to the north-west of Bhagirathi (Hughly) river and its core area was Murshidabad. Gauda
was the capital city of many rulers of ancient and medieval Bengal.
 Samatata: in the Meghna river valley. It appears to have consisted of Comilla and Noakhali areas of
Bangladesh and some areas of Tripura in India.
 Harikela: identified as Chittagong and its adjacent areas.
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The Mauryan Empire

 The Mauryan Empire was the first great and well-organised empire in the Indian-subcontinent.
 It was during the rule of Emperor Ashoka, when Bengal came under the Mauryans.
 He was the first emperor to bring most of the states of India under one rule.
 Pataliputra was the capital of the Mauryan Empire (modern day Patna of West Bengal).
 Pundra (modern day Bogra) formed part of the Eastern Province and Mahasthangarh was the provincial
capital of the region.
 The Mauryans were the first to bring Buddhism to Bengal as well.
 Mahinda, son of Ashoka, and his sister Sanghmitta/Sanghamitra carried messages of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.
 During this era, Sea trade started in Bengal.
 Bengal formed an integral part of the powerful Mauryan Empire, which was marked by a strong, well
regulated but enlightened system of administration.
 The system of provincial administration developed by the Mauryans was practiced in Bengal.
 There was a well-organised administration committed to the welfare of the people.

Bengal during the Mauryan Empire

 The first great and well-organised empire of the Subcontinent was the Mauryan Empire (c. 320--180 BC).
Mauryan rule was established in Bengal by Emperor Asoka.
 During the time of the Mauryas, Bengal probably continued to be divided into the different janapadas, and
the janapada called Pundra formed part of the Empire's eastern province.
 Mahasthangarh of Bogra was probably the provincial capital of the region.
 The western part of Bengal also achieved importance during the Mauryan period because vessels sailed from
its ports to Sri Lanka and South-East Asia.
 Buddhism arrived in Bengal during the Mauryan era. From Bengal, Mahinda, the son of Asoka, one of the
most famous Emperors of the ancient world, carried the message of Buddhism to Sri Lanka.

Weaving

 We can learn from the Arthashastra of Kautilya (written in 3rd century BC) that the tradition of weaving
fine cotton cloth in Bengal goes back at least as far as the Mauryan period. The Arthashastra includes
references to the fine cotton fabric of Vanga (south-eastern Bengal) as an important item of trade
throughout India. Greek and Latin writers of around the same period also mention it.

Between Mauryans & The Guptas

 We know little about the history of Bengal from the fall of the Mauryas (2nd century BC) to the rise of
the Guptas (4th century AD).
 In the first century AD, the Aryans came to Bengal looking to conquer new lands to win prosperous
trade. There is some evidence that Bengal continued to flourish during this time.
 It is known from the accounts of Greek scholars, such as Ptolemy, that in the first two centuries AD there
was a powerful Bengal kingdom with its capital at Gange, a great market town on the banks of the
Ganges.
 We also have evidence of widespread trade between Bengal and China, as well as other countries during
this time.
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The Guptas

 The Gupta period is known as the golden age of Indian history.

 Under the rule of Samudra Gupta, Bengal became one of the most important provinces of the Gupta Empire.
 Pataliputra was used as their capital
 The Guptas were the followers of Hinduism.
 At the same time, they patronized Buddhism and Jainism.
 Main features of the Gupta era:
 The rulers were benevolent
 They had strong local government
 The entire Empire was divided into smaller administrative units to ensure better
administration
 They had peace and prosperity throughout the empire
 There was political stability
 Trade and commerce flourished during the Guptas
 They were religiously tolerant
 Art and culture flourished during this time
 The Nalanda Mahavihara/University became prominent during this era.
 Sculptural art developed during this era

Golden Age of India

Under Gupta rule, Bengal was an important province. Bengal is believed to have come under Gupta rule in the 4th
century AD. The period of the Guptas is generally considered to be the 'golden age' of Indian history. During this
period, India was controlled by a strong central government, which brought peace and prosperity and political
stability for a considerable time. This period is remarkable for its trade and commerce, in which Bengal participated
fully. For example, Fa-hsien, a Chinese visitor at that time, stated that Tamralipti (located on the bank of the Ganges
in West Bengal) was a great trading emporium. The discovery of a large number of Gupta coins and ornaments in
Bengal prove the economic prosperity of the region under the Guptas. The period is also remarkable for religious
toleration. The Gupta monarchs embraced Brahmanism and styled themselves Paramabhagavatas or
Paramadaivatas. But they also patronised Buddhism and Jainism. This indicates that there was religious toleration
and coexistence of religious beliefs. The artistic excellence of the Gupta age is also well known and it influenced the
artistic tradition of Bengal. The Gupta School inspired the Bengal style of sculptural art.
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Shashanka

 Shashanka was the first important independent king of ancient Bengal.

 It is generally believed that he ruled approximately between 600 AD and 625 AD.
 He was a minor military officer during the Gupta era.
 Before Shashanka, Bengal was ruled by distant empires.
 Many claim that Shashanka was a local ruler.
 Shashanka extended his influence not only in Bengal but also up to Northern India.
 Territorial changes:
 He established himself at Gauda, North-Western region of Bengal
 Karnasuvarna was his Capital
 He extended his authority to Orissa, Bihar and Central India as well
 He tried to extend his influence in the North but had to face Harshavardana, a very powerful
Buddhist king
 He held his head high against the strong opponents and kept Bengal independent and repelled attacks from
Harshavardana
 He was the first Bengali king to have influence in the North Indian politics.
 Shashanka was a follower of Hinduism, but he was thought to be religiously tolerant by most. Although,
some scholars depicted him as a persecutor of Buddhist monks but this claim does not have strong proof in
favour of it, as there were Buddhist Monasteries even inside his own capital (Raktamrittika Mahavihara) and
other Buddhist Monasteries flourished during his reign as well.
 Achievements:
 Made Bengal important in the map of ancient India
 Extended Bengal’s influence till Northern India
 Patronized art and architecture in Bengal
 Religiously tolerant
 Brought Bengal under one identity as the first ruler

Matsyanyayam

 The time period of 650 to 750 AD is infamously known as Matsyanyayam or “Great Anarchy”.
 This time period started after the death of Shashanka and lasted till the emergence of the Pala dynasty.
 After Shashanka, there were no strong leaders to keep his kingdom intact, thus it broke down into smaller
pieces and no king managed to rule even their smaller parts for more than a year during this era.
 Thus this era is marked by the emergence of lawlessness.
 To bring an end to this period, the nobles of ancient Bengal elected Gopala as their king.
 The Sanskrit term Matsyanyayam, used in ancient texts, bears special significance. The Kautilya Arthaxastra
(1.4.13-14) defines the term as follows: When the law of punishment is kept in abeyance, it gives rise to such
disorder as is implied in the proverb of fishes, ie, the larger fish swallows a smaller one, for in the absence of
a magistrate, the strong will swallow the weak.
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The Palas

 The Palas ruled Bengal for a time period of nearly 400 years and 18 generations of kings.
 They were Buddhist people who were benevolent, thus Bengal became peaceful and prosperous.
 Their achievements:
 Brought back peace in Bengal after 100 years
 Extended their empire outside Bengal
 Organised the administrative system
 They were benevolent and religiously tolerant
 Art and culture flourished during their rule
 Literature developed during this time period
 The Monasteries were helped unconditionally, thus exercise of knowledge became evident
 Trade flourished during this era
 Territorial Expansion:
 The Palas extended the borders of Bengal as far as Nepal
 They also annexed the regions of Knauj, Bihar, Orissa, Kamarupa as well
 They also became very influential in the politics of Northern India
 Buddhism:
 Buddhism was a dominant religion in Bengal for more than 800 years.
 It was widely practiced during the 4th century AD until the 12th century AD.
 The most important rulers of Buddhist Bengal were the Palas.
 Many famous Monasteries were built during this era and thus scholars from all around the
world came to these centers
 The religion spread to the neighbouring countries of Nepal, Srilanka, Java and Tibet
 Bengal had become the center of the Buddhist world during the Pala rule
 Many Buddhist scholars contributed to the spread of religion at this time, such as Atish
DIpankar.
 Art/Architecture/Literature:
 Influence of Buddhism is evident in the art and culture of this era
 The Somapura Mahavihara is the largest Buddhist Monastery in the Indian sub-continent
 Built in the 7th century
 Contains 177 cells arranged in a rectangular courtyard
 Numerous artifacts were found including ornamental terracotta bricks, coins
and images of gods and goddesses
 Shalban Vihara at Mainamati, Comilla is another major site
 This complex is about 18 km in length
 There is the remain of a large Buddhist Monastery at the center
 It is surrounded by more than 50 other sites containing numerous artifacts
 Distinctive achievements can be found in the fields of art, architecture, terracotta, sculpture
and paintings.
 The art works not only depict religious themes but also depict subjects of daily life of the
people.
 Poetry and literature also flourished during this era.
 Social welfare and Religious tolerance:
 The Pala kings governed Bengal with great success
 Gopala brought an end to the Matsyanyayam
 They were benevolent
 They had major posts in their administration open to whoever was fit, thus the Brahmins
occupied higher official ranks
 Other religions were patronized
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 Religious tolerance and mutual co-existence can be identified as the characteristics of the
social life of the people in the Pala dynasty
 Administration:
 An organised system of administration prevailed from the village level to the central
government
 Efficient structure of revenue collection was made
 Roads and means of transportation were well supervised
 Law and order prevailed in Bengal
 There was a stable coinage
 Trade and commerce flourished, as well as sea trade
 In the second half of the 11th century, the Pala dynasty was replaced by the Sena dynasty.

Gopala (756-781 AD) 25 years

 Gopala brought an end of the long period of disunity and chaos in Bengal.
 He also established the Pala Dynasty.
 Gopala was elected by the nobles, who believed that he could bring an end to the Matsyanyayam in Bengal.
 He had consolidated the rule of his dynasty so that his son, Dharmapala could embark on a policy of
expansion.
 Scholars believed that he annexed the whole area of north and western Bengal.

Dharmapala (781-821) 40 years

 Dharmapala was the son and successor of Gopala.

 He is thought to be one of the greatest rulers of the Pala dynasty
 He consolidated his power in Bengal. Also annexed
 Bihar
 The north Indian region of Kanauj
 Dharmapala was a devout Buddhist.
 He is credited with the foundation of the Vikramshila Monastary and the Somapura Mahavihara at Paharpur.
 He was a patron of many Brahmanical shrines.
 He followed a policy of religious tolerance and mutual co-existence of different religions.
 Sea trade flourished under his rule.

Devapala (821-861) 40 years

 He had a long reign and proved to be a worthy successor of Dharmapala.

 He attempted to increase the area of Bengal and conquered:
 Large areas of Northern India
 Orissa
 Kamarupa
 Like his father, he is also thought to be one of the greatest rulers of the Pala dynasty.
 He has a devout Buddhist.
 He was a great patron of the famous seat of learning at Nalanda.
 He was known to have granted 5 villages to be endowed to the monastery built at Nalanda by
Balaputradeva, the Shailendra king of Java and Sumatra.
 This shows that he had good relations with other ruler of the Buddhist kingdoms in South-East Asia

The period of pala dominance came to an end with the death of Devapala, as the later kings were weak and often
fought against each other for the right of succeed. For the next hundred years, the Pala Empire shrank in the face of
foreign attacks, particularly by Candela and Kalchuri kings.
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Mahipala (995-1043) 48 years

 The reign of Mahipala 1 brought back vitality and vigor and gave a second lease of life to the Pala Empire.
 He succeeded in recapturing lost territories in northern and western Bengal and restored Pala dynasty rule
to a firmer footing.
 He captured a place in popular imagination by his public welfare works.
 His name survived for a long period of time in ballads folklore.

But Mahipala was not succeeded by strong kings, and after his death, the Pala Empire once again begun to decline.
Foreign invasions led to the breaking up of the Empire into smaller pieces and there was internal instability, including
a rebellion called the Kaivarta Rebellion in the northern part of Bengal.

Rampala (1082-1124) 42 years

 Rampala succeeded in retrieving the position of the dynasty by recapturing Northern Bengal
 He also extended his empire towards Orissa, Kamarupa and parts of Northern India
 Ramapala tried to established peace and stability in Bengal
 He built a new capital at Ramavati

The second lease of life which the Pala Dynasty experienced proved short-lived. A series of weak kings was unable to
prevent the collapse of Pala Dynasty.
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Sena Dynasty

 They originally belonged the Mysore region of India.

 They were Brahma-ksatriyas (Priest-warriors).

Samanta sena

 He is known as the founder of the Sena Dynasty (but not the first ruler).
 He settled in Radha, on the banks of the Ganges.

Hemanta sena

 He was the first ruler of the Sena Dynasty.

 At first he ruled as a feudal king under the Pala Emperor-Ramapala.

Vijaya sena (1098-1160) 62 years

 At first, he ruled as a feudal king under Ramapala as well.

 He gradually consolidated his position on West Bengal.
 He ultimately laid the foundation of the independent rule of the Senas.
 He established his own supremacy in North and North-Western Bengal by ousting the Palas.
 Vijaya Sena also extended his hold over Bihar in the West and Vanga in the East.
 His first capital was Vijayapura and his second capital was Vikrampura of Dhaka district.

Vallala sena (1160-1178) 18 years

 He played a very important role in the fall of the Pala Dynasty.

 He conquered Mithila during the life time of his father.
 He was a great author and a renowned scholar. He wrote a book called the Danasagara in 1168 and started
writing the Adbhutasagara.
 Like his father, he was a worshipper of Shiva.

Laksmana sena (1178-1204) 26 years

 He was a great warrior during his father’s time-defeated the king of Gauda and Varanasi, making expedition
to Kamarupa and Kalinga.
 He had remarkable literary skill and wrote many Sanskrit poems. He also completed writing the half
completed book the Adbhutasagara from his father.
 He was famous for his exceptional qualities and generosity.
 During his time, there were many sings of disruption and disintegration within his kingdom.
 Many independent chiefs seized power in different parts of the Sena kingdom.
 This broke the unity and paved the way for decline.
 The Sena rule tool a major blow when Bakhtiar Khalji, a Muslim ruler advanced into Bengal and defeated him
in battle at Nadia in 1204.
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Pala Art

 In India, during the rule of Palas, art and architecture witnessed a phenomenal development in the states of
Bengal and Bihar. The tradition of sculptural art had attained a new position under the reign of Palas.
 The characteristic of art and architecture of that period included lot of local phenomena of the Bengali
society.
 Art and Architecture of Pala Dynasty furnished the accomplishment in the field of terracotta, sculpture and
painting.
 One of the finest instances of architecture of the Pala period is a creation of Dharmapala, the Somapura
Mahavihara at Paharpur. In addition to that several enormous structures of Vikramshila Vihar, Odantpuri
Vihar, and Jagaddal Vihar proclaim to be the masterpieces of the Palas.
 The architectural style of the Pala Empire influenced the whole of the country and its neighbouring
countries. Their approach was followed throughout south-eastern Asia, China, Japan, and Tibet.
 The sculptures beautifully carved in the Pala period demonstrate the mastery of Pala dynasty. This age saw
an upsurge of perfect carving and Bronze sculptures.
 Furthermore, it has been recognized by the historians that the specimens of bronzes influenced the art in
south-east Asian countries.
 Art and Architecture of Pala Dynasty also involved the art of painting also excelled in that period.
 Through various illustrations of beautiful paintings of the Buddhist gods and goddesses, appearing in the
Vajrayana and Tantrayana Buddhist manuscripts corroborate the subsistence of paintings in the Pala Empire.
 Moreover, with advanced stage of architectural expansion several Buddhist Viharas came originated. The
plan of central shrine in the Buddhist Vihara evolved in Bengal during the Pala rule.
 Other instances demonstrating the brilliance of the art in the Pala period include the terracotta plaques.
These plaques are used as the surface decoration of the walls and are recognised as unique creation of the
Bengal artists.

Literature of ancient Bengal

Pala Period

 Many of the Pala ministers were renowned scholars themselves.

 The literary produce of this period includes writings by one or several Abhinandas. Ramacharita
by Abhinanda (probably finished under the reign of Madanapala), a poem that applies equally to the story of
Rama and to the recent history since the Kaivarta revolt.
 In addition, the oldest collection of poems and snippets, called Kavindra vacnana samuccaya, was probably a
Bengali creation. It collects poems by Kalidas and others.
 The Sanskrit philosophical writings of this period are found written during the rule of Devapala.
 The grammatical writings are also found from this era.
 Writings on religion and morals may have been a predecessor to them.
 The songs collected in the later Charyapada are about how to live life or decide between what should or
should not be done is also an example of Pala Lieterature. It contains hymen written by the Buddhist monks.

Sena Period

 The Sena period was probably the high point of Sanskrit literature in Bengal.
 We find some Bengali songs about Krishna with the Gopis in Vrindavan and about the Avataras of Vishnu. In
the fourteenth century collection of poems. In some poems there are descriptions of simple lives and love,
or about gods in human terms.
 The emphasis on sounds and word play of the previous period of Sanskrit poetry seems to have given way to
a more idea based structure.
 On the musical front, Charyapada was set to Ragas.
 In addition, Locnana pandit wrote a treatise on music called Raga Tarini. He also wrote another book on the
Ragas.
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The independent kingdoms of South-East Bengal

 Until the rise of the Sena Dynasty, the whole of Bengal did not come under one central rule. Though
powerful kings mentioned earlier, such as Shashanka and Dharmapala, consolidated their power in western
and northern Bengal, they were more interested in extending their rule further north in India than in the
rest of Bengal. Until the arrival of the Senas, a number of independent kingdoms existed in south-eastern
Bengal.
 As early as the first half of the sixth century AD, south-eastern Bengal saw the establishment of an
independent kingdom, the kingdom of Vanga.
 In the second half of the 7th century AD, when the later Guptas captured power in Gauda (western Bengal),
south-eastern Bengal was controlled by the Khadga kings. We know about three generations of Khadga kings
who were ruling Samatata (Comilla-Noakhali area).
 South-eastern Bengal emerged as a kingdom of considerable size and strength under the Deva Dynasty in
the 8th century AD, with its capital at Devaparvata. Four generations of rulers (Shantideva, Viradeva,
Anandadeva and Bhavadeva) ruled Samatata and they were contemporaries of the early Pala kings, who
controlled northern and western Bengal and Bihar. The Devas were Buddhists, and under their patronage
the Mainamati area rose to prominence as an important Buddhist cultural centre. The remains unearthed
through archaeological excavations at Mainamati prove the existence of a few Buddhist Viharas- namely,
Shalvan Vihara, Ananda Vihara and Bhoja Vihara. The Deva rule lasted from around 740 AD to 800 AD.
 In the 9th century AD, south-eastern Bengal was dominated by the kingdom of Harikela, which may have
controlled the area from Chittagong to Comilla. The first independent ruler of this kingdom was Kanti Deva.
 The Chandras followed the Harikela rulers, and from the beginning of the 10th century AD five generations
of Chandra rulers (Traillokyachandra, Srichandra, Kalyanachandra, Ladahachandra and Govindachandra)
ruled for about 150 years (c 900-1050 AD). Their empire embraced a large area in Vanga and Samatata,
comprising the whole of southern and south-eastern Bangladesh and extending as far northeast as Sylhet
area. Their capital was at Vikrampura in present-day Munshiganj district. The Chandras were powerful and
could match the power of the contemporary Palas of northern and western Bengal. Srichandra was the
greatest ruler of the dynasty and under his vigorous rule the Chandra kingdom expanded into Kamarupa
(Assam).
 In the last quarter of the eleventh century AD, the Varman Dynasty, taking advantage of the Kaivarta
rebellion in the Pala Empire, established their independent rule in south-eastern Bengal. Five generations of
the Varmans ruled for less than a century (c 1080--1150 AD) before they were toppled by the Senas. The
Varmans were Hindus and their capital was also at Vikramapur.
 The rulers of south-eastern Bengal commanded the sea trade through the vast coastal area of the
Chittagong-Comilla region. The accounts of the Arab merchants and navigators, written between 9th and
11th century AD, contain evidence of a flourishing sea trade in the coastal area of south-eastern Bengal,
especially through the port, which the Arabs called 'Samandar', identified with the area near present-day
Chittagong.
 We also have evidence of boat-building industries during the period. The picture of a flourishing sea-trade
emerges very clearly, and there is no doubt that the area was very wealthy.
 The rulers were wealthy enough to issue silver coins, large numbers of which have been found across south-
east Bengal.
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The spread of Islam

After Sena dynasty, Islam spread in Bengal. At first, it was the Turkish who arrived in Bengal with Islam along with the
Sufis from different regions of the Islamic world.

Bakhtiar Khalji (1204-1206 AD)

 Bakhtiyar Khalji was an adventurer from the Turkish tribe of Khalji.

 He tried to enlist as a soldier in the army of Delhi sultan but was turned down because he was apparently
too small.
 So he gathered a group of tribesman and begun to raid the borders of Bengal.
 At first, he was gathered a small territory near Bihar, from where he started invading surrounding areas.
 Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji took advantage of the fact that the Sena Dynasty had weakened Bengal and it
was an easy prey for Turkish invaders invading from the North-west.

 In 1203 AD Bakhtiyar made a sudden dash against Bihar, occupied it, destroyed Odantapur Bihar and
returned with enormous booty. He met Qutbuddin Aibak and gave him valuable gifts. Qutbuddin in turn
received him with great honour. Turning now his attention towards Bengal Bakhtiyar started on his
adventure in the winter of 1204 AD and, proceeding through the unfrequented Jharkhand region, marched
towards Nadia that only eighteen horsemen could keep pace with him. The city dwellers took him to be a
horse-dealer and he captured the palace by surprise. Raja Laksmansena 'fled away by the back-door'.
Meanwhile the main army of Bakhtiyar Khalji arrived and Nadia came under Muslims possession.

 In 1205, he advanced to Gauda/Gaur (Lakhnauti) which was another Sena capital, conquered it and made it
his capital.
 Within a year he controlled all the land north of the river Padma.
 Bakhtiyar Khalji did not attempt to conquer the rest of the Bengal
 Instead, he turned his attention to Tibet for reasons that are not clear.
 He launched an invasion in 1206 but suffered heavy losses in battle.
 He tried to retreat to Bengal but was murdered by one of his followers.
 Bakhtiyer Khalji established the Muslim rule in Bangal.
 He was followed by many Muslim preachers who, with an amount of royal support, enthusiastically took the
job of converting the local people.
 Despite his short reign, Bakhtiyar Khalji was a good administrator.
 Divided his kingdom into districts
 Appointed governors who were expected to maintain law and order
 Supported learning and culture
 Issued coinage
 Built a new capital at Gaur
 He built numerous mosques, madrasas and khanquahs.

Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji and the Turkish conquest

The political influence of Islam began to spread in Bengal with the conquest of Nadia, the capital city of the Sena
ruler Lakshmana, by Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1204 AD.

Muslim rule in northern India

Bakhtiyar Khalji's arrival in the Bengal frontier was part of the same Turkish advance that saw the expansion of Islam
into India. Towards the end of the twelfth century, Muhammad Ghuri had captured Delhi and established Muslim
rule in northern India. He was succeeded by his General, Kutubuddin Aibak. During the time of Kutubuddin,
Bakhtiyar was granted a small territory near Bihar, from where he started invading surrounding areas. At one point,
he thought of capturing Bengal and in 1204 he attacked the Sena capital, Nadia.
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The conquest of Nadia in Bengal

Bakhtiyar captured Nadia in a unique way. Sensing the presence of a strong army of Lakshmana Sena on the main
route to Nadia, Bakhtyar proceeded instead through the jungle of Jharkhand. He divided his army into several
groups, and he himself led a group of horsemen and advanced towards Nadia in the guise of horse-traders. In this
manner, Bakhtiyar had no problem in entering through the gates of the royal palace. Shortly afterwards, Bakhityar's
main army also joined him and within a short while Nadia was captured.

Further expansion

After capturing Nadia, Bakhtiyar advanced towards Gauda (Lakhnuti), another capital of the Sena kingdom,
conquered it and made it his capital in 1205. Next year, Bakhtiyar set out for an expedition to capture Tibet, but this
attempt failed and he had to return to Bengal with poor health and a reduced army. Shortly afterwards, he was killed
by one of his commanders, Ali Mardan Khalji.

Internal feud

The death of Bakhtiyar was followed by an internal feud among three of his lieutenants. In the in-fight, Iwaz Khalji
emerged victorious and he ruled Bengal from 1212 to 1227, at which time he was killed while fighting an army sent
out from Delhi by Sultan Iltutmish, who wanted to extend his authority on Bengal.

Delhi influence

After the death of Iwaz Khalji until the year 1287, Bengal remained politically unstable. During this period, 15 rulers
of Turkish origin ruled Bengal. Some of these rulers were obedient to the Delhi Sultan, but others wanted to get rid
of Delhi's influence. As the Delhi Sultans were often fighting amongst themselves for control of the Sultanate, they
did not always concentrate on controlling Bengal. So some Turkish rulers ruled Bengal almost independently.

Notable among the rulers of Bengal of this period were Nasiruddin, son of Delhi Sultan Iltutmish, Jalaluddin and
Tughral Khan. It was during Tughral Khan's time that Balban, the Sultan of Delhi, invaded Bengal following Tughal's
declaration of independence from Delhi. Tughral was defeated and Bengal now came firmly under the control of
Delhi Sultanate.

Independence from Delhi and expansion

However, after the departure of Balban, his son Bughra Khan and grandson Kaikaus ruled Bengal virtually
independently from Delhi. These two members of the family of Balban ruled Bengal until 1301, when Shamsuddin
Firuz Shah took over.

Firuz brought about an expansion of Muslim territories second only to the expansion achieved one hundred years
earlier by Bakhtiyar Khalji. Before Firuz, the Lakhnauti dominion was confined within Bihar, north and northwestern
Bengal, and Lakhnor in southwestern Bengal. Occupation of Satgaon in Hughli and Sonargaon had started in the
reign of Kaikaus and under Firuz the process was completed. He also conquered Mymensingh and Sylhet. Firuz, like
his two predecessors, remained virtually independent of Delhi.

Further struggles with Delhi

Firuz Shah died in 1322. His death was followed by a bloody feud among his sons, and the Sultan of Delhi,
Ghiyasuddin Tughlaq, was forced to send an army under his adopted son Bahram Khan (also known as Tatar Khan) to
restore Muslim control in Bengal. With Bengal again under control, Delhi Sultan Ghiyasuddin divided Bengal into
three administrative units: Satgaon, Sonargaon and Lakhnauti, and different officials were appointed for
administering these regions.

But control from Delhi did not last long, and the period between 1322 and 1338 was highly volatile. Finally,
Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah, armour-bearer (Silhadar) of Bahram Khan, took control of Sonargaon and proclaimed
independence and assumed the title of Sultan. He then defeated forces from Satgaon and Lakhnauti which had been
sent to restore Delhi's control.
 16

Fakhruddin's achievement was to mark the beginning of a new chapter in the history of Bengal, when there were
two centuries of independence from external control.

After Bakhtiyar Khalji

 After the death of Bakhtiyar, his kingdom fell apart. Three of his generals ruled parts of his kingdom.
 Bengal was politically unstable during this period.
 Nearly 15 Turkish origin rulers ruled Bengal till 1287.
 Shamsuddin Firuz Shah took over Bengal in 1301 and ruled till 1322.
 After the death of Firuz Shah, there was a bloody feud among his sons and thus there was instability.

Balban’s conquest of Bengal

 When the governor of Bengal, Tughral Tughan Khan, revoked the authority of Delhi in 1275, Balban first sent
the governor of Awadh and then a second army, both of which met with failure.
 Balban then accompanied a third army which reconquered the country, killing Tughral and his followers. His
son, Nasiruddin Bughra Khan, assisted him in this mission. Balban then placed his second son, Bughra Khan,
as governor. However, Bughra declared independence after Balban's death, which he maintained for 40
years.
 Balban ruled as the Sultan from 1265 until his death in 1287. Balban's heir was his older son, Prince
Muhammad Khan, but he perished in a battle against the Mongols on 9 March 1285. His other son, Bughra
Khan, was reluctant to assume the throne, and sought to remain the ruler of Bengal instead.

Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah

 Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah sultan of Bengal (1338-1349). He was the founder of the earliest independent
Muslim sultanat in Bengal with his headquarters at the historic city of Sonargaon.
 Fakhruddin was of Turki origin and was the silahdar (superintendent of armoury) in the service of Bahram
Khan, Tughlaq governor of Sonargaon.
 Having consolidated his position in Sonargaon, Fakhruddin aspired for the government of Lakhnauti and of
Satgaon, and established himself in authority in Lakhnauti but his attempt to capture Satgaon does not
appear to be successful.
 Fakhruddin invaded Tripura in 1340 AD, he then advanced through Noakhali to conquer Chittagong.
Chittagong was conquered in 1340 AD.
 Fakhruddin dominated over the greater districts of Comilla, Noakhali, Sylhet and Chittagong.
 The Moroccan traveller Ibne Batuta visited Bengal (1346) during the reign of Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah. Ibn
Battuta describes Fakhruddin as the sultan of Bangalah and includes Chittagong within his kingdom.
 The kingdom of Fakhruddin was divided into provinces. The provinces were divided into parganas.
 The general prosperity of the kingdom is evidenced by Ibn Battuta through his comment on abundance of
commodities of daily necessity, brisk internal trade, big surplus of commodities especially rice forming
important item of export trade, external trade-link of Sonargaon port with the neighbouring countries like
China and Java.
 Fakhruddin Mubarak Shah died in Sonargaon in 1349 AD (750 AH).
 17

Sufis and Sufism

 The term Sufi is derived from the Arabic word of Safa, which means purity.
 Sufism deals mainly with mental, spiritual and philosophical aspects of Islam, the essence of which is to
establish a direct relationship with Allah by purifying the soul.
 Sufis were Islamic preachers, considered to possess the blessing of God and spiritual power.
 They believed that meditation was the way to achieve eternal life.
 Sufis taught that love of God was attainable through spiritual guidance.
 Sufism was a peaceful movement.
 It tended to emphasize acceptance of conditions in life and recognition of authority.
 Sufis derive their inspiration from Prophet Muhammad (sm), who forms the source of spiritual knowledge
and teachings.
 Sufis led a simple life and preached Islam through their words and deeds.
 Sufis began to arrive in Bengal from Arabia, Yemen, Iraq, Iran, Central Asia and north India the 11th century.
 Sufis became much more influential after the arrival of Bakhtiyar Khalji in 1205.
 Sufis continued to arrive in Bengal during the 13th and 14th centuries, throughout the Bengali Sultanate and
the Mughal period.
 Shah Sultan Rumi was the first Sufi to come to Bengal, when he came to Mymensingh in 1053 AD.
Subsequently, Baba Adam Shah Shahid came to Dhaka in 1119 AD and Shayekh Jalaluddin Tabrizi, more
popularly known as Hazrat Shah Jalal, arrived in Sylhet in 1225 AD.
 In his book Religion in India: A Historical Introduction, Fred W. Clothey (2006) maintained that Sufis followed
ten basic principles to popularise Islam in India. They were: (i) repenting for misdeeds and emptying of self-
orientation; (ii) living simple lives; (iii) focusing on the sovereignty and accessibility of God; (iv) taking vow to
possess nothing other than what is needed as daily necessities; (v) practicing self-discipline; (vi) being
grateful for the mercies of God; (vii) fearing God; (viii) acquiring and filling by Divine nature; (ix) being
content with one's spiritual stature; and (x) submitting to the Divine Will.
 Their simple lifestyle, love of ordinary people of different religions and castes, and Keramati (power of
making miracles) attracted people to Islam.
 Sufis played an important part in the development of literature during the Bengali Sultanate.
 Some were reputed to have miraculous powers and these were described in songs and stories.
 Sufis seems to have won a lot of converts to Islam during the 13th and 14th centuries.
 The Bengali Sultans employed Sufis as ministers and officials.
 This was an important way of emphasizing their right to rule as independent Sutans.
 Sufis were regarded as saints and, therefore, if they backed the sultans, there was much less chance of a
popular uprising.
 The Bengali Sultans could, therefore, legitimize their rule and emphasize their independence from Delhi.
 In Bengal the Sufis were numerous and played a prominent role in delivering the Islamic massage of equality
and social in justice and thus drew people of different religions towards Islam.
 Hindus were attracted by the importance of brotherly love and equality (nom caste system in Islam).
 Buddhist were influenced by the idea of attaining God through love of his creation.
 However, despite their rejection of violence, Sufis received a mixed reception.
 Shah Sultan Rumi was popular but Baba Adam Shahid was murdered.
 18

Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi

 Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi a famous saint who was born at Tabriz, Iran and came to Bengal during the early period
of Muslim rule.
 Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi came to Bengal in the reign of Laksmanasena, attracted many local Hindus towards him
by his miracles and foretold about the impending danger of Turkish invasion.
 In Bengal, two places have been sanctified by the memory of Shaikh Jalaluddin Tabrizi-pandua and Deotala.

Shah Jalal
 Shah Jalal (R) a major sufi saint of Bengal. His full name is Shaikh Jalaluddin. Shah Jalal (R) commands great
respect of Muslims of the subcontinent. He lies buried at Sylhet.
 Shah Jalal's name is associated with the Muslim conquest of Sylhet.
 In his travel accounts, Ibn Batuta described that Shah Jalal (R) was a great saint of hoary age and a dervish
with exceptional spiritual powers.
 The tomb of Shah Jalal (R) is visited daily by a large number of devotees. His grave is unusually large, which
indicates his tall physique as described by Ibn Batuta.

Khan Jahan Ali

 Khan Jahan popularly known as Khan Jahan Ali, a celebrated sufi saint and a ruler over a territory comprising
part of greater districts of Jessore and Khulna in the first half of the fifteenth century when the later Iliyas
Shahi Sultan Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (1435-1459) was ruling at Gaur.
 Khan Jahan, a noble under the Tughlaqs, came to Bengal just after the sack of Delhi (1398) by Timur. He
acquired the forest area of the Sundarbans as jagir (fief) from the sultan of Delhi and subsequently from the
sultan of Bengal.
 He cleared up the dense forest in the Sundarban area to set up human settlements. Local tradition ascribes
to Khan Jahan the first Muslim colonisation of a part of greater Jessore and Khulna districts.
 Khan Jahan was a great builder. He founded some townships, built mosques, madrasas and sarais, roads,
highways and bridges, excavated a large number of dighis in the districts of greater Jessore and Khulna.
 The most notable of his architectural monuments are Shatgumbad Mosque (c 1450) at Bagerhat.

Baba Adam Shahid

 Baba Adam Shahid a saint who lies buried in the courtyard of an old mosque at Abdullapur, a village
in Vikrampur, at Munshiganj district.
 Scholars apprehend Baba Adam Shahid was one of those sufis who came to Bengal before the Turkish
conquest.

Shah Makhdum
 Shah Makhdum (R) 14th century Sufi saint. He preached Islam in the Varendra area. His real name was Abdul
Quddus Jalaluddin. He was the grandson of Hazrat Abdul Qader Zilani (R).
 He came from Baghdad and set up his Khanqah at Shyampur near Kanchanpur. Later on he moved to Bagha
(Charghat thana in Rajshahi district).
 His arrival there is connected with several legends and there are many anecdotes about his Karamats
(supernatural deeds). He defeated and killed the tyrannical tantrik Raja of the area and thus avenged the
killing of Shah Turkan (r) and saved the people from the oppression of the Raja.

Wider Influence of Sufism

It appears that Sufism not only helped the spread of Islam in Bengal, but it also influenced the local religions. The
ideal of Sufism, attaining the love of God through love of His creation, has greatly influenced the devotional
doctrines of Vaishnavism as well as the mysticism of the Bauls. At times, Sufism in Bengal has been transformed into
a folk religion with many of the Sufis being regarded as saints or folk deities. During a maritime journey, for example,
especially if a storm arises, sailors pray to Pir Badar, repeating his name, 'Badar Badar'. The names of different Sufi
saints are inscribed on the bodies of buses, trucks, launches, and steamers to ensure safe journeys.
 19

The Bengali Sultanate

 The Iliyas Shahi Dynasty

 The Ganesh Dynasty
 The Hossain Shahi Dynasty

The Iliyas Shahi Dynasty

Iliyas Shah (1342-1358) 16 years

 After the conquests of Bakhtiyar Khalji, Bengal was still, in theory, a province of the Delhi Sultanate.
 But at the same time partially independent.
 A strong, united and independent Bengal did not emerge until the reign of Iliyas Shah in 1342.
 Haji Iliyas was the founder of the Iliyas Shahi Dynasty, later on took the title Sultan Shamsuddin Abul
Muzaffar Iliyas Shah.
 Shamsuddin Ilyas was born into an aristocratic family in the Sistan region of what is today eastern Iran and
southern Afghanistan.
 He worked under the service of the Delhi Sultanate. He migrated to Bengal and worked under Izzuddin
Yahya, the imperial provincial governor of Satgaon.

Military Conquests

 Iliyas Shah fought a war against Alauddin Ali Shah from 1339, and in 1342 seized the throne of Lakhnauti.
 He then launched a series of attacks against other areas of Bengal and took control of Satgaon and
Sonargaon in 1352.
 Iliyas Shah launched further campaigns against Nepal and Orissa and established his authority in Bihar and as
far as Benaras.

Conflicts with Delhi

 His success offended the Sultan of Delhi- Firuz Shah Tuqhlaq, thus he tried to crush him.
 Firuz Shah invaded Bengal with an enormous army in 1353 but failed to defeat Iliyas Shah and a peace treaty
was concluded.
 Iliyas Shah was confirmed as an independent Sultan of Bengal.
 The two sultans exchanged envoys and gifts from 1355 to 1358.

Establishment of Bengali identity

 Iliyas Shah was the first ruler to establish a distinct identity for Bengal by gaining control over the three
major regions of Bengal, Sonargaon, Satgaon and Lakhnauti.
 He gave the name Bangalah to his new kingdom and the name Bangali to its people.
 Iliyas Shah can be considered to be the founder of Bangladesh.
 He took the title of Sultan-I-Bangalah (the king of Bengal)/ Shah-e-Bangala.
 Despite this, Iliyas shah was still described on his coins as the ‘right hand of his caliphate’.
 He was therefore claiming to be part of a wider Islamic Empire.

Administration

 The administration of Bengal under Iliyas Shah was based on equality.

 Posts in the government were open to people from all creeds and castes.
 In fact, the Bengali Sultans begun a trend of appointing Hindus to key positions, apparently believing that
they were more likely to be loyal and efficient.
 Iliyas Shah appears to have adopted a tolerant approach to different religious faith.
 While he supported Sufis financially, he also appears to have provided money for saints and hermits of other
faiths.
 20

 Iliyas Shah established an army of local population rather than foreign auxiliaries thus, appointed Governors
to control districts.
 He made the local administration strong.
 The Bengali sultans tried to emphasise that they were genuinely Bengali by opposing invading powers.
 Iliyas Shah dies in 1358, having founded an independent Sultanate, which lasted for more than 200 years.

Sikander Shah (1358-1390 AD)

 Iliyas Shah was succeeded by his son, Sikander Shah.

 He took the title Abul Mujahid Sikander Shah.
 Sikandar Shah ruled a prosperous and politically stable Bengal for about 30 years.
 Sultan Firuz of Delhi invaded Bengal again in 1359 but Sikandar successfully faced the imperial army of Delhi.
 This stopped the efforts of the Sultans of Delhi trying to capture Bengal, for a long time.

Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1390-1410)

 Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah (1389-1410 AD/ H 792-813) the third sultan of the Iliyas Shahi dynasty of Bengal,
who devoted himself more to the task of consolidation than to conquests and annexations.
 Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah earned a good name for his ideal character, patronage of learning and for good
administration. He had a profound regard for the law.
 A scholar and poet, Sultan Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah held literary men in great esteem. He used to compose
verses in Arabic and Persian. He corresponded with the famous Iranian poet Hafiz.
 Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah also contributed a good deal to the development of Bengali literature; Shah
Muhammad Sagir wrote his famous work, Yusuf-Zulekha, under his patronage. Probably, the sultan also
ordered Krttivasa to write the Ramayana in Bengali.
 Like his father and grandfather, Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah had great respect and reverence for the Alims and
the Sufis. He liberally patronised the learned and the pious.
 He paid great homage to Shaikh Muzaffar Shams Balkhi of Bihar, with whom he corresponded. He gave all
kinds of help to pilgrims to the holy cities of Makka and Madina. It is said that he built two Madrasas there.
 Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah is known for his friendly relations with foreign countries, two more instances of his
desire to establish friendly relations with foreign powers can be found in the history: one with the Kingdom
of Jaunpur and the other with China.
 He sent ambassadors to China. The Chinese emperor received the envoys cordially and reciprocated by
sending envoys with valuable presents for the sultan of Bengal.
 Another aspect of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah's reign was that the Hindus gained much prominence in his court
and this led to the rise of Raja Ganesh, the zamindar of Bhaturiya (in Dinajpur district).
 Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah died in 814 AH/1410 AD. It is suspected that Raja Ganesh treacherously killed the
sultan.
Saifuddin Hamza Shah (1410-1413 AD)

 He was the son of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah.

 A civil war in Bengal broke out during Hamza's reign. In 1412, after only 2 years of his rule.
 He was killed by his slave-Shihabuddin who was also murdered.
 Raja Ganesh took advantage of the situation and assumed control.
 21

The Ganesh Dynasty

Raja Ganesh (1414-1415 AD, 1416-1418 AD)

 Raja Ganesha was a Hindu landlord of Bhaturia and Dinajpur.

 Raja Ganesh became the king of Bengal by usurping power from the weak Iliyas Shahi sultans in the early 15 th
century.
 He was one of the nobles who came to prominence in the Iliyas Shahi court of pandua during Ghiyasuddin
Azam Shah’s reign.
 After the death of Saifuddin Hamza Shah’s slave Shihabuddin Bayezid Shah, he assumed power in Bengal.
 He became the de facto ruler and in a state of confusion and political turmoil he assumed the throne of
Bengal in 1414.
 Raja Ganesha followed a policy of persecuting and eliminating the Muslims in an attempt to destroy Muslim
power in Bengal.
 He appointed many Hindus to high posts and persecuted many Sufis.
 However, he could not stay in power for long.
 Sultan Ibrahim Sarki brought a great force from Janipur to crush him for his persecutions.
 Raja Ganesh was forced to abdicate the system in favor of his son- Jadu.
 He offered his son Jadu to be converted to Islam.
 Jadu embraced Islam and was placed on the throne.
 He was named Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah.
 After the departure of the Jaunpur forces, Ganesh dethroned and confined his son and began to exercise
royal power.
 He again started persecuting the Muslims.
 But soon, Ganesha was overthrown and probably killed (1418AD) by his son Jalauddin.

Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah (1415-1435 AD)

 Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah was the son of Raja Ganesh.

 His early name was ‘Jadu’ and he was renamed Jalaluddin Muhammad at his conversion to Islam.
 He ruled Bengal in two phases 1415-1416 and 1418-1435.
 In 1416 Ad Ganesh dethroned and confined Jadu to reconvert him to Hinduism.
 His effective rule began in 1418 AD after the final overthrow of Raja Ganesh.
 Jalaluddin, who had been born a Hindu, properly converted to Islam to make his position secured and
received recognition from the Sultan of Egypt.
 A peaceful reign of about two decades helped Jalaluddin to exercise authority over almost the whole of
Bengal, including eastern Bengal and Chittagong.
 He was pious, just and a benevolent ruler.
 He maintained good relations with the religious institutions and personalities of Bengal who had been
persecuted during the reign of his father.
 The accession of Jalauddin marked an important change in the Bengali sultanate.
 Iliyas Shah and his successors had wanted to establish their independence from Delhi and were still regarded
to some extent as foreigners.
 Jalaluddin and his successors regarded themselves as Bengalis and adopted Bengali customs to a greater
extent.
 During his rule, Bengali become one of the court languages, along with Persian.
 They were often referred to as ‘Rajas’ a Bengali expression and used the symbol of the lion on their coins.
 Architecture begun to make use of Bengali styles and the development of Bengali literature was encouraged.
 Jalaluddin died in 1435 and the succession soon reverted to a descendant of Illyas Shah.
 22

The Iliyas Shahi Dynasty (2nd phase)

Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah (1435-1459 AD)

 Jalaluddin Muhammad Shah’s son Shamsuddin Ahmed Shah was murdered by his slave Nasir Khan.
 Nasir Khan was killed by the nobles.
 The nobles elected Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah- a descendent of Haji Iliyas.
 During his reign, the boundary of Bengal was greatly extended.
 With the help of Khan Jahan Ali, Nasirudddin Mahmud made progress on Muslim settlements in different
parts of Bengal. They constructed mosques, khanqas, tombs, and bridges, and excavated tanks.

Rukhunuddin Barbak Shah (1459-1474 AD)

 He was the son of Nasiruddin Mahmud Shah.

 Barbak Shah was a patron of both Muslim and Hindu scholars. During his time Jainuddin wrote his Rasul
Vijaya and Ibrahim Qawam Faruqi composed a Persian lexicon Farhang-i-Ibrahim (known as Sharafnamah).
Raimukuta Brhaspati Mishra, Maladhar Basu, Krttivas and Kuladhar were the most noted Hindu scholars that
time.
 Barbak Shah is known to have recruited about eight thousand Abyssinian slaves and employed them in the
army and in various key posts of the state. This influx of a large number of Abyssinians had a far-reaching
effect in Bengal history.
 A good administrator and a lover of justice, Barbak Shah was tolerant and benevolent.
 A great builder, Barbak Shah built a number of mosques at Gaur and Deotala.
 A just, liberal, learned, wise and deeply religious king, Barbak Shah died in 879 AH/1474 AD.
 23

The Husain Shahi Dynasty

Husain Shah (1494-1519 AD)

 Husain Shah's original name is Sayyeed Husain.

 Husain was the son of Sayyeed Ashraf Al Husaini Al Fatimi Al Makki, a noble from Mecca and an inhabitant
of Tirmiz (in Turkestan).
 Husain Shah (1494-1519) the founder of the Husain Shahi dynasty, occupied the throne of Bengal by
assassinating the Habshi Sultan Shamsuddin Muzaffar Shah, under whom he had served as wazir. He was
elected sultan by the leading nobles in 1494 AD.
 Despite the rather dubious events surrounding his accession, Hossain Shah had a successful and seemingly
unchallenged reign.
 He conquered Kamarupa, Kamata, Jajnagar, and Orissa and extended the sultanate all the way to the port
of Chittagong.
 Opinions are divided as to whether his conquests can be regarded as a total success.
 Opinion is also divided about his policy towards Hindus.
 In fact, there appear to have been large-scale conversions from Hinduism to Islam during his reign.
 This may have resulted from local attacks.
 It is quite possible, however, that Hossain Shah was unaware of the extent of the persecution.
 It is certain that he had great respect for Sri Chaitanya (1486-1533) the founder of Vaisnavism and supported
his teaching and missions.
 It was during the reign of Hossain Shah that the Portuguese arrived in Bengal for the first time and that
diplomatic links between the two powers were established.
 His reign also saw an expansion of Bengali literature.
 The Mahabharata translated into Bangla for the first time.
 The Mansamangal Kabya was also written by Bijay Gupta.
 During Husain Shah's reign a number of significant monuments were constructed. Wali Muhammad
built Chota Sona Masjid in Gaur.

Nusrat Shah (1519-1532 AD)

 After the death of Hossain Shah, his eldest son Nusrat Shah ascended the throne of Bengal.
 He was an able ruler like his father.
 He was a skilled administrator and maintained good relations with both the Mughals (Babur) and the
Afghans.
 After the battle of Panipat in 1526, Nusrat provided refuge and protection to some Lodi leaders.
 This is because Nusrat was seeking to build an alliance with the Afghans.
 At the same time, he cleverly tried to avoid any confrontation with Babur (the founder of the Mughal
Empire).
 Later, Nusrat professed neutrality and avoided having any connection with the anti-Mughal confederacy
formed by Mahmud Lodi.
 When Babur sent an expedition to Bengal, Nusrat Shah concluded a treaty which made Bengal safe.
 Nusrat Shah was assassinated in 1532.

Mahmud Shah (1533-1538 AD)

 Mahmud Shah was the brother of Nusrat Shah and came to power after killing his nephew-Alauddin Firuz
Shah.
 Mahmud Shah sent an army to Bihar to punish one of Sher Shah’s allies. But this stirred the attention of Sher
Shah who advanced towards Bengal and captured Gaur in 1538.
 Mahmud Shah was forced to concede all territories west of Rajmahal and pay an annual tribute of one crore
takas.
 24

 Shortly afterwards, when Mahmud Shah broke his commitment of paying the annual tribute, he was finally
toppled by Sher Shah’s army. With this, Afghan rule was established in Bengal. This also marked the end of
the Bengali Sultanate.
 25

Art and culture during the Iliyas Shahi Dynasty

With the establishment of Iliyas Shahi Dynasty, the initial unrest and political instability were brought to a minimum.
Therefore the Sultans could pay more attention to the development of art and culture. In the field of architecture,
the most spectacular achievement was the famous Adina Mosque in Pandua, built by Sikandar Shah in 1375. The
mosque was not only larger than the largest mosque of the Delhi Sultans of the time, but it was also the largest
mosque in the whole subcontinent of India.

Other important monuments erected during the Iliyas Shahi period were the tomb of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah at
Sonargaon, the Kotwali Darwaza, the Dakhil Darwaza, the Nim Darwaza, the Tantipara mosque, the Kadamrasul
Masjid and the Darasbari mosque of Gaur, and the Sona Masjid of Pandua.

Under the patronage of Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah, Shah Muhammad Sagir wrote his famous poem, Yusuf-Zulekha. It
brought about a revolution in Bengali literature, which was greatly enriched with the addition of the religious stories
of Islam and the introduction of the romantic tale as a new theme for Bengali poets. Ghiyasuddin Azam Shah asked
Krittivas to write the Ramayana in Bengali. Ruknuddin Barbak Shah extended his patronage to Muslim and Hindu
scholars alike. During his reign, Zaynuddin composed the Rasulbijay and Ibrahim Qayum Faruqi composed the
Safarnamah. Ruknuddin Barbak Shah equally extended his patronage to Hindu scholars and poets -- during his reign,
Raimukuta Brhaspati acquired fame and glory, and Barbak Shah honoured Maladhar Basu, the compiler of the
Srikrishnavijay, with the title of 'Gunaraj Khan'.

Art and culture during the Hussain Shahi Dynasty

The Hussain Shahi Dynasty was marked by a long spell of undisturbed peace, prosperity, communal harmony and the
development of Bengali culture and literature. This is why the Hussain Shahi era is considered the 'golden age' of the
Bengal sultanate.

The rulers of this period took an active interest in the growth of local literature by patronizing the major poets of the
time. The sultans, because of their close association with the local people, gave status and dignity to the Bangla
language which now began to play the role that was earlier played by Sanskrit in the pre-Muslim period. Kavindra
Parameshvara and Shrikara Nandi, the translators of the Mahabharata, were patronised by Paragal Khan and his son
Chhuti Khan respectively, both being governors of Chittagong under Hussain Shah. Of the few writers of Vaisnava
padas, Yashoraj Khan, served as an official of Husain Shah, while Sheikh Kabir, a Muslim poet, was intimately
connected with Nusrat Shah. Shaikh Zahid composed his yogic philosophy Adya Parichaya in 1498-99 AD, one of the
earliest specimens of Bangla poems dealing with yogic ideas.

The period also marked the growth of secular elements in Bangla literature. Shridhara, the author of Vidya Sundara,
received patronage from Prince Firuz, son of Nusrat Shah. During the Hussain Shahi period, Bengal's contributions to
architecture and calligraphy were significant. Architecture and calligraphy were largely the product of court
patronage. The case was probably similar with music, particularly its classical branch which seems to have flourished
in the court. The reign of Nusrat Shah witnessed a sudden flowering of pictorial art as is evidenced by the ten folio
illustrations of the first part of the Sikandarnamah, known as the Sharafnamah, which details the exploits of
Alexander in the East.

By the time the Hussain Shahi rulers came to power, Bengal had already developed a tradition of architecture. The
Iliyas Shahi rulers had started a rich architectural tradition with an individuality of its own. Hussain Shahi architecture
is a continuation of this earlier tradition. The ruins of the Darasbari Madrassa at Gaur (on the Bangladesh side of the
medieval city) exhibit the vigour of the building art in the period. The Gumti gate, the Qadam Rasal, the Jahanian
Mosque, the Bara Sona mosque and the Chota Sona mosque show the glorious 'brick style of Bengal' developed in
the Hussain Shahi period.

The buildings built outside the capital seem to have followed the plan and design of buildings erected in the
metropolis. The Sura mosque and Hemtabad mosque in Dinajpur, the Bagha mosque, the Navaram mosque in
Pabna, the Majlis Aulia mosque of Pathrail in Faridpur, the Sankarpasha mosque of Sylhet and the Goaldi mosque in
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Sonargaon are some excellent examples of the period. The Bara Sona mosque and the Chhoto Sona mosque have a
spirit of ornamentation which most of the earlier structures lack.

In this period, we find a predominance of the stone cutters' art. The architecture of the period clearly reveals local
influences and gives expression to Bengal's life and culture. The old Terracotta, which had its revival in the earlier
period of Muslim rule, continued under the Hussain Shahi rulers. The local elements, which found expression in the
architecture of the period, include the curvature of the cornice and the copy of the chauchala. The Hussain Shahi
artists copied the terracotta art on stones. In its rich ornamentation, the Hussain Shahi style stands in strong contrast
with the rather austere style of the previous phase.

Architecture during Bengali Sultanate

The architecture of the early Muslim period was most characterised by mosques and tombs. The conquerors built
mosques to arrange for praying and to gain popularity. The Sufis or the preachers of Islam also built mosques
wherever they went to preach. During the Hussain Shahi dynasty, Bengali architecture developed a style of its own,
distinct from the various regional styles of India. Though Bengali architecture was influenced by the architecture of
the Middle East in the beginning, by the middle of the fifteenth century, it showed independence from external
influence and more close to local forms.' The mosques built during the Sultanate period were divided into several
categories, such as square single, multi-domed, or rectangular multi-domed. Some of the vaults were in the form of
typical Bengali huts with quadrilateral sloping roofs. Some of the single or multi-domed structures had verandahs in
the front. The roofs were almost always curved, with the four corner towers rising only up to roof level. There were
examples of Arabic calligraphy inserted in the wall facing the west called the Qibla wall, which faces the direction of
the holy Kaaba. Hanging chandeliers were distinct features found in the mosques. The monuments were
ornamented with intricate designs and terra cotta plaques. Some of the famous and architecturally significant
mosques include Adina Mosque at Hazrat Pandua (1375), Khalifatabad Mosque (mid-15th century), Gunmant
Mosque (mid-15th century), Tantipara Mosque (c 1480), Darashbari Mosque (1479), Chhota Sona Mosque (1493-
1519) and Bara Sona Mosque (1526) at Gaur-Lakhnauti, Bagha (1522) and Kushumba, Mosque (1558) in Rajshahi,
and the recently excavated Jami's at Satghachhia and Monohar Dighi (late 15th / early 16th century) in Bara Bazar
(Jessore).