Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad Bin Bakhtiyar Khalji

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Ikhtiyar Uddin Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji (Persian اختيار الدين محمد بن بختيار الخلجي), (Bengali ইখতিয়ার উদ্দিন মুহম্মদ বখতিয়ার খলজী), also known as Malik Ghazi Ikhtiyaru 'l-Din Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khalji, a member of the Muslim Turkic Khalj tribe, who was head of the armies that conquered much of northeastern India.

He was one of the military generals of Qutb-ud-din Aybak. Muhammad Khilji conquered Bihar in 1193. His troops destroyed the famous Buddhist university at Nalanda (in modern Bihar State) in the year 1193. Later, he also brought Bengal’s ruler Lakshman Sen under his authority, and captured his capital in 1205. He is the founder of the Khilji dynasty and is considered to be the first muslim ruler of Bengal.

[edit] Early Life

Khalji came from the town of Garamsir in northern Afghanistan. Tradition has it that Khalji's conquest of Bengal at the head of 18 horsemen was foretold. It is held that he was of common birth, had long arms extending below his knees, a short physical stature and an unfavorable countenance. He was first appointed as the Dewan-i-ard at Ghor. But later he lost the job for irregularities in work. Then he approached India in about the year 1193 CE and tried to enter in the army of Qutb al-Din but failed. Then he went further eastward and took a job under Maklik Hizbar al-Din who was then the commander of the army of Badayun in northern India. After a short period he went to Oudh where Malik Husam al-Din, the governor, recognized him for his worth. Husam gave a landed estate in the south-eastern corner of modern Mirzapur District. He gathered some brave and adventurous Turks under his banner and soon consolidated his position, carrying out raids into neighboring territories.

[edit] Conquests

Khalji's career took flight with a stunning campaign which subjugated Bihar in 1203 CE. This effort earned him political clout in the court at Delhi.

The next year he took his forces into Bengal. As he came upon the city of Nadia it is said that he advanced so rapidly that only 18 horsemen from his army could keep up. In the city they were mistaken for horsetraders, allowing them to surprise Raja Lakshman Sen in the middle of a meal. The latter fled out the palace's back door in bare feet.

Khalji went on to capture the capital Gaur and conquer much of Bengal. Rather than consolidating Bengal, however, he led a disastrous campaign into Tibet and died in 1206 CE on the retreat.