Karachi: Portrayed as a kohl-eyed, greedy meat ripping man Alauddin Khilji’s reality was far from the character played in Bollywood’s movie “Padmavat.”
The character of Rani Padmavati is based on “Padmavaat” a poem written by Malik Muhammad Jayasi in which Rani Padmavati was a fictional character whose existence was not proven by history and the poem was written around 1540; more than 200 years older than Khilji’s siege itself.
Contrary to the image given in the movie, Alauddin Khilji was one of the best-known monarchs from medieval Indian history. The one who saved India from the wrath of the Mongols, giving shelter to several learned people of Central Asia being oppressed by the Mongols. Historically, the main reason for Sultan Khalji’s attack on Chittorgarh was his quest for dominance, as Chittorgarh was situated on a crucial trading route not a barbaric ruler risking the lives of hundreds for a woman’s beauty.
The nephew and son-in-law of Jalal-ud-din Khilji, Alahuddin was a great conqueror and a successful administrator. The famous poet Amir Khusrau was one of the gems of his court. Khilji was a great patron of education, literature and arts and the first ruler in Indo-Pak subcontinent who introduced the price control system in a systematic manner.
