slaves played crucial roles including helping their Lords maintain and expand their empires. Considering their important roles, the slaves were well trained in various aspects including warfare. Many slaves rose to positions of importance based on their exhibited capabilities. The role they played in Ghori’s political matrix is highlighted in his reply to a courtier’s lament that he didn’t have heirs: “Other monarchs may have a son or two; but I have thousands of them (the slaves). They will be the heirs of my kingdom and after me will take care of the task of preserving my name in the khutbah (political speech delivered after the Friday prayers) throughout my territories. After the assassination of Mohammad Ghori, his slaves divided his territory among themselves after his death.
The battle for Indian territories was led by Ghori’s capable & ruthless general Qutub-ud-din Aibak. He was a slave of his king and had to wait till his assassination in Afghanistan to free himself. Once freed, Aibak declared himself the ruler of Ghori’s Indian possessions and established the “Mamluk” or slave Dynasty in 1206. The Mamluk dynasty was the first among the dynasties that went on to be known as the “Sultanate of Delhi”. The importance of the ascension of Aibak may be understood in the words of Paul K. Davis who writes: “Though Islam was introduced into India several centuries previously, after this battle a Moslem ruled India, especially northern India, until the fall of the Moghul Dynasty in 1857”.
The construction of Qutub Minar played a vital role in the entrenchment of rule of Islamic kings in India. Its construction was well planned and symbolizes the domination of invading powers in India. The story of Qutub