Short Essay on the Conquest of Southern Orissa

Taking Advantage of the factional feuds in Orissa, Ibrahim deputed his Generals Malik Naib and Rafat Khan to occupy this important state after defeating the various chieftains who had divided it amongst themselves.

His commanders were successful in capturing Rajamundry, Qasimkota, Chandrabar and advanced up to the borders of Bengal in southern Orissa.

Vijayanagar

Ibrahim led his first expedition in 1578 and captured Ahobalan and Udaigiri. In 1579 he deputed his general Haidar who captured many forts including Vinukonda, Kacharlakota and Kondavidu.

Ibrahim next turned his attention to Adil Shahis who had become a menace to the peace in the reigon. He defeated Adil Shahi forces and captured a number of forts- including Sagar and Yadgir. Bijapur was also besieged by the combined armies of Golkonda and Ahmadnagar.

The Maratha guerillas employed by Adil Shahis forced the allies to raise the siege. Soon after the news came of the death of Ibrahim on 5 May, 1580 which put an end to the hostility.

Estimate

Ibrahim was one of the greatest kings of the Qutb Shahi dynasty. He established law and order and gave stern punishments to dacoits and robbers who had infested the highways and made travelling hazardous. He consolidated the kingdom by suppressing rebellions and extended the frontiers of his kingdom up to the borders of Bengal.

He was a peace-loving monarch and had to fight wars when he was forced by circumstances. He devoted himself to the improvement of his country which prospered during his regime. Firishta observes: “Tilangana, like Egypt, became the mart of the whole world. Merchants from Turkistan, Arabia, and Persia resorted to it, and they met with such encouragement that they found in it inducements to return frequently. The greatest luxuries from foreign parts daily abounded at this king’s hospitable board.”

Ibrahim was a great patron of arts and architecture. He extended the fortifications of Golkonda and strengthened it. He built several palaces, gardens and tanks. He is famous for his dam at Budwal and two tanks, Hussain Sagar and the other at Ibrahimpatnam. He constructed a strong bridge about 600 feet long and 36 feet wide on the river Musi which is known as “Purana Pul” or old bridge.

He was a great patron of Telugu literature. A galaxy of poets such as Addanki Gangadhar, Pannaganti Teleganarya and Kandukuri Rudra adorned his court. They produced some of the best literature in Telugu poetry.

It was during the reign of Ibrahim Qutb Shah that a beginning was made in Dakhni Urdu poetry which was to make such a remarkable progress in the succeeding years. Some of the Urdu poets who flourished during his reign were Mulla Khiyali, Mahmud, Ahmad and Firuz.

He was a tolerant and liberal ruler. He appointed Hindus on high posts and even some of the generals were Hindus. They, too, responded his trust fully and laid down their lives in the service of the Qutb Shahi kingdom.

He died in 1580 and was succeeded by his son Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah.