Jalal-ud-Din Khalji was the founder of the Khalji Dynasty. He came to power after the overthrow of the so-called Slave Dynasty. This event has been described by Dr. R. P. Tripathi as the ‘Khalji Revolution’. Dr. Tripathi is of the opinion that “One of the most significant consequences of the Khalji Revolution was that it gave a heavy blow to the growing sentiment of loyalty that was gathering round the throne of Delhi and was likely to bear good results.
If the Khaljis had not nipped in the bud the traditions of dignity and loyalty and had allowed them to grow up and reach full stature, the element of militarism would have been minimized and new traditions of rights and duties of command and obedience would have properly crystallized as in some other countries of the world.
Unfortunately, Khalji Revolution threw into shade the civil side of the government and accentuating the military aspects established a dangerous precedent that continued to sap the vitality of the Delhi Sultanate.”
Dr. K. S. Lai says, “The Khalji Revolution was fraught with far-reaching consequence. It not only heralded the advent of a new dynasty: it ushered in an era of ceaseless conquests of unique experiment in statecraft and of incomparable literary activity.
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In the veins of the Khaljis did not flow the royal blood. They belonged to the proletariat and their accession to power dealt a death blow to the pseudo-belief that sovereignty was a monopoly of the privileged.
The Khalji Revolt is essentially a revolt of the Indian Muslims against the Turkish Hegemony of those who looked to Delhi, against those who sought inspiration from Ghaur and Ghazna.
The revolution resulted in the supersession of a commoner’s government over that of the blueblood’s and shoked to their marrow many a highbrowed Turk to whom other Musalmans, Indian born or otherwise, were made of a stuff inferior to their own.”‘
The assumption of royal power by Jalal-ud-Din Khalji was not universally accepted. The leading Turkish Amirs hated the Khaljis who were considered to be low-born Afghans.
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Some of the relatives of Balban like Malik Chhajju were still alive and they would like to overthrow Jalal-ud-Din. The people of Delhi were also not happy over his accession to the throne and consequently Jalal-ud-Din had to remain at Kilokhri for a year before he could shift to Delhi.
Kilokhri was a new city which had been built by Kaiqubad a few miles away from Delhi. The New Sultan entered Delhi only when he felt that he had won over the people by his acts of generosity. Malik Chhajju was allowed to retain the Governorship of Kara. Malik Fakhr-ud-Din was confirmed as the Kotwal of DeJhi.
The Sultan confirmed the Turkish nobles in the officers they held during the previous reign. Malik Ahmad Chap was appointed Amir-i-Hajib or Master of Ceremonies. Ala-ud-Din and Almas Beg were also rewarded. It is true that before becoming king, Jalal-ud-Din had won many battles and was known to Ibe the most experienced and powerful Turkish Nobleman, but after becoming king, he decided to |follow a policy of peace.
He refused to shed the blood of any Muslim for political or territorial pins. He was not prepared to use his sword even to punish rebels, thieves or Thugs. No wonder, Professor S. R. Sharma calls him “Clemency King Firuz”. He further observes that Firuz was loo kind to be a king in an age when blood and iron alone could tell. His mild policy was resented |by his followers and the same were attributed to his old age and cowardice.