Correct option is B
The correct answer is (b) Iltutmish
Explanation:
- In 1221 AD, the Mongol leader Genghis Khan reached the banks of the Indus while pursuing Jalal-ud-din Mangabarni, the ruler of Khwarezm.
- Mangabarni sought asylum from Iltutmish, the Sultan of Delhi.
- Iltutmish diplomatically refused the request, stating that the climate of Delhi would not suit Mangabarni.
- This wise decision saved the Delhi Sultanate from the wrath of the Mongol invasion at that early stage.
- The Mongols eventually withdrew without crossing the Indus into the Sultanate.
Information Booster:
- Iltutmish is considered the real founder of the Delhi Sultanate.
- He introduced the Iqta system and the Tanka/Jital coins.
Additional Knowledge:
Raziya (Option a)
- Daughter of Iltutmish; Mongol threats continued during her time but the first appearance was earlier.
Qutubuddin Aibak (Option c)
- The founder of the Slave dynasty; Genghis Khan had not yet reached the Indian borders during his reign.
Balban (Option d)
- He established a separate department (Diwan-i-Arz) to deal with the Mongol menace, but he reigned much later than the first appearance.
So the correct answer is (b)