People did not like this change because poor means of transportation system became the cause of death of a large number of people. The climate of Daulatabad was also not suitable. When people tried to go back, they had to bear a great loss of money and property. People turned against Sultan.
The recent announcement about the demonetisation of ₹ 500 and ₹ 1000 currency denominations has caused ripples of excitement about its impact on black money as well as anxiety about what’s in store for the common man. Whether the bold move will lead to significant benefits is something that will emerge only with the gradual passage of time, but one immediate impact is already clear – the lives of millions of Indians have been sent into a tizzy.
While the sudden decision has received as many brickbats as bouquets, it has also reminded many of a medieval monarch who once tried his hand at demonetising in 14th century India – Muhammad Bin Tughlaq. Demonitisation is the act of retiring an old unit of currency and replacing it with a new currency unit. During his reign, Tughlaq had demonetised gold and silver coins and replaced them with copper and brass ones!
One of the most interesting personalities of medieval India, Muhammad Bin Tughlaq ruled over the northern parts of the Indian subcontinent and the Deccan from 1324 to 1351 AD. A learned man with an open mind and a unique streak of intellectual creativity, Tughlaq was well versed in poetry, astronomy, religion and philosophy.
A ruler whose real expertise shone in the times of war, Tughlaq took some very bold and strong measures to reform the administration during his chequered reign as the Sultan of Delhi. In 1329 AD, he shifted his capital from Delhi to the more centrally located Devagiri in Maharashtra, which was renamed Daulatabad. He had many motives for doing so – other than saving his capital from recurring Mongol raids, the move would cement his control over the rich fertile lands of the Deccan and ensure access to the busy ports on the Gujarat and the Coromandel coast.
While there was nothing fundamentally wrong with Tughlaq’s pragmatic decision, his blunder lay in ordering the entire population of Delhi to move to the new capital (instead of just shifting his official court). Despite the many arrangements that were made for the convenience of the travellers, the suffering of the people was terrible and many people died on the way.
However, no sooner had the Sultan reached Daulatabad when trouble broke out in Bengal as well as on the northwestern frontier. Tughlaq realized that while his new capital was distant enough to be safe from Mongol invasions, it was also too far away to protect northern India. So, the mercurial ruler re-ordered his people to return to Delhi. Thousands died in the punishing 1500 km return march to Delhi. While Tughlaq did try to make amends by abolishing multiple taxes and organising relief measures, the financial loss was immense and the consequences for Delhi grave.