Question

Who was the first Muslim Conqueror of Bihar?
1. Malik Ibrahim
2. Iltumish
3. Bakhtiyar Khalji
4. Ali Mardan Khalji
5. None of the above/More than one of the above

Answer 1

Correct Answer - Option 3 : Bakhtiyar Khalji

The correct answer is Bakhtiyar Khalji.

• The first conqueror of Bihar was Mohammed- bin-Bakhtiar Khalji. The Tughluqs and then the Mughals followed the Khaljis.
• Bakhtiyar Khalji was a Turko-Afghan military general who was the leader of the Muslim conquests of Bihar and Bengal region and later on established himself as their ruler.
• He captured Bihar in 1200. This made him secure a political post in the court of Delhi.
• In the same year, he also annexed Bengal.
• He had massive fights and murdered many Buddhist monks and caused great damage to Buddhist traditions and institutions of higher learning in North India.
• It is believed that he destroyed Vikramshila University and the Nalanda University of Bihar.
• Nalanda was the world's first university which was completely destroyed and it had millions of books that were burned.
• It is believed that the books in this university burned for 3 months.
• He was assassinated by Ali Mardan in 1206 in Devkot.