In which of the following texts, the ordinances of Firoz Shah Tughlaq have been collected?

UPPSC 2022

General Knowledge

Easy

Appeared in: UPPSC 2022

Explanation

Futuhat-i-Firozshahi, which translates to 'Victories of Firoz Shah', is the autobiography of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq.
In this work, the Sultan himself records the administrative reforms, public works, and religious policies of his reign.
Crucially, it contains a list of the ordinances and edicts he issued, presenting his own version of his rule and achievements.
The text serves as a primary source, offering direct insight into how the ruler wished to be perceived by his subjects and by posterity.

Option A: Sirat-i-Firozshahi is a biographical account written by an anonymous author, not the Sultan himself. While it details his life, it is not the official collection of his ordinances.
Option C: Tarikh-i-Firozshahi refers to historical chronicles written by court historians like Ziauddin Barani and Shams-i-Siraj Afif. These are third-person historical narratives, not a first-person compilation of laws.
Option D: Fatwa-i-Jahandari, written by Ziauddin Barani, is a work of political philosophy that outlines the ideal principles of governance for a Muslim ruler. It does not contain the actual laws of any specific Sultan.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Medieval Indian History: Literature of the Delhi Sultanate as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This question highlights the critical difference between primary sources (like an autobiography) and secondary sources (like a historical chronicle) in studying history.
Futuhat-i-Firozshahi provides a unique window into the mind of a medieval ruler, showing how he used writing to construct a public image of being a just, pious, and benevolent king.
Understanding the nature of these texts is crucial for historians to critically evaluate the information and separate a ruler's self-promotion from objective historical fact.

How to Approach the Question

Step 1: Identify the key terms in the question: 'ordinances' (laws/edicts) and 'Firoz Shah Tughlaq'. The goal is to find the text that is a collection of his laws.
Step 2: Analyze the titles of the options for clues about their content. 'Futuhat' (achievements), 'Sirat' (life/biography), 'Tarikh' (history), and 'Fatwa' (ruling/opinion) are key indicators.
Step 3: Differentiate the types of historical documents. An autobiography ('Futuhat') is written by the subject, a biography ('Sirat') is by another author, a chronicle ('Tarikh') records events, and a political treatise ('Fatwa-i-Jahandari') discusses theory.
Step 4: Reason that a ruler's own laws and edicts would most likely be documented in his own account of his achievements and rule.
Step 5: Conclude that Futuhat-i-Firozshahi, the Sultan's autobiography, is the most plausible source for a collection of his ordinances.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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