Which of the following rulers was given the title "Lakh Baksh" (giver of lakhs) for his generosity?

Appeared in: CGHS SSC - 2018

Explanation

Qutb al-Din Aibak, the founder of the Mamluk (Slave) Dynasty, was renowned for his exceptional generosity.
Due to his practice of giving large sums of money in charity, he earned the epithet 'Lakh Baksh,' which translates to 'giver of lakhs' (hundreds of thousands).
This title specifically refers to his benevolent nature, distinguishing him from other rulers known for conquest or administration.
He also commissioned major architectural projects, including the Qutub Minar, but the title 'Lakh Baksh' is directly related to his generosity.

Option B: Shamsuddin Iltutmish was the successor of Aibak and is credited with consolidating the Delhi Sultanate. However, he was not known by the title 'Lakh Baksh'.
Option C: Mahmud Ghazni was a Turkic invader known for his 17 military raids into India and the plundering of wealth from temples. His historical reputation is that of a plunderer, not a generous giver.
Option D: Muhammad Ghori was the Ghurid sultan who defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the Second Battle of Tarain and established the foundation for Turkish rule in India. Qutb al-Din Aibak was his general. Ghori himself was not known as 'Lakh Baksh'.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Historical Titles: Delhi Sultanate as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
This is a non-nursing question. For competitive exams, knowledge of historical figures and their specific titles or achievements is a key component of the General Knowledge section.
Differentiating rulers from the same historical period based on their unique contributions, policies, or personal characteristics is a common question pattern.
What if? If the question had asked which ruler completed the Qutub Minar, the correct answer would have been Shamsuddin Iltutmish, who was Aibak's successor.

How to Approach the Question

This is a factual recall question from medieval Indian history.
Identify the key phrase in the question stem: 'Lakh Baksh'.
Recall or deduce the meaning of this title. 'Lakh' refers to a unit of one hundred thousand, and 'Baksh' means giver. The title implies great generosity.
Evaluate the historical reputation of each ruler in the options.
Associate Qutb al-Din Aibak with his well-known epithet for generosity.
Contrast this with the other rulers: Iltutmish (consolidator), Ghazni (invader/plunderer), and Ghori (conqueror).

Concept Tested & Keywords

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Practise the full CGHS SSC - 2018

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.