International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 8 Issue 5, May- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939 | Quṭb shahi Dynasty in Hyderabad of Telangana State-a Historical Study T.RAVINDAR. Research scholar. Department of History.Osmania University Telangana: Hyderabad. Telangana:-500007 Abstract Quṭb Shāhī dynasty, (1518–1687), Muslim rulers of the kingdom of Golconda in the southeastern Deccan of India, one of the five successor states of the Bahmanī kingdom. The founder was Qulī Quṭb Shah, a Turkish governor of the Bahmanī eastern region, which largely coincided with the preceding Hindu state of Warangal. Quṭb Shah declared his independence in 1518 and moved his capital to Golconda. Toward the end of the century, Muḥammad Qulī Quṭb Shah built a new capital at Hyderabad, a few miles away. The kingdom was noted for its gold and diamonds. Its government was a Muslim military aristocracy; Persian influence was strong, and the sultans belonged to the Shīʿīte sect of Islam. Relations of the dynasty with the Hindu Telugus were generally good. Golconda took part in the overthrow of Vijayanagar (1565) and thereafter was mainly concerned with expansion along the coastal Carnatic (Karnakata). In 1687 the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb annexed the kingdom. erritory of Golconda lay between the lower reaches of the Godavari and Krishna rivers and extended to the Bay of Bengal coast. In 1687 the ruling dynasty of Quṭb Shāhī was overthrown by the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, and Golconda was annexed to the Mughal Empire (1526–1857). The fortress is 3 miles (5 km) in circumference, with concentric masonry block walls. Palaces, mosques, and the Quṭb Shāhī tombs still remain intact and are a major tourist attraction. Historically, the Golconda region was renowned for its diamonds, derived from the conglomerate rocks of the nearby hills, including the world-famous Koh-i-noordiamond. Keywords:Quṭb shahi Dynasty, Telangana, Hyderabad, Economy International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 244 Email:- [email protected], http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 8 Issue 5, May- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939 | Introduction Erected in the memory of the departed kings of Golconda, they are magnificent monuments that have withstood the test of time and nature’s vagaries. They are located one kilometer north of Golconda Fort’s called Banjara Darwaza. They are imposing marvels of architectural excellence that stand as the reminders of the glory of Golconda kings who are buried at the same spot. Built by the Qutub Shahis, these tombs are considered to be among the oldest historical monuments of Hyderabad.These tombs are present in a large group on a raised platform. They resemble Persian, Pathan and Hindu architectural styles that makes use of grey granite, with stucco ornamentation and is a one-of-its-kind place in the world where the whole dynasty is buried at a single spot. They lie amidst beautifully landscaped gardens with intricately carved stonework.The Tombs form the most reliable evidence of the Qutub Shahi dynasty and their architectural traditions. These are exquisite structures where every arch, columns, dome minarets, and galleries were created with finessed and are surrounded by landscape gardens called Ibrahim Bagh. It houses seven tombs dedicated to the former kings of Golconda. The tombs are dome like structures built on a square base. This is again surrounded by pointed arches. Each tomb is of quadrangular shape and rises around 9 to 15 meters above the terrace. The smaller tombs constitute single stories while the larger tombs are seen as two storied. The domes actually constituted of blue and green tiles, whereas only few pieces exist now. The Qutub Shahi Tombs are surrounded by enchanting minarets and there is magnificent tomb with a height of 42.5 m covered by large dome. The tombs were furnished with chandeliers and soft canopies on silver poles. These are the splendid mausoleums of the Golconda Sultans. During the Qutub Shahi period, legend says that these tombs were of great significance that even criminals taking refuge there were given pardon. The tombs were neglected after their reign until Salar Jung III took up their restoration works during the early 19th century History The dynasty's founder, Sultan Quli Qutb-ul-Mulk was a descendants of Qara Yusuf (from Qara Qoyunlu, a Turkish Muslim tribe). He migrated to Delhi with his uncle, Allah-Quli, some of his relatives and friends in the beginning of the 16th century, from Hamadan Province—(now in Iran then it was ruled by his ancestral Turkish tribe). Later he migrated south, to the Deccan and served the Bahmani sultan, Mohammad Shah. He conquered Golconda, after the disintegration of the Bahmani International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 245 Email:- [email protected], http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 8 Issue 5, May- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939 | Kingdom into the five Deccan sultanates. Soon after, he declared independence from the Bahmani Sultanate, took the title Qutub Shah, and established the Qutb Shahi dynasty of Golconda. He was later assassinated in 1543 by his son, Jamsheed, who assumed the sultanate. Jamsheed died in 1550 from cancer. Jamsheed's young son reigned for a year, at which time the nobility brought back and installed Ibrahim Quli as sultan. During the reign of Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah, relations between Hindus and Muslims were strengthened, even to the point of Hindus resuming their religious festivals like Diwali and Holi. Some Hindus rose to prominence in the Qutb Shahi state, the most important example being the ministers Madanna and Akkanna. Golconda, and with the construction of the Char Minar, later Hyderabad, served as capitals of the sultanate, and both cities were embellished by the Qutb Shahi sultans. The dynasty ruled Golconda for 171 years, until the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb conquered the Deccan in 1687. Economy And Culture During the early seventeenth century a strong cotton-weaving industry existed in the Deccan region. Large quantities of cotton cloth were produced for domestic and exports consumption. High quality plain and patterned cloth made of muslin and calico was produced. Plain cloth was available as white or brown colour, in bleached or dyed variety. Exports of this cloth was to Persia and European countries. Patterned cloth was made of prints which were made indigenously with indigo for blue, chay- root for red coloured prints and vegetable yellow. Patterned cloth exports were mainly to Java, Sumatra and other eastern countries. Initially, the Qutb Shahi rulers patronized Turkishculture, but eventually adopted the regional culture of the Deccan, symbolized by the Telugu language and the newly developed Deccani idiom and Urdu became prominent. Although Telugu was not their mother tongue, the Golconda rulers spoke and wrote Telugu, and patronized Telugu so exclusively they were termed the "Telugu Sultans". In 1543, fearing for his life, Prince Ibrahim Quli fled to the Vijayanagar court, which lavishly patronized the Telugu language. Upon his enthronement as sultan in 1550, Ibrahim Quli was thoroughly acquainted with Telugu aesthetics. The Qutb Shahi rulers were great builders, whose structures included the Char Minar, as well as patrons of learning. Quli Qutb Mulk's court became a haven for Persian culture and literature. Sultan Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah (1580–1612) wrote poems in Dakhini Urdu, Persian and Telugu and left a huge poetry collection. Subsequent poets and writers, however wrote in Urdu, while using vocabulary from Persian, Hindi and Telugu languages. By 1535, the Qutb Shahis were using Telugu for their revenue and judicial areas within the sultanate. International Journal of Research in Economics & Social Sciences 246 Email:- [email protected], http://www.euroasiapub.org (An open access scholarly, peer-reviewed, interdisciplinary, monthly, and fully refereed journal.) International Journal of Research in Economics and Social Sciences(IJRESS) Available online at: http://euroasiapub.org Vol. 8 Issue 5, May- 2018 ISSN(o): 2249-7382 | Impact Factor: 6.939 | Administration The Qutb Shahi Kingdom was like the other Deccan kingdoms, a highly centralized state. The sultan enjoyed absolute executive judicial and military powers. When expediency demanded, the post of regent was created to carry on the administration on behalf of the king. The Peshwa (Prime Minister) was the highest official of the sultanate. He was assisted by a number of ministers, including Mir Jumla (finance minister), Kotwal (police commissioner), and Khazanadar (treasurer). In the Qutb Shahi kingdom, all the muslims were paid allowances from the treasury. The Persian origin muslims had the highest respect and were paid the highest, then the other Indian muslims. The Persian origin muslims became rich by lending money on high interest (usury) of 4-5% per mensem much to the despair of Hindus. The Sultanate had 66 forts, and each fort was administered by Nayak. The Qutb Shahis hired many Hindu Nayaks belonging mainly to the Kamma, Velama, Kapu, and Raju communities. These groups mainly were the regional aristocracy, served as revenue officers and military commanders, but many of them fell into obscurity following the fall of the Qutb Shahis in 1687. Tax collection was through auction farms, the highest bidder used to get the Governorship. While the Governors enjoyed luxurious life style, they had to bear the brunt of severe punishments for default, consequently they were harsh on the people. People were in distress as the complaints of the poor never reached the sultans.