Malcha Mahal

About Malcha Mahal:

• It is a Tughlaq-era hunting lodge, built by Feroz Shah Tughlaq in the 14th century.
• Location:  Chanakyapuri area of New Delhi.
• It came to be known as Wilayat Mahal after Begum Wilayat Mahal of Awadh, who was reportedly given the place by the government of India in May 1985.
• For over three decades, it served as home to the family of Begum Wilayat Mahal, claiming to be descendants of the Nawab of Awadh, whose last member, ‘Prince’ Ali Raza, died in 2017.

Key Facts about Feroz Shah Tughlaq:

• Born in 1309, Firoz Shah Tughlaq was the third ruler of the Tughlaq dynasty that ruled over Delhi from 1320 to 1412 AD.
• He was in power from 1351 to 1388 AD.
• He ascended the throne after the death of his cousin Muhammad-bin Tughlaq (ruled from 1324 to 1351 AD). 
• Rule of Firoz Shah Tughlaq:
  • His succession was faced with many rebellions, and due to widespread unrest, his realm was much smaller than Muhammad’s.
  • During his rule, Firoz Shah worked to improve the infrastructure of the empire. He did this by building canals, rest- houses and hospitals, creating and refurbishing reservoirs and digging wells.
  • He also founded several citiesaround Delhi, including Jaunpur, Firozpur, Hissar, Firozabad and Fatehabad.
  • He also repaired the Qutub Minar, which had been damaged by an earthquake.
  • He wrote his own autobiography called the ‘Futuhat-e-Firozshahi’.
  • Firoz Shah was indiscriminately benevolent and lenient as a ruler. He refused to re-conquer provinces that had broken away from Muhammad’s annexation.
  • He stopped all kinds of harsh punishments, such as cutting off hands, and lowered the land taxes that Muhammad had raised.
  • He sought advice from the Ulemas and ruled as per the Shariat. He imposed a number of taxes like the Kharaj, Zakat, Kham and Jaziya, which were levied on the non-Muslim subjects. He also imposed an irrigation tax after getting it sanctioned from the Ulema.
  • He provided the principle of inheritance to the armed forces, where the officers were permitted to rest and send their children into the army in their place.
  • He established the Diwan-i-Khairat -- office for charity.
  • He established the Diwan-i-Bundagan -- department of slaves.
  • He established Sarais (rest house) for the benefits of merchants and other travelers.
  • He adopted the Iqtadari framework.