Firuz Shah Tughlaq vs Maravarman Kulasekara

Firuz Shah Tughlaq founded the city of Firuzabad and built the Firuz Shah Kotla fortress in Delhi. The complex included a palace, a mosque, and a pillar of Ashoka brought from Topra. It became a major administrative center.

Firuz Shah Tughlaq established the Diwan-i-Khairat, a department for charity and welfare. It provided financial assistance to the poor, widows, and orphans. This institutionalized state-sponsored social welfare in the Delhi Sultanate.

Firuz Shah Tughlaq oversaw the construction of five major canals from the Yamuna and Sutlej rivers to irrigate fields in the Delhi region. These canals improved agricultural productivity and reduced famine risk. They were a key public works achievement.

Firuz Shah Tughlaq imposed the jizya tax on Brahmins, who had previously been exempt. This policy was based on his interpretation of Islamic law and caused resentment among Hindus. It marked a departure from earlier, more tolerant policies.

Maravarman Kulasekara succeeded Jatavarman Sundara Pandya as the Pandya emperor. He inherited a powerful empire but faced challenges from the Hoysalas and the Delhi Sultanate.

Maravarman Kulasekara fought a war against the Hoysala king Narasimha III. The conflict was inconclusive, but it drained Pandya resources and weakened the empire.

Malik Kafur, a general of the Delhi Sultanate, invaded the Pandya kingdom. Maravarman Kulasekara was killed in the battle, and the Pandya capital Madurai was sacked, ending the Pandya empire.