Who is the author of "Tarikh-i-Firojshahi" ?
- (a)Shams-i-Siraj Afif
- (b)Ziauddin Barni
- (c)Khwaja Abdul Samad Isami
- (d)Sirajuddin Ali Yazdi
Both A and B are accepted (grace). Two different Persian chronicles carry the title 'Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi'. One is by Ziauddin Barni (B), completed around 1357, which narrates the Delhi Sultanate from the accession of Balban (1266) down to the early years of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. The other is by Shams-i-Siraj Afif (A), written a little later, which is devoted in detail to the reign of Firoz Shah Tughlaq. Because the same title fits both authors, the commission's key credits either A or B as correct.
- (c)Khwaja Abdul Samad Isami — The historian Isami wrote 'Futuh-us-Salatin' — a versified history of Muslim rule in India dedicated to the founder of the Bahmani kingdom — not a Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi.
- (d)Sirajuddin Ali Yazdi — The name intended is Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi, author of the 'Zafarnama', a biography of Timur — a work unrelated to Firoz Shah's chronicle.
Medieval Indian history is reconstructed largely from Persian court chronicles, and their titles were often reused. 'Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi' ('History of Firoz Shah') was the title chosen independently by two Tughlaq-era authors, Ziauddin Barni and Shams-i-Siraj Afif, both writing in honour of Sultan Firoz Shah Tughlaq. That shared title is what makes this a two-answer question.
This is a classic 'two valid answers' trap. If you have read only Barni you mark B; if you know only Afif you mark A — and either is right here. Tell the two apart by coverage: Barni's account stops in the early years of Firoz Shah's reign, while Afif's is a full account of that reign.
- Barni's Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi covers Balban (1266) to the early years of Firoz Shah Tughlaq (c.1357).
- Afif's Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi is a detailed account of Firoz Shah Tughlaq's reign.
- Isami wrote Futuh-us-Salatin; Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi wrote the Zafarnama (a life of Timur).
- Barni also authored the political treatise Fatawa-i-Jahandari.
The title fits both Barni and Afif — which is why both answers are accepted.
- Marking only one author when both Barni and Afif are correct
- Mixing up Futuh-us-Salatin (Isami) or the Zafarnama (Yazdi) with the Tarikh-i-Firoz Shahi
MPPSC and UPSC usually pair 'author-text' for medieval chronicles; this one is a rare 'both correct' because the title is shared by two writers.
In Indian history, who was Abdul Hamid Lahori?
- (a) An important military commander during Akbar's reign
- (b) An official historian of the reign of Shah Jahan
- (c) An important noble and confidant of Aurangzeb
- (d) A chronicler and poet during the reign of Muhammad Shah
Answer(b) An official historian of the reign of Shah Jahan
Same concept — identifying a medieval Persian court chronicler by the reign and work he recorded.
- practice — not a real PYQ
'Futuh-us-Salatin', a versified history of Muslim rule in India, was written by:
- (a)Isami
- (b)Ziauddin Barni
- (c)Shams-i-Siraj Afif
- (d)Minhaj-us-Siraj
Answer(a) Isami — dedicated to the founder of the Bahmani kingdom.
- practice — not a real PYQ
The 'Zafarnama', a biography of Timur, was authored by:
- (a)Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi
- (b)Ziauddin Barni
- (c)Abul Fazl
- (d)Firishta
Answer(a) Sharafuddin Ali Yazdi.