In the Indian history after the decline of Hindu dynasties in South India, the first and foremost dynasty which emerged in the Deccan was that of the Bahmanis. The Bahmani kingdom was one of the most important kingdom of Deccan which made its appearance as a result of the disintegration of the Delhi Sultanate. The Bahmani sultans followed a policy of peace even after bloodshed and tyranny. They developed mutual understanding with native rulers. The founder member of this dynasty was also one of the subordinate of Khilji family. He took the opportunity by consolidating the other like minded officers and defeated the rule of the Khilji. This led to the establishment of an independent dynasty at Gulbarga, in 1347 A D. Abdul Muzaffar Alauddin Bahman Shah who became the founder of the Bahmani kingdom and made Gulbarga as its capital and it was followed by several rulers and Kalimullah was the last sultan and finally the Bahmani rule came to an end in1537 A D giving rise to Five independent Muslim kingdoms. The Imad Shahis of Berar ,the Nizam Shahis of Ahmednagar, the Adil Shahis of Bijapur, the Qutub Shahis of Golconda and the Barid Shahis of Bidar.
The contributions of this great kingdom in all fields. This is an attempt to unfold the events related to history and culture and bring to light all the important events to be recorded in the pages of history. In the political history, they enlarged their political barriers and fought many times with Vijayanagara rulers, and built religious and secular monuments in the length and breadth of their kingdom. They shifted their capital from Gulbarga to Bidar for the succession to the throne. They fought with each other and sometimes some of them were massacred and murdered. Sometimes offered matrimonial alliance with Hindu rulers also. They encouraged the religion and philosophy that led to propagate Sufism in their kingdom. Large number of Sufi saints hailed from various parts of North India. Among them Khwaja Banda Nawaz Gesudaraz (RH) was one of such Sufi saint who played vital role not only for the rulers but to the public in large extent to maintain the peace and tranquility in the kingdom. Many religious centers emerged among them, such as the Mosque, and the Mausoleum. The Mosque were not only religious centers but also socio-cultural centers they were patronized by the rulers of Bahmani dynasty for which the rulers issued farmans which were also issued for administrative purposes to maintain the safety and security of each administrative division. The construction of forts and fortification were encouraged considerably. The necessity of establishing education institution was encouraged after shifting the capital over to Bidar. The magnificent building with colorful tiles and paintings various rooms and halls constructed at Bidar is indeed a unique education center of this dynasty in South. Besides this, they gave importance for the construction of tombs particularly in the capital, as many of the tombs of royal family members, the saints and officers were constructed largely in and around these two cities of Gulbarga and Bidar.
1. Bahmani sultans enriched Persian, Arabic and Urdu Literature.
2. They tried to ensure stable government at Central, Provincial and Local
3. Bahmani art received new colour and shape at the hands of Firoz shah Bahmani as Saracenic i.e., Indo-Muslim art
4. The area emerged as the bedrock of Hindu-Muslim culture.
5. Muslims and Hindus lived with great harmony
6. Mahmud Gawan’s Madrasah at Bidar was the highest centre of learning and Literature.
7. Construction of Roads, Fort and Fortification modernized society and promoted Agriculture and Industry.
8. Socio- economic conditions and ascetic values contributed to the growth of Sufi movement under the Bahmanis.
Dr. Mrs. Zakiya Khanum K. Ansari
Professor, Department of History.
Gulbarga University, Gulbarga