(Amrit Pal Singh ‘Amrit)

Kaikabad was the grandson of Balban. His teacher never allowed him to talk to any girl. He never tasted wine. But when he became the king of Delhi, he could not control himself. He was just 18 years old at that time. He started to spend his time in the company of beautiful girls. He used to drink wine even in daytime. The police officer in charge of Delhi Fakhar-ud-Din’s son-in-law, Nizam-ud-Din became his right hand but he just misguided him.

Nizam-ud-Din could get an order from the king to kill Kai Khusreau. Kai Khusreau was killed near Rohtak, when he was coming to Delhi from Multan.

This was just a murder. It made the chiefs and other people very angry. A group under the leadership of Jalal-ud-Din Khilji came into existence.

But Nizam-ud-Din was not stopped by anyone. He insulted Khwaja Khatier in the public. Governor of Sultanpur was killed by his order. In order to save themselves, even many Turk chiefs joined the group led by Jalal-ud-Din Khilji. In this situation, some friends of the king killed Nizam-ud-Din in 1281.

When Nizam-ud-Din died, two Turk chiefs, Malik Kachchhan and Malik Surbha, got the real power. The king Kaikabad had a paralytic stroke. He was now on bed. Malik Kachchhan and Malik Surbha and some other chiefs enthroned Kayumars, the three years old son of king Kaikabad.

Malik Kachchhan and Malik Surbha were Turks. They planned to kill all non-Turk chiefs. Jalal-ud-Din Khilji, the minister for army, was a non-Turk. He was aware of all situations. He went to a village near Delhi to avoid any mishappening. Malik Kachchhan called him, but he did not go. Now, Malik Kachchhan went himself to that village. It was his big mistake. Khilji’s men killed him brutally. Jalal-ud-Din Khilji’s men entered into the royal palace and took the king Kayumars, a three years old child, into their custody. Malik Surbha and his supporters were killed.

People arose against the Khilji, but many Turk chiefs joined the Khilji camp. A man, whose father was killed by the order of Kaikabad, killed Kaikabad in his own palace.

For some time, Jalal-ud-Din worked as a guardian of three years old king, and then he became himself the king of Delhi. It was the year of 1290.

This is called ‘Khilji revolution’ in some history books.