RAS question
Who was the founder of the Sayyid Dynasty?
Correct answer: (A) Khizr Khan.
Khizr Khan founded the Sayyid dynasty after Timur's 1398 invasion had weakened Tughlaq power in the Delhi Sultanate.
Explanation
Khizr Khan is the founder of the Sayyid dynasty, which ruled after the Tughlaq decline and before the Lodis. His rule lasted from 1414 to 1421, and his rise was linked to the political weakening caused by Timur's invasion of 1398. eGyanKosh (IGNOU), Unit 3: Evolution of Institutions: Sultan, Nobility and Ulama also identifies Khizr Khan as the founder of the Saiyyid dynasty and places the Sayyids in the 1414-1451 phase of the Delhi Sultanate. This matters because Khizr Khan did not project himself like a fully independent Sultan: he was Timur's deputy and did not assume the title of Sultan, while his formal allegiance was reflected through the khutba.
Why the other options are wrong
- (B) Alam Shah cannot be the founder because he was the last Sayyid ruler and surrendered to Bahlul Lodi.
- (C) Mubarak Shah came after Khizr Khan as the second Sayyid ruler, so he belongs to the dynasty's succession, not its foundation.
- (D) Muhammad Shah was the third Sayyid ruler, which places him later than the founding reign of Khizr Khan.
Concept
This tests the Delhi Sultanate dynastic sequence, especially the transition from the weakened Tughlaqs to the Sayyids. RAS often repeats such questions because founder-last ruler pairs and chronology anchor medieval Indian history.