Question map
Who among the following Mongol leaders/commanders did not cross Indus to attack India?
Explanation
Genghis Khan (Chenghiz Khan) reached the banks of the Indus River in 1221 while pursuing the Khwarazmian prince Jalal ad-Din [1]. Although his forces ravaged border regions like Multan and Lahore, Genghis Khan himself decided not to cross the Indus into the heart of India due to the intense heat, the natural habitat, and ill portents reported by his soothsayers. In contrast, later Mongol commanders did cross the river to launch significant attacks. Tair Bahadur led a Mongol force that besieged and captured Lahore in 1241. Abdullah, a grandson of Hallu, invaded India in 1292 during the reign of Jalaluddin Khalji. Qutlugh Khwaja led a massive invasion in 1299, crossing the Indus to reach the outskirts of Delhi during the reign of Alauddin Khalji [2]. Thus, while Genghis Khan reached the frontier, he did not cross the Indus to attack India.
Sources
- [1] Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 3: Nomadic Empires > The Career of Genghis Khan > p. 66
- [2] History , class XI (Tamilnadu state board 2024 ed.) > Chapter 10: Advent of Arabs and Turks > Mongol Threats > p. 142