The correct option is (c) 2 and 3 only
Explanation
Sultan Muhammad bin Tughluq’s administrative policy was marked by a departure from the exclusive reliance on the Turkish nobility. He appointed officials based on merit and loyalty, often elevating individuals from diverse and humble social backgrounds to high administrative and military posts. This policy faced severe criticism from the traditional aristocracy and contemporary chroniclers.
Statement-wise Analysis:
- Statement 1 is Incorrect: Aziz Khummar was not a high-born noble. He was a wine distiller (vintner). In the contemporary social hierarchy recorded by chroniclers like Ziyauddin Barani, he was considered "low-born." The Sultan appointed him to a high administrative position, which was a point of contention for the traditional elite.
- Statement 2 is Correct: Historical records confirm that Muhammad Tughluq appointed individuals from various humble professions to high offices. These included Firuz Hajjam (a barber), Manka Tabbakh (a cook), and others such as Ladha and Pira (gardeners).
- Statement 3 is Correct: Ziyauddin Barani, a contemporary historian with a strong bias towards the high-born aristocracy (Ashraf), severely criticized these appointments. He described the elevation of "low-born" individuals to high offices as a sign of the Sultan’s "loss of political judgment" and an indication of his incapacity to rule effectively.
Key Takeaway:
Muhammad Tughluq challenged the monopoly of the Turkish nobility by appointing people of humble origins (wine distillers, barbers, cooks) to high posts, a move Ziyauddin Barani criticized as a symptom of the Sultan's administrative failure.