Correct Option
The correct option is (a).
Explanation
The early Delhi Sultans, particularly Iltutmish, relied heavily on special slaves purchased for military service, known in Persian as bandagan (singular: banda). This institution was crucial for consolidating power and reducing dependence on the old nobility or local chieftains.
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: The bandagan were special slaves purchased specifically for military service. They were carefully trained to man some of the most important political offices in the kingdom. Since they were totally dependent upon their master, the Sultan could trust and rely upon them implicitly.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Sultan Iltutmish did not remove them from power; on the contrary, he favored them over the landed aristocracy and free nobles. He appointed many of these slaves to high administrative and military positions (such as governors and generals) to ensure loyalty. The famous corps of "The Forty" (Turkan-i-Chahalgani) consisted of such elite slaves.
- Statement 3 is Incorrect: Contemporary chroniclers, such as Minhaj-i-Siraj, noted that "a worthy and experienced slave is better than a son." The rationale was that sons might rebel to claim the throne, whereas a slave had no lineage or local roots to claim legitimacy independent of the Sultan. Therefore, they were considered more reliable and trustworthy than sons or other nobles.
Key Takeaway: The bandagan system was a mechanism to create a loyal administrative elite (like the Chahalgani) that owed its status entirely to the Sultan, thereby bypassing the entrenched nobility and ensuring centralized control.