UPSC Prelims 2022 Q58: Medieval History – Delhi Sultanate
With reference to Indian history, who of the following were known as "Kulah - Daran" ?
- (a) Arab merchants
- (b) Qalandars
- (c) Persian calligraphists
- (d) Sayyids
Answer: (d) Sayyids
Explanation
Kulah-Daran: the 'cap-wearers'
In Persian, kulah means a cap and daran means those who wear it.
The Sayyids, who claimed descent from the Prophet Muhammad through his daughter Fatima, wore a distinctive pointed cap.
So they were called Kulah-Daran.
| Option | Who they were | Called Kulah-Daran? |
|---|---|---|
| (a) Arab merchants | Traders on the western coast | No |
| (b) Qalandars | Wandering dervishes who rejected social norms | No |
| (c) Persian calligraphists | Court scribes and artists | No |
| (d) Sayyids | Descendants of the Prophet, honoured in the Sultanate | Yes |
Answer: (d) Sayyids.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Arab merchants were traders, with no special cap-based title.
- (b) Incorrect. Qalandars were wandering mystics known for shaven heads, not a pointed cap.
- (c) Incorrect. Calligraphists were court artists, not a hereditary group with a cap.
- (d) CORRECT. Sayyids, descendants of the Prophet, wore a pointed cap and were called Kulah-Daran.
Key point
Kulah-Daran = Sayyids, descendants of the Prophet who wore a distinctive pointed cap (kulah).
Remember
Kulah-Daran = cap-wearers = Sayyids.
Common mistakes
- Guessing Qalandars because they had distinctive dress and appearance.
- Not breaking the Persian term into kulah (cap) + daran (wearers).
- Confusing the Sayyid social group with the Sayyid dynasty (1414-1451) of Delhi.
Exam tip
Split Persian titles into roots: kulah = cap; this points to a group known by its headgear.
Sources
- NCERT Class VII — Our Pasts II (The Delhi Sultans)
- Satish Chandra — Medieval India: From Sultanat to the Mughals