About Balban

• Ghiyas-ud-din Balban, the Sultan of Delhi from 1266 to 1287 AD, was a prominent ruler of the slave dynasty during the reign of the Delhi Sultanate in India.
• Balban was sold as a slave to the then-ruler Iltumish in 1232 CE, who later released him.
• Balban’s reign was marked by efforts to strengthen the central authority and maintain stability in the face of internal and external challenges.
• Balban implemented administrative reforms to centralize power. He reduced the influence of the nobility and strengthened the position of the monarch.
• During Balban’s rule, the Delhi Sultanate faced threats from the Mongols, who were making incursions into the Indian subcontinent. Balban took measures to fortify the northern frontiers and defend against Mongol invasions.
• Ghiyas ud-din Balban died in 1287, and his grandson, Kaiqubad, succeeded him as the ruler of the Delhi Sultanate.

Why in news?

• The Delhi government recently unveiled the tomb of Balban after renovation.
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Balban’s Tomb

• Balban’s Tomb is located in Mehrauli, Delhi. 
• The tomb reflects the architectural style of the Delhi Sultanate period, characterized by the use of red sandstone.
• It is also referred to as Dar-ul-Amaan (Haven of Safety).
• The tomb is a very important structure as it shows us the first use of the true arch construction in India. From here on, true arches become a common feature of the Indo-Islamic architecture of Delhi. 

Unlike the corbelled arches of Qutub Complex, the true arches of Balban’s tomb have the keystone placed at the centre, which evenly distributes the weight of the superstructure.