The poet, the poem and its social context

Alauddin Khalji was the Sultan of Delhi between 1296 and 1316. Under his rule, the
Khalji empire expanded rapidly to occupy regions in western, central and peninsular
India. Khaljis attack on Rajasthan had a particularly destructive impact upon the
ruling lineages of the region resulting in the Delhi Sultan occupying a particularly
hated space in Rajput memory. Khaljis rule was also noted for having destroyed the
authority of local chiefs, most of whom belonged to the social group of Rajputs.
However, we need to note that Amir Khusrao, the Sultans court poet who had
accompanied him during his invasion of Chittor, mentions no account of a Rani
Padmini there in his accounts of the attack.