Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Barani writes, ‘Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq talked as if he hated low-born people more than he hated idols, Nevertheless, I have seen him promoting Najba, the low-born son of a musician, to such an extent that he rose higher in status than many maliks, for Gujarat, Multan and Badaon were put in his charge . . . It was strange how he gave high offices and governments of extensive territories and great provinces to men of low and mean birth’. Reason (R): The Sultan believed in offices being open to talent. He dispensed with whatever considerations of birth had persisted in the administration and appointed low-born persons to the highest offices in the administration. In the context of the above two statements which of the following is correct ?

Given below are two statements, one labelled as Assertion (A) and the other as Reason (R). Assertion (A): Barani writes, ‘Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq talked as if he hated low-born people more than he hated idols, Nevertheless, I have seen him promoting Najba, the low-born son of a musician, to such an extent that he rose higher in status than many maliks, for Gujarat, Multan and Badaon were put in his charge . . . It was strange how he gave high offices and governments of extensive territories and great provinces to men of low and mean birth’. Reason (R): The Sultan believed in offices being open to talent. He dispensed with whatever considerations of birth had persisted in the administration and appointed low-born persons to the highest offices in the administration. In the context of the above two statements which of the following is correct ? Correct Answer Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).

• The above statements are in reference to administrative policies of Muhammad bin Tughlaq who is regarded as one of the most experimental rulers of the Sultanate. He pioneered numerously administrative policies which were not only visionary but also had far-reaching consequences.
• Muhammad bin Tughlaq was also deeply interested in diverse religious sects and groups; he engaged in religious discussions with members of different groups and believed in rational thinking. His nobility was also a composite one and so was his bureaucracy. His army was also quite open to different groups.

• When Ghiyas-us-Din Tughlaq attacked Delhi his army was composed of soldiers having a different racial, tribal and national background.
• They were, Ghuzz, Turkish, Mongol, Greek, Russian, Persian, Tajik and Hindu soldiers in his army. Such foreign elements must have also constituted the army of Sultan Ala-ud-Din-Khalji, as we don't find any reference to the recruitment of such diverse elements by Ghiyas-ud-din-Tughlaq to attack Delhi. 
• The Hindus too were in his army and they constituted a larger part of the Delhi array under Nasir-ud-Din-Khusrau Tughlaq Namah describes the composition of the Delhi army under Khusrau this," It was half Muslim and half Hindu, mixed together like black and white clouds.
• The Musalmans in the service of the Hindus were as friendly to them like their own shadow, they were as closely bound to the Hindus as the charity of the Musalmans is bound up with their sins. The army was so full of Hindus and Musalmans that both Hindus and Musalmans were surprised.
• The Maasalik-ul-Absar states that soldier's in the army of Sultan Muhammad bin Tughlaq were composed of Purks, Khitais, Persians and Indians. Muhammad bin Tughlaq believed in having a broad base administrative system by recruiting for service person irrespective of their religion, caste, nationality etc,. Zia-ud-Din-Barani writes-
• ‘Sultan Muhammad Tughlaq talked as if he hated low-born people more than he hated idols, Nevertheless, I have seen him promoting Najba, the low-born son of a musician, to such an extent that he rose higher in status than many maliks, for Gujarat, Multan and Badaon were put in his charge . . . It was strange how he gave high offices and governments of extensive territories and great provinces to men of low and mean birth’.
• Ibn Batuta testifies Barani's statement as we find in the Rehla that the Hindus held a high position, e.g, Ratan was appointed as the governor of Sind with the title of Azim us-Sind, He was even permitted to keep a drum and flag, which was an honour conferred upon great amirs only.

• Hence in the light of the above information, the correct option is Option 1