Diversity due to our disunity.

Diversity due to our disunity. 

Rewriting of Medieval History. 
Dr. Madhup Raman.

Arab's arrival and  Conquest in Sindh : photo internet.

Unity in Diversity. We people of India always claim about our Unity in Diversity. But reality is that we are disunited so finding no way to accept disunity. We have been different with each other at any time either from Mahabharat time or Prithivi Raj Chauhan. We don't forget if we are united since ancient , medieval, or modern  time we would not have been exploited by foreign forces.  At least at the time of aggression of Ghazni and Ghori we should have set off our differences indeed to save ourselves. But we did not do. Resultedly we were forced to accept diversity.

Polity Existence :  The science of polity relates to this and connected to these problems. It was well known to the people in ancient India. The term is known with other different names as Rajadharma, Dandnity, Nitisastra and Arthasastra. The term Arthasastra was given explained  by Chanakya as we know.

This term explains to origin, kingship, members of royal family, ministry, over lordship, secretariat, central administration, officials, feudatories, territorial gain, judicial, military  and  

military and revenue administration.

Though the science of polity developed as an independent political science only around 7th century B.C.There has been a continuous flow of literature on polity since the earliest time. 

One thing is quite clear from these earlier works that monarchy was prevailing system of government because they devoted considerable space to the discussion about prince and qualifications of an ideal ruler. They also contain valuable suggestion regarding administrative set up.

Switching from Ancient to Medieval.

With the Arab Conquest of Sind in 712 A.D. when first Muslim invader Muhammad Bin Qasim invaded Sindh India, the Hindu ruler  King Dahir gave him a stiff struggle. Ultimately he was defeated and  the Muslims first set a foothold in India. From Sind they tried to penetrate into Western India, but met a rebuff from the Pratiharas. And no kings came forward to support Dahir as well as Pratiharas. It was considered as the only regional attack over Dahir. and local power. But we forgot the impending danger come ahead silently. 

The Pratiharas established an empire which extended from Gujarat to Bihar and from the frontiers of the Punjab to those of Orissa. The Pratihara Empire was based on a tradition of national greatness in resisting the Muslim invasion. For about two or three  centuries it was able to fulfill its historic mission. 

 

King Dahir facing the first Muslin Invader Muhammad Bin Qasim.

Break up of Pratiharas : But the disintegration of the Gurjara Pratihara Empire ruling around Gujarat and south western Rajasthan set in from C.916 917 A.D.,and by 950 it was definitely on the decline. The political unity of Northern India was lost, and a number of dynasties, which ruled in different principalities as the vassals of the Pratihara Empire, began to rise into independence.

These were the Chandellas in Bundelkhand, the Chahamanas in Sakambhari,Rajasthan the Chaulukyas in Gujarat Rajasthan , the Paramaras in Malwa, the Kalachuris in Tripuri, and the Guhilets in Medapata.

Origin of Rajputa : These dynasties were generally grouped together under the name Rajput tracing their origin to sun or moon. So they are known as Chandrvanshi or Suryavanshi.They were not satisfied with the mere achievement of their independence.  Each of them was actuated by the ambition of securing for itself an imperial authority as the Pratiharas had achieved. In doing so these Rajput dynasties were involved in constant struggle with each other even by ignoring the common Muslim danger before them.  

As failed to join together against the impending danger, they had to pay the penalty of their blunder. They fought with the Muslim invaders separately, and suffered defeat and humiliation. In fact the mutual rivalry among these Rajput dynasties paved the way for the establishment of Muslim rule in Northern India.

Hindu Shahi dynasty of Afghanistan : After the decline of the Pratihar power, the Hindu Shahi dynasty of Afghanistan and the Punjab earnestly responded to the task of opposing the Turkish invaders from Ghazni (Afghanistan). But the task was found to be too heavy for them, and the Ghaznavites ultimately conquered both Afghanistan and the Punjab. Henceforth the Punjab became the Muslim base for further raids into the interior of India.

Though the fall of the Pratihara Empire was followed by the rise of the local Rajput Kingdoms engaged in internecine struggles, yet the Muslims were not able to make an easy conquest of Northern  India.  

Chahamana Dynasty of Sakambhari : It was the Chahamana Dynasty of Sakambhari ( Rajasthan) which rose to the occasion, and took the onerous responsibility of checking the Muslim inroads. For nearly two hundred years the Chahamanas magnificently did their duty, and when they collapsed in 1192, all hopes were lost. It is a significant fact that within a decade after the second Battle of Tarain,1192, the Muslims conquered practically the whole of Northern India from the Punjab to Bengal.

Gjajni,Ghori,Prithivi,Jaichand.

It is the polity of this valiant Chahamana dynasty of Sakambhari that strove  the chief theme of polity with unity, sovereignty and integrity but could not gain proper support from the local chieftains. It was discord amongst us that welcomed Mahmud Gahzani and  Muhammad Gori to come over us. Imagine if there were a support of Jaichand to Pritviraj Chauhan.

Reference for.

Medieval History. 

Chapter 12,Dav Book.

Medieval Period.

Photos Internet.