সুলতান মামুদের ভারত আক্রমণের চরিত্র
সুলতান মামুদের ভারত আক্রমণের ঘটনাক্রম
The Nature of Sultan Mahmud’s Invasions of India
After the Arab conquest of Sindh, there was no significant Muslim invasion of India for nearly 300 years. The establishment of Muslim rule in India is primarily credited to the Turks, and this process was initiated by the Sultans of Ghazni. Following the decline of the Abbasid Caliphate, several regional powers emerged, one of which was the Ghaznavid state in Afghanistan, founded under the leadership of Alaptigin. Sabuktigin ascended the throne in 977 CE and began campaigns toward India, defeating the ruler of Punjab, Jayapala. Upon his death in 997 CE, his son Mahmud succeeded him and, according to Cambridge historians, launched seventeen invasions of India between 1000 and 1026 CE.
In analyzing the character of Mahmud’s invasions, historians have held differing views. Historian Vincent Smith has described Mahmud as a fanatical Turkish soldier. In his strict adherence to religion, he continuously attacked and plundered the territories of infidels and desecrated their places of worship. This religious interpretation is largely influenced by the court historian Utbi’s writings. Many modern Indian historians, such as Dr. Ishwari Prasad and A.L. Srivastava, have also viewed Mahmud as a religiously motivated invader.
However, historian Mohammad Habib of Aligarh refuted this notion. According to him, Mahmud made no effort to propagate Islam in India. He did not forcibly convert any defeated ruler. He was satisfied merely with looting wealth and treasures. Moreover, if anyone—even a Muslim—stood in his way, Mahmud did not spare them either. He looted several temples, but there was no religious motive behind these acts. Indeed, not just the Quran, but no religious scripture in the world supports the desecration of another’s place of worship.
To Indians, Mahmud is seen as a plunderer. Yet from another perspective, he was a pioneer of the Persian Renaissance. He established a university, a school, and a museum in Ghazni, transforming it into a cultural center. Nevertheless, despite these achievements, his acts of plunder and destruction remain condemnable.
Another
notable feature of Mahmud’s invasions is his complete reluctance to establish a
permanent rule despite remarkable military success. Mahmud was never defeated
by any Indian ruler. However, apart from Punjab, he did not establish control
over any Indian territory. Hence, Mahmud can be best described as a skilled
military plunderer, and nothing more.
Chronology of Sultan Mahmud’s Invasions of India
962 CE: Alaptigin establishes the Ghaznavid kingdom in Afghanistan.
977 CE: Sabuktigin becomes the fourth ruler of Ghazni.
987 CE: Sabuktigin defeats Jayapala, ruler of the Shahis in northwestern India, acquiring immense wealth.
997 CE: After Sabuktigin’s death, his son Mahmud ascends the throne at the age of 27.
1000 CE: Mahmud captures several frontier forts of India.
1001 CE: Mahmud defeats Jayapala again, extracting a ransom of 250,000 dinars, 50 elephants, and parts of his territory.
1004 CE: He crosses the Indus River through Balochistan and defeats Baji Rai, ruler of Bhatiya.
1005–06 CE: During his campaign against Abul Fateh Daud of Multan, Anandapala resists his army's passage; Mahmud defeats Anandapala and installs his son Sukhpala (who converts and is renamed Nawasa Shah). Mahmud also defeats Daud, returning his kingdom for an annual tribute of 20,000 gold dirhams.
1008 CE: Mahmud defeats and captures Sukhpala, taking control of Multan.
In the same year, Mahmud defeated the allied Hindu confederacy led by Anandapala, which included the rulers of Ujjain, Gwalior, Kalinjar, Kannauj, Delhi, and Ajmer.
1009 CE: Another campaign against Anandapala, who submits to Mahmud.
Around this time, Abul Fateh Daud declares independence again and is defeated and taken to Ghazni.
1013 CE: Mahmud captures the Shahi capital of Nandana and loots Kashmir, ruled by Trilochanapala.
1015 CE: Returns to Kashmir but fails to capture the Lakot fort and retreats.
1018 CE: Loots Kannauj, Mahaban, and Mathura.
1020–21 CE: Attempts to punish the Chandel king Vidyadhar; Trilochanapala intervenes but is defeated.
1021 CE: Mahmud captures Punjab, ending the Shahi dynasty.
1021–22 CE: Launches two campaigns against Vidyadhar, receiving substantial tributes.
1024 CE: Invades Gujarat and loots the Somnath Temple, carrying away wealth worth approximately 20 million rupees and the Shivalinga.
1027 CE: Conducts punitive raids against the Jats.
1030 CE: Mahmud dies.
সুলতান মামুদ 1025 খ্রিস্টাব্দে গুজরাটের আনহিলওয়াড়া অবস্থিত সোমনাথ মন্দির লুঠ করেন। সুলতান মাহমুদকে 'নিছকই আক্রমণকারী দস্যু' বলে অভিহিত করেছেন ভিন্সেন্ট স্মিথ।
উত্তরমুছুনইরফান হাবিব বলেছেন Mahmood was not a fanatic and his expeditions against India were not motivated by religion but by love of plunder.
ঈশ্বরী প্রসাদ বলেছেন wealth and territory,the extirpation of Idolatry and not conquest,were the objects of his raids.
আল বেরুনী বলেছেন Mahmud utterly ruined the property of the country and performed those wonderful exploits by which the Hindus because like the atoms of dust,scattered in all directions.
এই মন্তব্যটি লেখক দ্বারা সরানো হয়েছে।
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