Bharat has witnessed a remarkable religious transformation over centuries. While Islam swept through regions that now constitute Pakistan and Bangladesh, the area of present-day Bharat remained predominantly Hindu, despite constant invasions by Islamic rulers for over 1,200 years. Bharat ‘s this intriguing phenomenon can be attributed to the contrasting structures of Buddhism and Hinduism at the time, as well as the decentralised nature of the latter faith.
The Vulnerability of Centralised Buddhism
In the 7th and 8th centuries, the areas of present-day Pakistan and Bangladesh were not predominantly Hindu but rather Buddhist. However, the Buddhism of that era was characterised by a monastic and centralised structure, which rendered it vulnerable to external threats.
Firstly, the Buddhist population was largely demilitarised, lacking a robust defence system against invading forces. Secondly, the centralised nature of Buddhist governance created an Achilles heel: if a hostile force attacked the power structure at the centre, the masses would implode, and society would surrender to Islam, leading to mass conversions.
The Fall of Nalanda and the Decline of Buddhism
The invasion led by Mohammad Bakhtiar Khilji in 1193 dealt a devastating blow to Buddhism in India. Khilji’s forces attacked and burned down the heart of Buddhist learning, the Nalanda University. Mirjah-i-Siraj, a renowned Persian Muslim historian, chronicled the violence in his work Tabaquat-I-Nasiri.
According to Siraj, the gigantic library complex of Nalanda, housing over 9 million invaluable manuscripts, was set ablaze, and the burning continued for over six months. He described the smoke from the burning manuscripts as hanging “like a dark pall over the low hills” for days. This invaluable collection, the product of centuries of scholastic studies, was destroyed.
Siraj further reported that thousands of Buddhist monks were burned alive, and thousands more were beheaded, as Khilji sought to uproot Buddhism and plant Islam by the sword. He claimed that Buddhism virtually disappeared under the brutal impact of Muslim fanaticism.
The Decentralised Resilience of Hinduism
In contrast to the centralised structure of Buddhism, Hinduism was extremely decentralised and resilient. Despite the brutality and mass murders inflicted by Islamic invasions, each affected area would pick up the pieces and resurge, living and fighting for another day. Islam was never able to conquer Hinduism entirely.
The decentralised nature of Hinduism, with power spread across the Jaati-varna system, acted as a buffer against external threats. Just as grass survives a storm by being spread out and flexible, while a mighty oak falls, the Jaati-varna system, though criticised today, played a pivotal role in preserving Hinduism.
The Persistence of Hindu Resistance
While areas of present-day Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh-Bihar were either directly Buddhist-ruled or heavily influenced by Buddhist governance, they succumbed to Islam within a century of the first invasions. However, Hindu India resisted and kept Buddhism alive, at least in the monasteries around Bihar.
The generals of Qutb-ud-Din, the first Muslim ruler of Delhi, resorted to widespread destruction of Buddhist monasteries. Many Buddhist monuments and sanctuaries near Benares were destroyed, eventually leading to the extinction of Buddhism as a mainstream faith in India.
The contrasting fates of Buddhism and Hinduism in the face of Islamic invasions highlight the resilience of decentralised structures. While the centralised nature of Buddhism rendered it vulnerable to targeted attacks, the decentralised and flexible structure of Hinduism allowed it to adapt and persevere. This remarkable survival of an ancient faith serves as a testament to the enduring power of resilience in the face of adversity.