The Islamic conquest of Bharat, spanning from the 11th to the 18th century, is often viewed with bitter resentment. Names like Ghazni, Timur, Aurangzeb, Nadir Shah, and Abdali evoke memories of marauders looting Bharat and destroying our temples and universities. Many of us blame ourselves, citing our culture’s weakness, division, social practices, and passivity as reasons for this conquest. While there is truth to these claims, a deeper examination reveals a more nuanced picture of Bharat ‘s Islamic Conquest.
The Rapid Spread of Islam
Islam emerged in the early 7th century in Saudi Arabia under the guidance of Prophet Muhammad. Within 30 years, early Muslims achieved a remarkable feat by defeating two major empires: the Byzantine Empire in the west and the Sassanid Empire in the east. This astonishing accomplishment instilled a sense of divine favour in the early Muslims, propelling the rapid spread of Islam to Northern Africa, Spain, and Central Asia within the next hundred years.
Arrival in India and Resistance
By 650 AD, Islam had reached modern-day Afghanistan and Pakistan. However, it took another 350 years before Muslims began to move into present-day India under Mahmud of Ghazni in the early 11th century. The actual Muslim rule in India commenced in 1192 when Muhammad Ghori defeated Prithviraj Chauhan in the second battle of Taraian. Despite the assumption that India was ripe for conquest, Muslims had to struggle for centuries and were never able to fully conquer the subcontinent.
The Strength of Indian Culture
While Islam spread rapidly in other parts of the world, often through voluntary acceptance, force had to be used for conversion in India. This fact demonstrates the resilience of our culture. Even after centuries of oppression, we did not lose our faith, a testament to the strength of our forefathers that we should take pride in.
The Global Phenomenon of Islam
Islam’s success was not limited to India. It was a global phenomenon beyond the control of any single ruler or person. Many great cultures, including Greece and Egypt, came under the influence of Islam during its golden age from 750 AD to 1200 AD. If Mohammad Ghori had defeated Prithviraj Chauhan, another Muslim invader would eventually have come to India, underscoring that our defeat was not a reflection of our culture’s weakness.
Resistance and Cultural Survival
Rather than wallowing in bitterness, we should appreciate the great resistance our forefathers put up against the unstoppable force of Islam. Additionally, we should take pride in the fact that our culture and identity survived and remains firmly grounded even after centuries of enslavement.
Self-Reflection and Resilience
While it is crucial to critically examine our culture and understand how we could have better avoided such catastrophes, we must also recognize the courage and valour of our ancestors. We should never feel inferior to others but instead draw strength from our resilience and the enduring legacy of our culture.
The Islamic conquest of India was a complex phenomenon that transcended the control of any single ruler or nation. Despite facing an unstoppable force, our forefathers demonstrated remarkable resistance, and our culture emerged resilient, surviving centuries of oppression. As we reflect on this period, we should take pride in our cultural resilience while objectively examining our shortcomings, always remembering that we are not inferior to any other civilization.