2024-09-13 16:45:49
New Delhi: 712 is the year when the first Arab invasion of India took place. This attack was carried out by Muhammad bin Qasim, a commander of the Caliphate. At that time Sindh was ruled by Raja Dahir. He ruled Sindh from 663 to 712 AD. He was the youngest son of Raja Chach and the last ruler of the Brahmin dynasty. He was the last Kashmiri Pandit who ruled Sindh.
It is said that centuries ago many Kashmiri Brahmin clans came and settled in Sindh. They used to be educated and had deep roots in politics. At that time, the 184-year-old rule of the Rai family of Sindh was replaced by the first Brahmin king of the Chach dynasty. According to the book ‘Chachnama’, which narrates the history of Sindh, Raja Dahir’s rule extended from Makran in the west, the Arabian Sea and Gujarat in the south, the centre of present-day Malwa and Rajputana in the east and Multan to southern Punjab in the north. But Raja Dahir got a big shock when the Buddhists who supported Qasim betrayed him. Today in the second installment of the story of Kashmir, we will know the story of Raja Dahir and the betrayal that happened to him and the daughters of Raja Dahir who avenged their father.
Raja Dahir was always ahead in getting his head chopped off
Like Raja Chach, Raja Dahir was a very brave person. He too had given a tough time to the Muslim invaders. According to Chachnama, every true Sindhi should be proud of Raja Dahir’s feat because he was the foremost among those who beheaded for Sindh. After him, Sindh remained a slave of the enemies for 340 years, until the Soomra family of Sindh gained the rule.
Why did Timur Langda behead 1 lakh Hindus? In Haryana, Jats became a wall in front of Tatar army which had become wolves.
When Dahir was betrayed by Buddhist monks
Before Raja Dahir came to power, his brother Chandrasen was the king. Chandrasen was a supporter of Buddhism. But, as soon as Dahir came to power, he did not give much importance to Buddhism because Shaivism was flourishing in Sindh and Kashmir. According to Chachnama, Buddhist monks, angry with Raja Dahir, welcomed the soldiers of Muhammad bin Qasim in Nirankot and Sivastan during his attack and helped them with money. Along with this, the Buddhists also told Qasim the secrets of Raja Dahir’s palace. The truth is that two governors of Raja Dahir were Buddhists. Chachnama is also known as Fatehnama Sindh and Tarikh al Hind wa Sindh.
The order of the second Caliph came from Baghdad
During the time of King Dahir, the Caliph ruled over the entire Arabia from Baghdad to Syria, then Persia i.e. Iran. During the time of the second Caliph Walid bin Abdul Malik of the Umayyad dynasty, Baghdad was ruled by the most ruthless governor Hajjaj bin Yusuf. At that time, the Caliph and Hajjaj used to make beautiful women from far and wide a part of their harem. According to some Arab historians, because of the beautiful women, the people of Arabia called it the island of jewels.
When an attempt was made to capture women at Deval port
While going to Damascus and Baghdad, when the Arabs’ ship stopped at Deval port in India, they tried to take away some women as captives. On this, the coastal border guards chased the Arabs away. After this, the Caliph ordered to launch a Jihadi campaign against India. According to historian HM Elliot, ‘These cruel religious fanatic Arabs had spent their entire life in licentious luxury and sensuality. To fulfill this, they took the help of religion.’
The Caliph sent Muhammad bin Qasim to kill Dahir
Following the orders of his Caliph, Hajjaj sent a contingent of Arab soldiers led by Saeed and Muzza to attack India. However, Raja Dahir killed them in Makran. After this, another contingent was sent, which was also killed. After this, Hajjaj sent a barbaric tyrant commander Mohammad bin Qasim to behead Raja Dahir. Qasim was the Caliph’s son-in-law and beloved nephew. Qasim attacked Dahir with all his might, but Dahir’s soldiers defeated him. A historian Mumtaz Pathan writes in ‘Tarikh-e-Sindh’ that Raja Dahir loved justice. There were three types of courts in his rule, which were called Kolas, Sarpanas and Ganas. Big and criminal cases went to the king, which were like today’s Supreme Court.
When Muslim soldiers came disguised as women to ask for help
According to Chachnama, when Muhammad bin Qasim did not succeed, he deceitfully sent some of his soldiers disguised as women at night to Dahir’s army in the company of a group of local women. Hearing their wailing voices, King Dahir came out to help them. At that very moment, Qasim and his soldiers, who were already lying in ambush, attacked Dahir with swords and spears. Dahir fought the enemies for a long time with the help of his sword. But there were so many enemies that his sword broke. Meanwhile, the enemies thrusted spears into Dahir’s body. It is said that Dahir took out his spear and kept fighting till his last breath. It is said that Hajjaj had sent a message to Qasim – do not give the infidels any chance. Behead them immediately.
Dahir’s wife committed Jauhar along with the other women of the palace
When Muhammad bin Qasim captured Alor, the capital of Sindh, Raja Dahir’s wife Maina Devi fought with Qasim’s soldiers from within the fort of Rawar. When she was defeated by Qasim, she committed Jauhar along with the women of the fort. Raja Dahir’s second wife Rani Bai fought fiercely with Qasim’s army from the fort of Brahmanabad along with her son Jaisimha. Ultimately, she too was killed.
Qasim sent Dahir’s two daughters to the Caliph
According to Chachnama, Raja Dahir’s two daughters Surya Devi and Parimal Devi were busy taking care of the soldiers during the battle. When their mother and brother were killed, these daughters took over the front. Qasim spent 6 months in this battle. Then Qasim burnt the crops. He mixed poison in the ponds and lakes. Meanwhile, due to some traitors, the gate of the fort was opened, where Dahir’s two daughters were fighting. 15 thousand people were killed and Dahir’s two daughters were taken captive and sent to the Caliph.
When Dahir’s two daughters were sent to the Caliph’s harem
According to history Elliot, when both the daughters reached Caliph Walid bin Abdul Malik who was living in Damascus at that time with gold, silver and diamonds, they were asked to appear in the Caliph’s harem after resting for two-three days. When they came, the Caliph asked the interpreter to tell who is the eldest and who is the youngest. Keeping the eldest with himself, the Caliph sent the youngest back to the harem.
Surya Devi said something that made Khalifa furious
As soon as the elder daughter Surya Devi removed her veil, the Khalifa was stunned to see her beauty. When the Khalifa, blinded by lust, tried to pull Surya towards himself, Surya said, “Your Majesty, I am not worthy of you, why did your commander Qasim keep me with him for three days and then send me to serve you? Is this your custom? By the way, this is not fair.” Surya’s arrow hit the target and he became furious.
Both daughters said, we took revenge on our father’s murderer
According to Elliot, after hearing Suriya’s words, Caliph Walid immediately asked his other commanders to bring Qasim’s skin stuffed with straw. His order was executed and Qasim was presented before the Caliph. Then he showed it to both the sisters and said, see, what punishment I gave to Qasim? Then both the daughters said that your mind is completely empty. We have avenged our father’s death. We told you this lie to get punishment for those who rape women and destroy temples. The Caliph was stunned to hear this.
Khalifa was stunned after hearing the girls’ words, later he died
The Caliph tied both the girls to a horse and dragged them on the streets of Damascus, which resulted in the death of both of them. However, soon after this, the Caliph also suffered such a severe shock that he died. Some historians believe that Chachnama was written by Arab tourist Ali Kofi in 1216, in which the things heard from the people after the Arab attack were included. However, British historian Elliot has considered it to be correct.