Silver lining amongst dark clouds full of harrowing surrounding: Shribhatt
“With immense and sincerest dedication by Sultan Jain-Ul-Abdeen and Pandit Shribhatt, the gone-by era depicting ancient glory of yesteryears was on the path of returning. The temples and Sanskrit learning centres were re-opened, Jazia Tax was removed and Cow slaughtering was banned.
As a result, of the resurrection of Hindu majesty, the pundits who had migrated from Kashmir to elsewhere decided to return back…”
In the last few write-ups, We have known about the Hindu exterminator Sultan Sikander Butshikan, His excruciating son Ali Shah, traitor Saiffuddin and cruel Sayyeds, who promoted religious conversion behind the fake veil of religious liberty.
And as a result of torturous conversion done on a massive scale, the region of Kashmir had practically turned into HinduMuktaKashmir.
The ashes of blazing libraries, filled with ancient Hindu scriptures, had still not cooled down. The heart-wrenching screams of raped Hindu women were still echoing in the valley. The zip quietness in the ruins of the temple was petrifying. The water of River Vitasta was still blood-stained Red…
In such a dark surrounding, there was a minute flame that lit up hope.
In CE 1420, Sultan Sikander’s younger son Zain-Ul-Abidin, also known as Zainul, came to power, with a determination of repenting for his father and elder brother’s cruelty.
In the words of historian Shrivar, regarding the generosity and endurance during Zainul era: ” It was like someone caressing with cool Sandalwood paste, after a desert heat.”
Sultan Zainul put in his best efforts to revive the bygone splendour of Kashmir. He ordered the reconstruction of ravaged temples. The Kashmiri Pundits who had migrated elsewhere were called back with respect and business infrastructure was built to settle them. The irrigation system was built to revamp the barren land and turn it into agricultural land. He built a large number of canals, which helped in draining out water from the marshy and low-lying areas, thereby making them fertile for cultivation.
He promoted various Arts and Cultural creative initiatives and initiated the adoption of Hindu scriptures in Persian.
He revived old arts and crafts such as wood carving, papier-mache, Silk shawl and Carpet weaving, Stone polishing, Bottle making and Gold beating.
As a builder, Zain-Ul-Abidin made a mark by constructing a number of new towns – Naushahr, Zainapura, Zaina Kot and Zainagiri. He developed a beautiful island in Wular Lake. His royal palace, a twelve storeyed building, was the most majestic structure in the entire East.
He was no less adept in the Art of War. He introduced the use of Gunpowder and fabricated a few cannons. He reorganised the army and established control over Ladakh, Baltistan and also subjugated the hill principalities of Naushara, Rajouri and Lohara.
The tender-hearted kindliness and compassion had arisen as a result of an important event that has been kept cloistered from the pages of history.
That was, a change of heart inspired by Pandit Shribhatt.
Within two years of Sultan Zainul’s coronation, he was diagnosed with a poisonous furuncle on his forehead. Numerous Sayyed Hakims were called but none of them succeeded in treating it. Prominent Hakims from the Middle East were also called upon but everything was futile and the abscess remained unchanged. Sultan Zainul knew about the Hindu Vaids, who were experts in eradicating it by operation but ‘thanks’ to Sayyeds, Kashmir had been deprived of such expertise.
Historian Joanraaj has noted, “Just as shenanigan of snow, flowers are not visible in the month of Maagh, similarly due to Governmental oppression, the skilled Vaid had become extinct.
But, eventually, Government officials located a person, named Shribhatt, who could eradicate poisonous boil. He was adept at filling up the wound, post-treatment. But, Shribhatt was scared to treat the Sultan. When he reached, the king himself, encouraged him and Shribhatt successfully cured the poisonous boil of the king.“
While treating Sultan, Shribhatt was extremely apprehensive and panicked as he feared that if his attempt failed and he was unable to cure the Sultan, he could face capital punishment.
Shrivar writes in Rajtarangni :
” चिकित्साया विदग्ध: स म्लेच्छमीत्याव्यलंबत ।
स्फूलिंगदग्ध : पुरुष : स्पृशत्यपि मर्णि चिरात् ।
(राज़ ८१३)
When Sultan recovered completely, he was eager to present Shribhatt with affluent gifts but Shribhatt refused to take any reward for his personal opulence but instead, insisted on Sultan Zainul adopting a liberal view as well as lead and rule constructively yet with generosity towards every citizen..
This larger and selfless perspective of Shridhar touched Sultan Zainul and his heart and soul underwent a complete change.
He belonged to fanatic minded lineage, hence initially he too, was bound by communal intoxication but through Shribhatt’s generous conduct, the volatile frenzy in him came to a halt and his insularity dissipated.
On Sultan Zainul’s incessant assertion, Shribhatt put forward Seven resolutions, which were willingly accepted by Zainul.
1. To immediately put an end to the massacre of Hindus, solely on the pretext of religious envy and not a single person should be persecuted without proper enquiry and investigation.
2. The temples demolished during Sultan Sikander’s regime, should be re-built again. They forcefully converted Hindus into the Islamic fold, should be allowed and instructed to return and re-embrace their forefather’s religion. Those Kashmiri brothers, who have escaped from Kashmir out of fear and is wandering around as refugee, in surrounding regions, should be called back and helped in resettling in their homes
3. To re-start the Sanskrit centres for learning and Hindu students granted opportunity to grow and prosper.
5. To abolish the Jazia Tax on Hindus and they be given equal status.
6. Respecting the religious sentiments of Hindus, to terminate Cow slaughtering. (Gauhatya).
6. To lift the ban from performing Yagna and related Hindu rituals.
7. To revamp and resurrect the libraries, blazed by Sultan Sikander.
History is witness to the fact that all the demands, put forth by Shribhatt, were agreed upon by Zainul with open arms.
And, the ancient Golden age returned with immense change in governance. With the resurrection of shut Sanskrit learning centres, the students and scholars were granted scholarships. The absconding Kashmiri Pandits return back to their cocoon in their Motherland and their despoiled wealth during Sultan Butshikan’s regime was given back to them. Sultan ordered to close down all organisations which were launched by Sayyeds to terrorize and torture Hindus and Sultan Zainul himself began learning the Hindu scriptures.
Islamic historian Mohammad-Din-Faque has portrayed Shribhatt ‘s personality in “Shababe Kashmir”-
“After treating the Sultan successfully and yet not charging a single penny, Shribhatt ‘s fame increased many folds, on the state level. He was appointed as royal medico in -charge and Afsar-Ul-Ataab (head of health dept.). He had a huge impact on the king and his people and he utilised this influence for re-locating and settling Hindus once again. He was a lover of peace and growth.”
Prominent historian Abul Fazal has portrayed Shribhatt’s unique persona, in his tome, “Aayine Akbari”-
“In the aureate history of Kashmir, especially regarding the mediaeval history, Sultan Zain-Zain-Ul-Abidin’s renown became memorable as he received immense communion from Shribhatt. Had he not got it, he and his regime would have also flown away in the disgraced torrent, similarly as his forefathers.
This is precisely the reason that compelled Sultan Zain-Ul-Abidin, has remained eager and in the forefront to implement each of his suggestions, in liberally historical praxis.”
Undismayed and unfazed sentinel, Pandit Shribhatt ‘s life journey and his virtues, portrays an illuminated page of Mediaeval Kashmir.
It is a torchbearer, for Islamic mindset, to amalgamate with respectful integrity with the son of the soil, in the present and future course of action.
Pandit Shribhatt ‘s weariness and ebullient efforts resulted in re-settling numerous Kashmiri Hindu families, who had migrated earlier and were living a pitiful life, scattered away from their Motherland. On their return, the question of their abode, employment, livelihood were paramount but under Pandit Shridhar’s direction, they were appointed as per their qualification and capabilities, on various administrative posts.
Kashmir’s social fabric had many Varna and Gotra but unparalleled despotism on Kashmiri Hindus destroyed their social system. Hence, on their return, a fresh and new social hierarchy was the need of the hour.
Pandit Shribhatt took a historically and revolutionary step and every Kashmiri Hindu was conjugated in single Varna as Brahmin.
Dr.Trilokinath Ganju mentioned in “Maharshi Shiryabhatt” – “Contemporary historians have interpreted about Shribhatt’s personality as only health minister, hardly understanding Joanraaj’s Rajtarangni.
As Joanraaj has interpreted that Sultan Zain-Ul-Abidin had appointed Shribhatt “सर्वाविधधिकारेषु नियुक्त्स्य” (Rajtarangni-11),
As a minister who was entitled to check each department and nothing would be skipped from his hawk-like eyesight.”
A Yugpurush, whose significant contribution wrote a shimmering chapter of Kashmiri history but as Zainul grew old, his generation next ‘s greediness for power, brought back the cruelty of their ancestors.
Sources of Information :
हमारी भूलोंका स्मारक : धर्मांतरित कश्मीर
नरेन्द्र सहगल
My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir
Jagmohan ji.


Madhvi Bhuta is the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha and a Columnist on various Forums.