“Idol Worshipper Kafir” temples hammered by “Liberal Islamic” followers.
The cruel and barbaric Sultan Sikander set his concentration towards Hindu Spiritual Centers.
Sayyed Mohammad Humdaani convinced Sultan that until they demolish the idols from the temples of idol-worshippers, their conversion into Islamic fold, would be impactless. The temples have been source of inspiration for Hindus and the same can inspire them to quit Islam in the future. Hence, to divert the new Islamic converts from mainstream of national cultural identity. If the temples remain intact, their inspiring nationalism would also flourish.
Sultan Sikander obeyed these political wisdom of Sayyed Mohammad Humdaani and marched towards destroying the pluperfect and precious opus of the history of mankind.
Such unmatched conduct, lacked decorum, humanity and prudence, to the core.
Historian Hasan has pointed out,
“There were numerous temples built during the era of Hindu kings, which resembled Wonders.Their Art and Sculpture were absolutely unique and delicate that the viewer would be mesmerized. Sikander, filled with malice and abhorrence, demolished the temples and turned them into ashes. Using the rubbles of temples, constructed the Mosques.”
The iconic Martand Sun temple stood rock solid, as an epitome of glorious history. Demolishing this pride of Bharatiya culture, the Martand temple, took unusually long and the futile efforts of almost a yeard, yet it did not yield the desired results, hence Sultan Sikander filled it with wooden sticks and burnt it to ashes.
Gaping at the precious gems filled dome of prestigious Martand temple, devastated in flames, gave him demonic pleasure. Sultan proclaimed this immense destruction as Allah’s mandate and ordered his sub-ordinates to dig out, the stones beneath the temple structure!!!
The wreckage of ruined temple, traumatized the people in the neighbouring villages and using this shattered condition of people, Sultan enforced authoritative conversion of them into Islamic fold. Those who remained in denial state, were feigned into agreeing through Sword.
Similarly, the Vijeshwar temple at Bijvihar and over three hundred temples in surrounding area, were demolished on Sultan Sikander’s instruction.
As historian Hasan mentioned, ” The idols and stones of depleted Vijeshwar temples were used in building a Mosque as well as in construction of “Khanak” In current times, it is known as Vijeshwar Khanak.”
The act of savagery and enforcement of collective conversion were supported and guided thoroughly by Sayyeds (Islamic Clergymen) The irony was that the new converts into Islam, also assisted in this blood stained saga. Or else, few outlander hereticals. could not have spine to devastate the flourishing culture of the land.
The ghost of fanatics had engulfed Sikander to an extent, that he enforced the dictum of ‘Islam, death ya expel.’
The people of Kashmir were given liberty to select one of it. If they wished to remain Hindu, they would be debarred from the state. But, leaving Kashmir and shifting elsewhere was not an easy task.They could be killed, while absconding. During Sultan Sikander’s tenure, Kashmir’s constitution was marked with Shariat laws and traditions.
As Jonraaj in Rajtarangni points out that, ” There wasn’t a single town, district, village left out, where temples were shielded and rescued! The Hindus surrendered to the inhuman oppression and relinquished their religious beliefs. Many left their Motherland Kashmir and numerous ones committed suicide”.
There was no end to Sultan’s tyranny. British historian Dr. Arnest mentioned in his tome, ‘Beyond the Pirpanjal’ about Sultan’s monstrous despotism, “Pair of living Hindus were packed in gunny bag and thrown in the stream. They had three options to choose from – Either they chose to convert to Islam or conquer struggle or accept death!”
Sultan’s such brutal conduct agitated the Hindus and few of the courageous ones collectively decided to oppose and protest but unfortunately, the administrative power were too gigantic to battle with, hence the handful of brave Hindus who showed some guts were smashed upon.
But, as the result of such counteroffensive brawny, made Sultan to bend a bit and permit the few Hindu families to reside in Kashmir but such clemency, was at a cost.
Neither the Hindu was allowed to wear Dhoti and other Bharatiy traditional outfit, nor Hindu was entitled to apply Tilak on his forehead or wear Janoi!!!
Most of Islamic Sultan’s granted the right of survival in Kashmir on the clause of payment of Jazia Tax which was payable for Hindus while performing Hindu rituals and customs and celebrating Hindu festivals like Deepawali, Shivratri, Ramnavami, Navratri, Yagnopavit etc. Additionally, Hindus travelling for pilgrimage were compel to pay Jazia!
Jonraaj in Rajtarangni, has described the Jazia as “Chand-Dand”, which in Sanskrit implies forcefully and violantly enforced tax collection.
Above that, the Muslim commanders would attack the affluent Hindus and plunder their wealth and distribute among themselves. The women of the family, was also considered ‘wealth’ of this ‘robbery and was addressed as ‘Maal-e-Ganimat’ in Arabic.
Joanraaj has named it as ‘Lotra-Dand’ as theft or robbery is called Lotra in Sanskrit.
The “Jazia” was absolutely direful and excruciating that common Hindu was unable to pay it. Non-payment of Jazia, accounted to merciless persecution, death penalty or acceptance of Islam. These were the only three alternatives available.
Sikander also introduced an institution of Shaikh-Ul-Islam to ensure that the injunction of Islam ( Nizam-i-Mustafa) fully observed.
Sikander’s policy was continued by his son, Sultan Ali Shah. He too remained under the influence of the Chief Minister Saif-Ud-Din.
Ali Shah – the tyrant (CE 1413-1420), during his short rule of six years, carried on his father’s 24 year tyrant reign with homicides, conversions, tyranny and enforced Jazia.
The evil minded man forbade ceremonies and processions on the new moon. The Brahmins who chose to migrate to other countries were disallowed and denied passage, without a passport. The legendary Brahmins burnt themselves in the flaming fire, through fear of conversion. Some Brahmins killed themselves by taking poison, some by the rope and others by drowing. Multiple celebrated Brahmins, fled from the state through by-lanes as the main roads were closed.
This marked the first mass exodus of the Kashmiri Pundits (Brahmins) and the History repeated itself again in CE 1989-90.
Source of Information :
हमारी भूलोका स्मारक : धर्मांतरित कश्मीर
नरेन्द्र सहगल
My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir
Late Jagmohan
Kashmiri Pandits : A forbidden Community
Dr. Satish Ganjoo
Madhvi Bhuta is the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha and a Columnist on various Forums.