The Chaak rulers, that ruled Kashmir for 33 years, did not leave a stone unturned in pillaging, devastating, banishing, and converting Hindus. The foremost rulers belonging to the Chaak community were Kaji Chaak, HussainShah Chaak, and AliShah Chaak, who resorted to tyrannical ways in converting the Kashmiri Hindu population to the Shia sect.
Justice Jiyalal Alim has mentioned in ‘The History of Kashmiri Pandit’ about the atrocities adopted by Chaak kings –
“On the orders of Chaak rulers, daily a thousand cows were slaughtered. The Brahmins were forced to undergo coercion like the sun surrounded by darkness. They were deprived of means of livelihood. They wished Brahmins should vanish like deers of ‘Bhasma Van’. The Brahmins had to be constantly cognizant and sometimes became the victims of scoffing and condemnation.
This account is of eye-witness and is entirely endorsed by Islamic historians.”
During the Chaak rule, Brahmins were enforced to pay a price for following their rituals and customs!!!
The barbaric persecution enforced upon Brahmins has been mentioned by Shuk, the last historian of Rajtarangini – “Initially, the Chaak dynasty rulers used to charge annual tax from Brahmins, due to immense loathing towards them. Those Brahmins, who religiously maintained the rituals, were obliged to pay annual offerings. To secure the pious Janeu, each Brahmin was imposed to present the king with Forty pieces of Emeralds and Diamonds. Hence, The virtuous Brahmins had migrated and the feeble ones had converted.
Amidst such mayhem, FattehShah was the last Sultan, before the advent of the Mughal era. During his regime, a Shia Islamic preacher named Shamsuddin Iraqi came down to Kashmir. Numerous fanatic clergymen came to Kashmir along with him. One among the group, was Bhusa Raina, a converted Islamist, who had fled, during the tiff with Sayyeds. Sultan Fatehshah himself was exceptionally zealot and provided all the necessary protection and support in the mission of converting Hindus.
Shamsuddin Iraqi resorted to barbarism beyond imagination, in enforcing conversion of Hindus, with aid from anti-national Bhusa Raina.
As Mohammed- Din – Faque narrates in “History of Kashmir”-
“Shia preacher Shamsuddin Iraqi returned to Kashmir, to pursue Conversion with a vengeance, along with Bhusa Raina. When the peaceful teaching did not have an impact, they resorted to forceful implementation using power.
Though Fatehshah himself was a Sunni Muslim many Sunnis were persecuted and brought into the Shia fold and a number of them were killed too, but their foremost target was Kashmiri Hindus. Innumerable ones were murdered and some of them migrated elsewhere, leaving behind everything they possessed. “
Around 28,000 Kashmiri Pandits were forcefully converted into the Shia fold. Their wealth and property were captured by Sayyeds, and those who were allowed to stay alive had to pay Jazia Tax initiated by Bhusa Raina.
Bhusa Raina, along with rendering financial support to Shamsuddin, presented him with a piece of his ancestral land. Smart and shrewd Shamsuddin utilized Bhusa Raina’s ascendancy and strength for fulfilling his goal of conversion and hence, praised him unduly. and he persuaded Sultan Fatehshah to appoint Bhusa Raina as the Prime Minister of Kashmir.
Once, attaining the significant post of Prime Minister, Bhusa Raina began ambushing and pouncing Hindus and under self-vigilance, ordered to kill honorable scholars and prestigious persons in the society. He formed a group of Chaak warriors who were assigned to demolish Hindu temples and learning centers. They were armed by the Prime Minister himself.
Hindus in Kashmir enduring such brutality and dreadful living conditions decided to approach the Prime minister. Under the leadership of Nirmal Kaant, a literary scholar presented the entire saga of unparalleled atrocities incurred on them. This initiative turned out to be a remorseful attempt and the group was humiliated, detained, and eventually murdered through starvation.
This era of Kashmir has been marked by the immense cruelty of Sultan Fatehshah, the sharp and shrewd acumen of Shamsuddin, and the coarseness of Prime Minister Bhusa Raina. This era is one of the most deplorable blots in Kashmir’s history.
Sources of Information :
हमारी भूलोका स्मारक :धर्मान्तरित कश्मीर
नरेंद्र सहगल
My Frozen Turbulence in Kashmir
Jagmohanji
Madhvi Bhuta is the National Executive of BJP Mahila Morcha and a Columnist on various Forums.