It is the information age and not surprisingly,
nowadays everybody is an expert on everything under the Sun. Never mind that
Whatsapp forwards, Wikipedia entries, Facebook posts and tweets by twits are
hardly what you would call scholarly or peer – reviewed journal sources and
therefore, skimming through these does not make one the leading authority on a
given subject. Even so, those who actually bother with painstaking research in
order to form an educated opinion need to be extra cautious, because everybody
knows better anyway, even if they don’t. And woe betide those who play hard and
fast with ‘traditional historical facts and beliefs’ even those that involve
talking parrots and flying horses for they will be attacked might and main by
the self - appointed defenders of Indian culture.
Even
so, it would never do to thrown in the towel and join the Guardians of
Gobbledegook would it? Hence the need to take a closer look at those whom we
have chosen to hate on the strength of spurious and unproven claims. Indian
history has more than its fair share of villains whom we love to hate – Mahmud
of Ghazni, Mohammad of Ghur, Alauddin Khalji, Mohammad bin Tughlaq, Aurangzeb
to name a few. At present though it is Alauddin Khalji’s turn to shine as the
object of abhorrence du jour, much reviled and believed to be the most sadistic
Shah of all time. But was he truly deserving of the infamy and excoriation that
has been heaped on him? Did he have the gym – ripped physique of the boisterous
actor who plays him in the much beleaguered film version or the bestial
savagery he evinced in the teaser with much scenery chewing, chicken – chomping
gusto? Was it true that he coveted another man’s wife as well as Kingdom and
moved heaven and earth to possess both? As always the answers are not simple
nor are they readily available despite what self – proclaimed pundits, armed
with smartphones would have you believe.
Alauddin
Khalji was certainly a ruthless ruler who was not above murdering his own
father – in – law and King to seize the throne of Delhi. Enemies and traitors
could expect similar mistreatment from the monarch as the smallest hint of
dissent or ambition was dealt with an iron fist. In the Shah’s darkest hour, he
supposedly ordered the wives of his rebellious Mongol generals led by Mohammad
Shah to be tortured, raped and executed but not before they were forced to
watch their babies and children tossed from the ramparts to be skewered on the
spear – points of his soldiers. Even the chroniclers the Shah himself hired to
sing his praises like the legendary Amir Khusrao could not bring themselves to
deny his cruelty though they certainly did their best to dress it up and pass
it off as a desirable trait, worthy of an emperor who was the epitome of
masculine aplomb.
On
the plus side, Alauddin was also reputed to be an able administrator, a canny
and brave conqueror, who could even be generous on occasion. The Shah was also
known to be possessed of a seraglio that was filled to bursting with an array
of women of all shapes, sizes whom we can safely assume were mostly attractive.
It was also a practise of his to demand the hand of a Princess of royal birth
from the house of those he vanquished in battle. He married the daughter of the
King of Devagiri after defeating him and also insisted that Hammira Chauhan’s
daughter, Devala be given to him in marriage while dictating his terms for a
truce during the siege of Ranthambore. Some claim that it was a price the
Princess was willing to pay in exchange for peace but her irascible father
preferred that she enter the flames instead.
After
the fall of Gujarat, the King, Karan Singh Vaghela fled with his tail between
his legs, taking his daughter with him but left his wife, the beautiful Kamala
Devi behind. It has been opined that she refused to go with him, preferring to
give herself to the conqueror instead, having had just about all she could take
with his cowardice, outrageously debauched peccadillos and sadism that made
Alauddin’s transgressions seem saint – like in comparison.
In
light of available evidence which is admittedly scanty and contradictory, it
nevertheless seems unlikely that Alauddin chose to besiege Chittor for any
reason besides political expediency and a mad desire to rule the world rather
like his personal hero, Alexander the Great. He had even taken to referring to
himself as Sikander Sani, Alexander the Second. In all likelihood, he most certainly
lusted after the treasures of Chittor and its strategic importance in his quest
for Pan – Indian dominance but we can assume the vaunted beauty of its Queen
was mostly irrelevant as he was concerned, though it certainly may have been of
passing interest if not the causal factor that led to war. After all, Alauddin
Khalji was a lot of things but a romantic he most certainly wasn’t!
We
will never know the truth beyond a shadow of doubt though given that all of us
can hardly be expected to remember the minute details of our own lives and the
minutiae of our misdeeds with unerring accuracy let alone the motivations,
deeds, and transgressions of a mighty Shah who was way before our time, whose
story we have gleaned from dusty tomes that fall short of scholastic
requirements. Alauddin may have been monstrous or merely a highly flawed human
wielding absolute power with its unmatched ability to corrupt even the purest
of souls. The only certainty is that he was a product of a world which valued
might over morals.
History
seldom cares for losers even if they are gentle, peace – loving souls
preferring to relegate them to its trash heap. The victors, especially the
vicious types with a marked proclivity for violence however make for great copy
and they are the ones whose dastardly deeds are remembered and immortalized
after being generously coated with sugar and spice. The world remains unchanged
despite the technological advances and the unimpeded access to knowledge that
ought to enlighten but seldom does. We still favour the powerful go – getters
over the peaceable nice guys who not always but mostly finish last. As long as
this remains the status – quo we will continue to breed killers in the mould of
Khalji and monsters instead of men. And we will only have ourselves to blame.
For more meaty deliciousness from the past do check out Rani Padmavati: The Burning Queen published by Juggernaut.
Also do check out the awesome book trailor on YouTube.
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