History says that Mahmud Ghaznavi invaded India for 17 times and after plundering its wealth, he return back to Ghazni. It shows Mahmud Ghaznavi valour, bravery and his determination to invade on India again and again. Whenever he invaded on India, he defeated the rulers of the regions and no was able to defeat him. Invaders like Mahmud Ghaznavi is rarely found in history who invaded 17 times on a country. In India he is commonly known as an Invader and a Plunderer and an Idol broker which not correct because when an attacker defeates a ruler in a battle, then he becomes the master of all wealth of the country. In such a situation if the invaders take away all the wealth of the country to his country cannot be said that he has plundered the wealth. After reading details about invasion of Mahmud Ghaznavi on India, we are compelled to think over it that Mahmud Ghaznavi was provided opportunities by Indian rulers to invade on India again and again. The enormous wealth of Temples attracted him also for plundering them. All the rulers of North India at that time they were weak. They did not able to protect the wealth of Temples. So, not Ghaznavi on India were responsible for 17 times invasion of Ghaznavi on India. His military campaigns against India invite us to know him in details.
He became ruler of Ghazni in 998 A.D. in west of Kabul. The first attack of Mahmud Ghaznavi on India took place in 1000 A.D. and return back to Ghazni after winning some fort of situated near bordering areas of Hindu States. After that in 1000 to 1002 A.D. he attacked on Peshawar and Vaihind and defeated Jaipal. In this battle, Jaipal and his Army Chief were arrested and later they were freed in return of huge amount. Jaipal could not bear this humiliation and handing over his rein to Anandpal and ended his life.
Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on Multan in 1004 to 1005 A.D. The ruler of Multan was Dawood belonging to a Muslim sect whom Ghaznavi considered Non-Muslim. When Ghaznavi attacked on Multan and attacked on Peshawar to defeat Anandpal. Anandpal was defeated in this battle and had been arrested by Ghaznavi. On the other hand Dawood surrendered before Ghaznavi and agreed to pay Ghaznavi 20,000 Dirhams as a penalty.
Next year 1006 to 1007 A.D. Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on Bhera and defeated the ruler Bijirai who fearing his arrest committed suicide. Mahmud Ghaznavi took over the rein and establish his rule there. It was the first region situated at the east part of Sindh river which came under Ghaznavi's rule. Mahmud Ghaznavi made Sukhpal, son of Anandpal the ruler of Bhera who had converted himself into Islam. After becoming the ruler of Bhera, Sukhpal reconverted himself into Hinduism. This act of Sukhpal angered Ghaznavi, resulting in Ghaznavi dethroned him and kept him in Jail.
The next important military Campaign in 1008 to 1009 A.D. of Ghaznavi was on Hindu King Anandpal who asked help from the rulers of Ujjain, Gwalior, Kalinjer, Kannauj, Delhi and Ajmer. But this United Army could not defeat Ghaznavi. Instead of it Mahmud Ghaznavi succeeded to defeat them and succeeded in putting pressure on Anandpal who had no option to surrender. The Victory over the United Army of Anandpal encouraged Ghaznavi to attacked on Nagarkot where he plundered huge wealth from Temples.
In 1010 to 1011 A.D. Multan was attacked by Mahmud Ghaznavi again and ruler Dawood defeated and taken into custody by Ghaznavi and did not take over rein of Multan.
In 1011 to 1012 A.D. Thaneshwar was attacked and huge wealth from Chakraswami Temple was taken away by Ghaznavi. Meanwhile Anandpal died and his son Trilochanpal became new ruler of Peshawar who adopted Anti-Ghaznavi policy on the advice of his son Bhimpal. But Ghaznavi defeated Trilochanpal and captured the fort of Ninduna. Then Bhimpal the son of Trilochanpal decided to run away towards Kashmir.
In 1015 to 1016 A.D. Ghaznavi tried to enter Kashmir but he did not work beyond Lohkot because of geographical hurdles. Mahmud Ghaznavi entered Ganga Valley first time in 1018 A.D. where he attacked the region of Baran (Bulandshahar and Mahavan). The Ruler of Baran Kulchand committed suicide fearing his arrest. On the other Bank of Yamuna Kingdom of Mathura situated where he plundered and destroyed many Temples and then he decided went on. He attacked on Kannauj Rajpal which was won over by him without fighting as ruler of Kannauj did not try to fight with Ghaznavi. Thus Ghaznavi won Kannauj and region of Asni and Sharna.
In 1019 to 1020 A.D. the ruler of Kalinjer, Nand who was friend of Trilochanpal was defeated by Ghaznavi. Nand did not tried to battle and ran away. Mahmud Ghaznavi stopped his Military campaign here and decided to return back to Ghazni. After returning Ghazni he did not take rest and attacked on Punjab in 1021 to 1022 A.D. In the meantime Trilochanpal died and his son Bhimpal had taken shelter in Ajmer. The decision of taking rein of Punjab in his hand by Mahmud Ghaznavi for establishing of an Army base for attacking far away regions because Punjab was suitable for it.
Next year in 1023 to 1024 A.D. he attacked on Kalinjer again and defeated Nand and established his rule here. We also captured the fort of Gwalior.
The most important Military campaign of Ghaznavi was in 1025 to 1026 A.D. on Gujarat. The rulers of Gujarat was fought back bravery but they did not succeed in defeating Ghaznavi. In the meantime commander of Gujarat ran away leaving the people helpless. Ghaznavi took away very huge wealth from Somnath Temple and destroyed it including the Jyotirlinga of the temple. Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on Somnath Temple through the way of Rajputana. After taking away huge wealth of Somnath Temple he attacked on Anhilwada and defeated the ruler Paramdev. From here he returned back to Ghazni with the wealth obtained from the Somnath Temple. He has taken some part of Jyotirlinga also with him to Ghazni. In the way Jats (Khokhar) tried to the snatch the wealth which were been taken to Ghazni by Ghaznavi but he succeeded in saving the wealth and reached Ghazni safely. After 1 year in 1027 A.D. Ghaznavi attacked on Jats (Khokhar) to teach them a lesson. It was his last Military campaign against Jats (Khokhar) as he died of Malaria in 1030 A.D. in Ghazni.
As Historical records says that Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on India and took away its wealth for using it in Central Asia war where he was engaged in fighting with the local forces. Infact his main objective was extend his boundaries of his regions there. He never thought of establishing him rule in India. It is true that during his Military campaign against India, he destroyed many Temples which cannot be said Islamic as Islam does not allow to harm place of worship of another religion. This act of Ghaznavi is totally improper. Since Ghaznavi did not establish his rule in India, So he did not get converted local people into Islam except some incidents of conversion which are undeniable. Although Ghaznavi took away India's wealth again and again to Ghazni yet India remained prosperous country. The proof is that when after one and a half century another Muslim invader Mohammad Gori attacked on India he found still very prosperous country.
Historians do not agree to call him only invader and plunderer but see him as a great warrior or a victorious soldier. Historians believe that there was no significant damage to Somnath Temple due to Ghaznavi is attack, this is also mentioned in the wikipedia.
It is a matter of surprised that he defeated a number of Indian rulers in History it is written that he had captured the treasure of Indian rulers. Infact it is a big question why it is not captured the treasure of these who had been defeated by Ghaznavi.
I wrote this post because of a comment made by someone on my post in which it had been alleged that Muslim invader have plundered. India's wealth and had destroyed Temples and forcefully converted local people into Islam.
- Rohit Sharma Vishwakarma
He became ruler of Ghazni in 998 A.D. in west of Kabul. The first attack of Mahmud Ghaznavi on India took place in 1000 A.D. and return back to Ghazni after winning some fort of situated near bordering areas of Hindu States. After that in 1000 to 1002 A.D. he attacked on Peshawar and Vaihind and defeated Jaipal. In this battle, Jaipal and his Army Chief were arrested and later they were freed in return of huge amount. Jaipal could not bear this humiliation and handing over his rein to Anandpal and ended his life.
Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on Multan in 1004 to 1005 A.D. The ruler of Multan was Dawood belonging to a Muslim sect whom Ghaznavi considered Non-Muslim. When Ghaznavi attacked on Multan and attacked on Peshawar to defeat Anandpal. Anandpal was defeated in this battle and had been arrested by Ghaznavi. On the other hand Dawood surrendered before Ghaznavi and agreed to pay Ghaznavi 20,000 Dirhams as a penalty.
Next year 1006 to 1007 A.D. Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on Bhera and defeated the ruler Bijirai who fearing his arrest committed suicide. Mahmud Ghaznavi took over the rein and establish his rule there. It was the first region situated at the east part of Sindh river which came under Ghaznavi's rule. Mahmud Ghaznavi made Sukhpal, son of Anandpal the ruler of Bhera who had converted himself into Islam. After becoming the ruler of Bhera, Sukhpal reconverted himself into Hinduism. This act of Sukhpal angered Ghaznavi, resulting in Ghaznavi dethroned him and kept him in Jail.
The next important military Campaign in 1008 to 1009 A.D. of Ghaznavi was on Hindu King Anandpal who asked help from the rulers of Ujjain, Gwalior, Kalinjer, Kannauj, Delhi and Ajmer. But this United Army could not defeat Ghaznavi. Instead of it Mahmud Ghaznavi succeeded to defeat them and succeeded in putting pressure on Anandpal who had no option to surrender. The Victory over the United Army of Anandpal encouraged Ghaznavi to attacked on Nagarkot where he plundered huge wealth from Temples.
In 1010 to 1011 A.D. Multan was attacked by Mahmud Ghaznavi again and ruler Dawood defeated and taken into custody by Ghaznavi and did not take over rein of Multan.
In 1011 to 1012 A.D. Thaneshwar was attacked and huge wealth from Chakraswami Temple was taken away by Ghaznavi. Meanwhile Anandpal died and his son Trilochanpal became new ruler of Peshawar who adopted Anti-Ghaznavi policy on the advice of his son Bhimpal. But Ghaznavi defeated Trilochanpal and captured the fort of Ninduna. Then Bhimpal the son of Trilochanpal decided to run away towards Kashmir.
In 1015 to 1016 A.D. Ghaznavi tried to enter Kashmir but he did not work beyond Lohkot because of geographical hurdles. Mahmud Ghaznavi entered Ganga Valley first time in 1018 A.D. where he attacked the region of Baran (Bulandshahar and Mahavan). The Ruler of Baran Kulchand committed suicide fearing his arrest. On the other Bank of Yamuna Kingdom of Mathura situated where he plundered and destroyed many Temples and then he decided went on. He attacked on Kannauj Rajpal which was won over by him without fighting as ruler of Kannauj did not try to fight with Ghaznavi. Thus Ghaznavi won Kannauj and region of Asni and Sharna.
In 1019 to 1020 A.D. the ruler of Kalinjer, Nand who was friend of Trilochanpal was defeated by Ghaznavi. Nand did not tried to battle and ran away. Mahmud Ghaznavi stopped his Military campaign here and decided to return back to Ghazni. After returning Ghazni he did not take rest and attacked on Punjab in 1021 to 1022 A.D. In the meantime Trilochanpal died and his son Bhimpal had taken shelter in Ajmer. The decision of taking rein of Punjab in his hand by Mahmud Ghaznavi for establishing of an Army base for attacking far away regions because Punjab was suitable for it.
Next year in 1023 to 1024 A.D. he attacked on Kalinjer again and defeated Nand and established his rule here. We also captured the fort of Gwalior.
The most important Military campaign of Ghaznavi was in 1025 to 1026 A.D. on Gujarat. The rulers of Gujarat was fought back bravery but they did not succeed in defeating Ghaznavi. In the meantime commander of Gujarat ran away leaving the people helpless. Ghaznavi took away very huge wealth from Somnath Temple and destroyed it including the Jyotirlinga of the temple. Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on Somnath Temple through the way of Rajputana. After taking away huge wealth of Somnath Temple he attacked on Anhilwada and defeated the ruler Paramdev. From here he returned back to Ghazni with the wealth obtained from the Somnath Temple. He has taken some part of Jyotirlinga also with him to Ghazni. In the way Jats (Khokhar) tried to the snatch the wealth which were been taken to Ghazni by Ghaznavi but he succeeded in saving the wealth and reached Ghazni safely. After 1 year in 1027 A.D. Ghaznavi attacked on Jats (Khokhar) to teach them a lesson. It was his last Military campaign against Jats (Khokhar) as he died of Malaria in 1030 A.D. in Ghazni.
As Historical records says that Mahmud Ghaznavi attacked on India and took away its wealth for using it in Central Asia war where he was engaged in fighting with the local forces. Infact his main objective was extend his boundaries of his regions there. He never thought of establishing him rule in India. It is true that during his Military campaign against India, he destroyed many Temples which cannot be said Islamic as Islam does not allow to harm place of worship of another religion. This act of Ghaznavi is totally improper. Since Ghaznavi did not establish his rule in India, So he did not get converted local people into Islam except some incidents of conversion which are undeniable. Although Ghaznavi took away India's wealth again and again to Ghazni yet India remained prosperous country. The proof is that when after one and a half century another Muslim invader Mohammad Gori attacked on India he found still very prosperous country.
Historians do not agree to call him only invader and plunderer but see him as a great warrior or a victorious soldier. Historians believe that there was no significant damage to Somnath Temple due to Ghaznavi is attack, this is also mentioned in the wikipedia.
It is a matter of surprised that he defeated a number of Indian rulers in History it is written that he had captured the treasure of Indian rulers. Infact it is a big question why it is not captured the treasure of these who had been defeated by Ghaznavi.
I wrote this post because of a comment made by someone on my post in which it had been alleged that Muslim invader have plundered. India's wealth and had destroyed Temples and forcefully converted local people into Islam.
- Rohit Sharma Vishwakarma
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