Question

Examine the causes for the defeat of the Indian rulers at the hands of Muhammad

Ghori.​

Answer 1

Answer

The people of India made intensive efforts to stem the rising power of Islam for a long time in its north-west frontier. The invasion of the Arabs remained confined only to Sindh and Multan but by the time the Turks started invading Indian Territory, the defenses in the north-west had collapsed.  Although attempts were made by the Hindus to defend their country, they failed disastrously against the foreign invaders, the Turks. Historians are divided on the issue of the reasons of the defeat of the Rajputs. Moreover, the contemporary chroniclers have not highlighted the causes of defeat of the Rajputs, hence the scholars of modern times have expressed their views of their own accord.It is really surprising that the Rajputs, who were brave fighters and competent warriors, were defeated by a handful of Muslim foreign invaders. Habibullah affirms that the Rajputs surpassed the Turks in individual fighting’s. Even the enemies of the Rajputs have praised their bravery; therefore, their defeat seems to be very surprising. But if we read between the lines, it would not be difficult for us to under­stand the reasons of the defeat of the Rajputs against the Turks. The causes of defeat of the Rajputs can be classified as under:

1. Political Reason:

The political condition of India was quite deplorable before the invasion of the Muslims. India was divided into several small princi­palities after the death of Harsha and various clans of Rajputs ruled over them. There was no unity among them.

They had often invited the foreign invader to crush their neighbour and supported him against his Indian antagonist.

Thus, the lack of political unity in the country was the main reason for the downfall of the Rajputs. Dr. A. L. Srivastava has written in this context, “Each prince had to fight single-handed and he fought for his own kingdom and territory as it was, and not for his country and people. Even in the moments of our greatest crisis, our rulers did not combine to put up a united defence against the invader.”

2. Military Reasons:

The military organization of the Rajputs was very defective. The Rajputs did not maintain a permanent army for the safety of their country. The king had to depend on the armies of the feudal lords.

Often they used to send to the battlefield untrained soldiers whom they had recruited hurriedly at the time of war. They were not imbued with a sense of patriotism. The Indian army was a crowd of infantry which lacked in training and equipment.

They did not stand before the cavalry of the Muslims. Dr. K. A. Nizami has also pointed out the advantage of the use of cavalry, “Mobility was the keynote of Turkish military organization at this time. It was the ‘age of horse’ and a well-equipped cavalry with tremendous mobility was the great need-of the time.”

Dr. A.L. Srivastava has written, “Oil army organization was based on outworn conception. They were ill- organized and ill-equipped. Our military leaders did not keep them­selves in touch with the development of tactics.”

The Rajputs were ignorant of war tactics. They did not maintain a reserve army whereas Ghori also made use of his reserve arm when he found that the Hindu army was tired due to full day’s conflict and attained victory over the exhausted soldiers. Dr. V. A. Smi has written, “Hindu kings, though fully equal to their assailant’s courage and contempt of death, were distinctly inferior in the art o war and for that reason lost their independence.” In fact the use elephants often barged their own army when they were frightens and obsolete arms proved fatal and led to the defeat of the Rajputs.

The Rajputs did not have any experienced and capable leader who could unite them at the time of danger. They often made defec­tive plans to fight their enemies and failed to make the best use of their power which was in no way less than that of the Muslim soldiers but they had to face defeats due to their own faults.

Dr. Habibullah has pointed out that there was one chief defect in the military system of the Rajputs. They often fought defensive wars and tried to stop the enemy but never waged offensive war; hence they lost battles in the hope of their safety.

Had they tried to attack the Muslims, the result would have been different. The constant defeats created a feeling of disappointment and dejection among the soldiers as well as the commanders, and they began to think that Muslims were invincible. On the other hand, incessant success injected a new energy and vigour among the Muslims and they fought to achieve victory in foreign lands to maintain their existence.