Write the causes of the success Turkish invaders over the rajputs
Answers
Answer:
Dr. A.L. Srivastva observes that the absence of political unity, social divisions and moral degeneration of the Hindus and the superiority of the Turks in military organisation, skill and resources were responsible for the success of the Turks.
Explanation:
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Explanation:
(1) Lack of a powerful central authority:
There was no powerful central authority in India that could have offered strong resistance to the invaders as did the Magadha empire at the time of Alexander’s invasion. India at that time was divided into a number of independent Rajput states.
(2) Disunity among the Rajput rulers:
As stated by Dr. Iswari Prasad, “State fought against state for leadership and there was no paramount power which could effectively hold them together by any principle of unity or cohesion.” There were tough mutual fights among Rajputs states, particularly among the Chauhans and the Rathors, the Chandelas and the Chalukyas and the Pratiharas, Palas and the Rashtrakutas. According to Chandbardai, “Ninety out of a hundred of Prithviraj’s ‘Samantas’ (chiefs) fell in his conflicts with Jai Chand on account of his carrying away Samyukta.”
(3) Lack of political insight:
Even a series of Muslim invasions did not produce a single Rajput ruler with political insight to visualize as to what would happen to all of them, one by one, if the foreign inroads were not faced and checked unitedly.
(4) Neglect of the frontiers:
The Rajput rulers failed to evolve any frontier policy and could not forget their internal feuds and rise above personal prejudices to save the frontier states being crushed under the foreign soldiers.
(5) Feudalism:
The army of a Rajput ruler was constituted by collecting the armies of the feudal chiefs. The soldiers demonstrated more loyalty to their feudal chief than to the ruler. Feudal system led to the weakening of the power of the king.
II. Military Causes:
1. Interior war art:
In the words of Dr. V.A. Smith, “Hindu Kings though fully equal to their assailants in courage and contempt of death, were distinctly inferior in the art of war and for that reason lost their independence.”
2. Lack of appropriate military strategy:
The Rajput army advanced with all the wings together—the right, the centre and the left. The Turks used a special strategy with their two units—one advanced guard and other the reserve. The advance guard was meant to test their strength and to find out the weak areas. The reserve was thrown into the battle fray after the Rajput’s had exhausted their resources.
3. Lack of offensive:
The Rajput’s mostly fought defensive battles with the foreign invaders and this was not the appropriate way of winning a battle.
4. Outdated weapons and war strategies:
The Rajput’s did not try to find out the latest techniques and weapons used in foreign lands.
5. Swordsmen versus archers:
The Turkish archers shooting arrows from their horses were more than a match for the Rajput soldiers with their swords which could become effective only if they could reach close to the enemy.
6. Elephants versus horses:
The Rajput’s depended to a considerable extent upon the elephants. The elephants were easily struck with fear with the swiftness of the horses’ movements and the war cries. They ran helter- skelter spreading fear and disorder in their own camp. The strength of the Turks lay in their efficient cavalry.
7. Lack of military leadership:
Military leadership is quite different from bravery and chivalry. The Rajput rulers and their commanders did not have the requisite capacity to infuse zeal in their armies. On the other hands, the Turk invaders could easily arouse the battle cry ‘to do or die’.
8. Overdependence on the ruler:
Usually the soldiers of the Rajput rulers had the impression that after the death or disappearance of the Raja, they could not face the enemy. The disappearance of the Raja even for a short while created panic in the army. The disappanee of Anand Pal for a while when his elephant was hit by an arrow caused panic in his army and his army lost heart and consequently battle against Mahmud of Ghazni.
Lane-poole has described the fate of the war as, “Anand Pal’s elephant took fright, the rumour ran that the Raja was fleeing from the field, vague suspicions and distrust spread about, and a general stampede ensued. Instead of retreating before a vivacious army, in an instant Mahmud found himself pursuing a panic stricken crowd.”
9. Only Rajput’s in the army:
Only Rajput’s had the duty to fight. Other classes were indifferent. Thus too much dependence on the Rajput’s was one of the weaknesses of the military organisation