08-22-2004, 06:44 PM
The Punjab puzzle:
http://www.airavat.com/Punjabi%20Muslims.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->How is one to explain the survival of Hindu and semi-Hindu powers in these frontier areas long after the invasion of the Muslim Turks? It seems that the Turks in India usually looked for wealthy bases where they could live and finance their wars of expansion. Such bases were mostly in the Gangetic plains and not in these frontier lands (the Punjab then was an infertile plain covered with forests and scrub).
How do the Pakistani historians look on these local powers? They usually water down any reference to revolts or wars and instead describe this period as, continuation of Muslim rule by different Muslim dynasties. The uncomfortable facts of Sumras and Lankahs being nominal Muslims and of their not behaving as true Islamic Kings are not acknowledged. Thus the one thing that the locals of these areas should be proud of is denied to them by the Pakistani establishment, which is obsessed by the idea of we-are-all-of-foreign-descent.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Far from resisting the invaders, they meekly submitted and allowed their homes to be trodden under foreign heels. Imagine if they had joined the Sikhs in resisting foreign rule? Imagine if they had together defeated the Afghans, then the Marathas would not have had to waste resources in defending Punjab (a direct cause of the third battle of Panipat in 1761); they could have turned their energies against the quietly advancing British in the East.
The Pakjabis deride memories of Sikh rule and have only abuse for Maharaja Ranjit Singh. If only they had used this energy in fighting for their land they could have had a share in ruling Punjab; they chose not to and so suffered the consequences.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://www.airavat.com/Punjabi%20Muslims.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->How is one to explain the survival of Hindu and semi-Hindu powers in these frontier areas long after the invasion of the Muslim Turks? It seems that the Turks in India usually looked for wealthy bases where they could live and finance their wars of expansion. Such bases were mostly in the Gangetic plains and not in these frontier lands (the Punjab then was an infertile plain covered with forests and scrub).
How do the Pakistani historians look on these local powers? They usually water down any reference to revolts or wars and instead describe this period as, continuation of Muslim rule by different Muslim dynasties. The uncomfortable facts of Sumras and Lankahs being nominal Muslims and of their not behaving as true Islamic Kings are not acknowledged. Thus the one thing that the locals of these areas should be proud of is denied to them by the Pakistani establishment, which is obsessed by the idea of we-are-all-of-foreign-descent.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Far from resisting the invaders, they meekly submitted and allowed their homes to be trodden under foreign heels. Imagine if they had joined the Sikhs in resisting foreign rule? Imagine if they had together defeated the Afghans, then the Marathas would not have had to waste resources in defending Punjab (a direct cause of the third battle of Panipat in 1761); they could have turned their energies against the quietly advancing British in the East.
The Pakjabis deride memories of Sikh rule and have only abuse for Maharaja Ranjit Singh. If only they had used this energy in fighting for their land they could have had a share in ruling Punjab; they chose not to and so suffered the consequences.
<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->