Chapter 8
Queen Kota, Statesman

Strong, diplomat, and as good administrator and responsible politician Queen Kota was the last Hindu ruler of Kashmir. She realised the terrible results of the religious conversion started by foreign religious preachers, who had come to Kashmir. and she, accordingly, channelised her activities. She saw supporters of Buddhism ruinning the basic structure of India in league with foreign elements. Worried over this, Queen Kotarani tried all that she could to protect Kashmir and ensure safety of the mainstream of the values of Indian life, of which Kashmir was an influential centre.
 
Marriage with her father's killer

When Rinchan, Army Chief of Kashmir and who later eliminated Kotarani's father, Ramchandra, occupied the throne of Kashmir, the condition in Kashmir, at that time, was highly horrible. There was total anarchy in the administration. The rebellious elements had started raising their head. People of Kashmir had become leaderless, no capable king was available. In this condition people of Kashmir could see only Rinchan for looking after Kashmir and Rinchan, too, did not waste time in taking advantage of the situation. He declared himself as the king of Kashmir.

At that time the roots of Buddhism were getting severed from the Indian nationalism. The supporters of Buddhism had got entangled in inviting foreign invaders to attack India to whom they provided assistance. Since Rinchan was a Buddhist there was need for Indianising his mind and activities. To achieve this, Kotarani agreed to marry Rinchan.

Marrying her father's murderer for the welfare of the people of Kashmir, for the protection of the state of Kashmir and for the interest of the nation is a strange and rare example in history.

Through the guidance and assistance of Kotarani, Rinchan improved the administrative setup and reorganised the administrative machinery which had been derailed. By changing the outlook of army officers he promoted the feelings of discipline in the Army. He successfully curbed revolts. Kotarani played a pivotal role in giving directions to all these efforts and administrative activities of Rinchan.

Blunder of Pandits

Through her nature and wisdom Kotarani made Rinchan to accept Hindu religion. Under the influence of Kotarani's opinions, arguments and nationalistic outlook Rinchan decided to join the national mainstream. Kotarani urged him to carry out baptism into Hindu religion through established religious rites and directed him to go to some experienced Pandit. Rinchan went to some Pandit scholars.

But the then Kashmiri Pandits, even being great scholars, had lost understanding of the basic elements of religion because of prolonged unrest. As such lacking farsightedness they were incapable of interpreting religion as per the requirements of the era. They straightway refused to initiate Rinchan into Hinduism, when Buddhism is a branch of Hindu religion. Rinchan became angry and annoyed and while reacting to the treatment meted out to him by the Pandits he adopted Islam. All the patriotic efforts of Kotarani were washed away and the seeds of the cancer of religious conversion were sown. The already available humanitarian outiook and nationalism in Hindu religion were strangled. As a result of this blunder of the then Pandits the cancerous plants are currently emiting fire in Kashmir.

Rinchan held the reigns of the Government as a Muslim ruler under the name of Malik Sadruddin. But Katarani, through her sweet behaviour, managed to restrain his activities to some extent. He succeeded in curbing internal revolts because of Kotarani's clever behaviour and political wisdom but he remained ignorant about the conspiracies that were being hatched against him in foreign lands. When Dulchoo, an invader from central Asia, enacted the dance of destruction in Kashmir, King Sehdev had fled and his brother, Udyandev, too escaped to Gandhar. After Rinchan assumed power he, following his return to Kashmir, attempted to dislodge Rinchan from the seat of power.

Udyandev kept under control

Udyandev hatched a secret conspiracy with the help of a local influential Sardar Tikoo. He launched an attack on the palace of Rinchan with the help of his trusted men. Rinchan was injured and a rumour about his death was spread in the entire city. It led to disorder and violence. But peace returned as a result of timely efforts of Kotarani. When Rinchan became fit, he, on the implorings of Kotarani, got the rebels killed. However, the wounds, he had received during an attack on him, were so deep that he succumbed to these injuries in 1320 A.D. Just before his death Rinchan summoned his trusted minister, Shahmir, and entrusted his son and wife, Kotarani, to his care. This was the same Shahmir who had come to Kashmir as a religious preacher and who had been appointed as minister by King Sehdev. Rinchan was the first Muslim convert and Shahmir first Muslim religious preacher.

When Rinchan started punishing the rebels, who had attacked him in the palace, Udyandev had managed to escape. He became active again after the death of Rinchan. With the help of an external force he launched an attack on Kashmir. Kashmir was incapable to face this invasion. In the absence of Rinchan no powerful person emerged on the scene. The Army officers too were not united because there was no able commander to guide them. Udyandev started achieving success. Kotarani got worried over the possible fall of Kashmir but she did not give up courage. She was already a diplomat, she decided to take necessary steps for the protection of the people which was protection of Kashmir. She thought of one one way of putting a nose-ring to Udyandev and that was to marry him, for which she sent a proposal to him.

Justice Kilam has written that Kashmir, once again witnessed disorder. Though Rinchan had established peace, he had not succeeded in curbing totally the anarchic elements. These very anarchic forces raised their head after the death of Rinchan. Kotarani had realised that she could not control the nation with her limited resources. And when Udyandev was marching towards Kashmir with a big army, the Queen offered herself and her throne to him and discarded the rights of her son, Hyder. Udyandev occupied the throne and immediately married Kotarani.

Had not Kotarani taken this decision the foreign elements, which had come with Udyandev, would have destroyed Kashmir. As wife of Udyandev Kotarani succeeded in holding the reigns of the Government in her hands. Her son, Hyder, was yet small. After the death of Rinchan, Hyder had the right to occupy the throne of Kashmir. It was certain that after her marriage with Udyandev Hyder had to lose the throne. But, once again, Kotarani sacrificed the rights of her son on the altar of Kashmir's interest.

Udyandev was simply a twinkling lamp in front of the resplendent glory of Kotarani. With the help of her attraction, beauty and wisdom the queen held Udyandev in her political clutches.

Coward king flees

But God kept on testing Kotarani's courage, capacity for work and organisation. This time Kashmir witnessed another powerful invasion. One Persian Tatar Sardar, Achla, invaded Kashmir. Udyandev again fled. One Muslim historian, Mohd. Din Fak, has, in his book "History of Kashmir", praised courage and administrative qualities of Kotarani and talked about cowardice of Udyandev.

He has written that Udyandev, this time, fled to Tibet following the footsteps of his family. But Kotarani awakened the people of Kashmir about patriotism through her fiery appeal. Thousands of people assembled under the flag of Kotarani and defeated Tatars. Kashmir was free of turmoil and danger.

Kotarani convened a meeting of all Sardars, Army officials, politicians, social and religious leaders and told them that if in this hour of national crisis "we do not forget our dfflerences and get united, we may have to face many difficulties". She implored people to remain vigilant about the future while reminding them of the destruction caused during the invasion of Dulchoo. People were deeply influenced by her call and they came under one banner in the hour of national crisis after rising above from the group sentiments. Kotarani kept the command of the battle in her hand and the enemy was shaken by the mettle of her sword. Kashmiri Army established its foundation because of her war strategy and Army command. After a battle of a few days the thrust of Achla's Army was stopped.

Expert in diplomacy

Achla's Army strength was greater than that of the Army in Kashmir. Even while fighting with chivalry Kotarani realised that it was not possible to defeat the foreign invaders because of their bigger number and arms strength. Banking on sound diplomacy she thought of changing the battlefront. In the battlefield fronts have to be changed many a times. One has to adopt a strategy according to the facing enemy. Conspirators should be replied in the language of conspiracy which is considered the best war tactics; annihilate viciousness through wickedness. Kotarani had thrown to winds that policy of liberalism and broadmindedness which was the cause of defeat of the Hindus till now. What sort of broadmindedness towards the sinner ?

Kotarani sent her trusted messenger to Achla with an offer for truce and informed him that "our troops" were fatigued. She wanted war to be stopped. The ruler of Kashmir had fled out of scare and the throne was vacant. Achla was told that he could occupy the throne only on one condition that he would withdraw his Army and the fairies of Kashmir would welcome him. And Kotarani would present herself in his service.

An expert intriguer in the battlefield and wicked in political behaviour Sardar Achla was ensnared by the sweet words of Kotarani. He sent back all his forces. He started waiting impatiently, alongwith some colleagues, for Kotarani and for the Kashmiri fairies. He was imagining of being surrounded by fairies. Achla was engrossed in the imaginary enjoyment of beauty. There and then Kotarani reached there like a roaring lion and with one stroke of her sword beheaded Achla. The same fate awaited his colleagues. Kotarani emerged victorious. She emerged like Durga in front of the Kashmiris. Senior officers of the administration and the Army and the ministers unanimously declared Kotarani as the Queen of Kashmir.

Liberal minded woman

Here one more important aspect of the character of Kotarani is highlighted. Besides being a cruel battle commander and strong administrator she was also a liberal minded woman. In her person, Indian Woman's devotion and respect for her husband were present. Her husband, Udyandev, had fled leaving her alone during the war. When he came to know that Achlahad been killed and his Army had been defeated and Kotarani had become the Queen of Kashmir, he returned to Kashmir. Kotarani welcomed him and kept him in the palace with honour. She preserved in her the character of an ideal woman.

Free from worries she started running the state administration. In order to provide justice to the people she made changes in the courts in the state. Those soldiers who had shown their courage and ability in the battle were honoured. And those who had played fraud during the war were sacked and punished. She also reorganised her council of ministers. Kotarani was a born administrator. She also started several social reforms.

Her successful prison escape

Possibly she was not destined to lead a happy life. Internal revolt in the state took birth again. Influential groups started emerging on the scene. Internally the embers of revolt started simmerin g. She curbed these revolts with her full strength. But she could not completely finish these revolts. Many ministers and Army officers in Kashmir did not like to be governed by a female personality. They tried to dislodge the Queen from the seeat of power but everytime they had to face defeat.

Once a senior Army offcer, with a company of troops, attacked the palace of the Queen. On hearing this news, the Queen, with her security guards, came out to fight the rebel soldiers. But the Army officer succeeded in arresting the Queen. She was imprisoned in a fortress. The Queen had never learnt to be panicky and give up courage. Even while being in the prison she established links with the outside world through her cleverness. She succeeded in escaping from the prison by scaling the wall during the night with the help of her trusted minister, Kumar Bhat. On reaching the capital, she started a terrible military campaign and got killed the rebel officers and their colleagues.

All these events were being watched peacefully but with some aim by Shahmir. The purpose for which this Muslim religious preacher had come to Kashmir could not be achieved during the reign of Kotarani. He demonstrated his sound strategy for carving out his way through all these events and dwindling political situation. He earned confidence of Kotarani. He had fully supported Kotarani during her battles with Dulchoo and Achla. He established an honourable place among people and in order to promote family relations with many influential people he organised marriages of the children of his family.

Shahmir started flaring-up Udyandev against the Queen. The Queen's son Hyder, from her first husband, Rinchan, was marching towards maturety. Shahmir told Udyandev that the Queen was making arrangements for installing her son, Hyder, on the throne. This way Hyder will become the King and the son of Udyandev would be thrown out of the state. The Queen played a trick through which Udyandev was happy and the Shahmir's dice, which he had thrown, proved a failure. The Queen publicly disowned Rinchan and her son, Hyder, and deprived them of their rights. The Queen had doubts: she thought that since Shahmir had nourished Hyder he (Hyder) will support Shahmir.

Shahmir too stooped

In the middle of these tricks Udyandev passed away in 1338 A.D. on the day of Shivratri. In order to prevent rebels from joining hands with Shahmir for usurping the throne of Kashmir, Kotarani kept the news of the death of Udyandev secret for five days. In these five days she took all measures for ensuring security of the state. She deployed her trusted officers on those places which were important from the security point of view. Vigilance was intensified on the border. She appointed one of her close assoicates, Bhikshan Bhat, as Prime Minister.

Within these five days she appointed Lavanya, an influential social leader, as a minister. Both these men were considered the arms of Shahmir. By attracting both of them she almost disabled Shahmir. After the fifth day when the fortification of the state was complete, Kotarani, with the help of her new Prime Minister, Bhikshan Bhat, organised her coronation. Then the news of the death of Udyandev leaked out of the palace. Shahmir kept on repenting.

But Shahmir was not silent. He was an expert in hatching conspiracies secretly. He decided to eliminate Prime Minister, Bhikshan Bhat, by any means because he was the nerve centre of the powers and the rapport with the administrative channels for the Queen. Shahmir had realised that it was not possible to tame this courageous woman neither through revolt nor through love or strength. She had to be eliminated through a simple deceit. The deeds of her fall can be sown by taking advantage of the woman in her and of her liberalism.

Murder of Bhikshan Bhat

Shahmir feigned illness and lay in the bed. Through an employee he sent a message to Kotarani that Shahmir was critically ill and would die. After all Kotarani was a woman and she became upset on hearing about the illness of her one time trusted associate. At once the Queen sent her Prime Minister, Bhikshan Bhat, to enquire about the welfare af Shahmir. Bhikshan Bhat, alongwith his colleagues and security men, reached the house of Shahmir to enquire about his health. The colleagues and the scurity men of Bhikshan Bhat were stopped outside the house. The men of Shahmir engaged them in conversation as per the plan. They were told that in view of the health of Shahmir only Bhikshan Bhat could go inside. He went inside and after making enquiries about his health, Shahmir requested him to occupy the seat in front of him. The moment Bhikshan Bhat took the seat, Shahmir immediately wounded him fatally. Bhikshan died on the spot. Kotarani was shocked and enraged on hearing this news but her minister, Lavanya, prevented her from taking revenge at that very moment.

Shahmir's victory

After some time Kamraj area of Kashmir witnessed severe famine. Kotrani's motherly mind cried on seeing people famish. She immediately sent relief and for supervising the relief measures she herself went on tour of the centire area.

When Shahmir came to know that the Queen is away from the capital of Srinagar, he reached Srinagar alongwith his armed forces. After occupying the city with the help of an Army officer Shahmir declared himself the king of the state. Minister, Lavanya, took his trusted men with him and launched an attack on Shahmir. Shahmir was about to be defeated when, on his appeal, many sardars with their companies of troops reached Srinagar to assist him. Lavanya was surrounded and he had to surrender before the armed strength of Shahmir who took full control of Srinagar.

At that time Kotarani was busy in looking after the relief operations in Kamraj region which had been affected by famine. When the news of occupation of Srinagar by Shahmir reached the Queen, she started collecting her troops at Jaipur (now Andukot), near Kamraj. But already much time had been wasted. By occupying Srinagar Shahmirhad become stronger. In order to arrest the Queen, Shahmir set out for the Jaipur fort where Kotarani was formulating the battle strategy.

The Queen was entrapped inside the fort alongwith her soldiers. Shahmir's troops cordoned off the entire Fort. The Queen finalised a plan for escaping from the fort after she saw herself having been entrapped but her plan did not fructify because of the alert soldiers of Shahmir. The Queen realised that the end was near, still she did not give up her courage. She decided to play diplomacy and prepared an outline of a scheme for eliminating Shahmir.

Kotarani decided to play the last trick of diplomacy of her life. She sent a message to Shahmir offering her the throne and her hand for marriage.

When Shahmir learnt that he was getting both the throne and Kotarani as his wife he gladly accepted the offer. And he invited the Queen to his palace.

Queen's self-sacrifice

On receiving Shahmir's invitation, Kotarani was ready to go to him. She dressed and decorated herself fully. She looked like a bride in her lovely attire. Decked in beautiful gold ornaments Kotarani hid a sharp dagger under her garments before moving to the palace. She reached the palace of Shahmir. Shahmir invited her to his bedroom. The moment, the Queen entered into the bedroom she became alert. The Queen had gone inside the bedroom to kill Shahmir with her dagger but the thrust of her dagger proved in vain. The moment Shahmir stepped forward to embrace her, Kotarani ended her life with the same dagger. She did not allow Shahmir to come close to her body.

This marked an end to one of the romantic and courageous characters in the history of Kashmir. There can be no two opinions about the character and qualities of this woman.

Nobody can dispute that Kotarani was a born diplomat. It was because of her clever strategy that Achla was killed and his invasion was stopped. In the light of mean mentality of the landlords and indiscipline among the soldiers during her time, Kotarani's wisdom, strength of character and administrative capabilities are golden pages of the history of Kashmir. After the sacrifice of Kotarani, Shahmir was the first Muslim Sultan to occupy the throne of Kashmir.

Dr. Raghunath Singh, in his commentary on Rajtarangani, has given a vivid description of the slate of mind of people of Kashmir at the time of the unique self-sacrifice of Kotarani. At that stage people remained calm and idle. According to Dr. Raghunath Singh, people remained impartial They were uprooted, they were destroyed. The ancient Kashmir was destroyed. If it was a sad event for the Hindus, it was a day of happiness for Shahmir and the Muslim world. It was an auspicious time for the Muslims. It was an occasion of festivity and delight. It was a new birth for Kashmir from Darul Harb (area of peace) to Darul Islam. It was an end of "kufr" (infidelity) and the rise of "Imaan" (faith).

With this started the bloody saga of fanaticism, the pain of religious conversion whose shrieks have been penned down even by Muslim historians.