by Jia Lal Kilam

CHAPTER II
Advent of Islam

Writing about the people of Kashmir Alberuni says that the people of Kashmir "are particularly anxious about the actual strength of their country and therefore take always great care to keep a stronghold upon the entrance and roads leading into it. In consequence, it is very difficult to have any commerce with them .... At present they do not allow any Hindu whom they do not know personally to enter, much less other people."

The invasions of Mahmud shook the Indian soil to its depths, and though he failed to occupy Kashmir, his invasion made the Kashmiris very vigilant for their national defence. The Punjab was occupied by Mahmud. The threat of Muslim invasion was always present Consequently, they did not allow any foreigners to come in and kept the country closed to all the outside world, at least for the time being. But such a state of affairs could not continue for long. The trading classes, both merchants and manufacturers, who had carried on a brisk trade with the Punjab, were hard hit by their isolation from external markets, and a general unrest, particularly in the cities was the outcome. The working classes in the cities were without employment and the peasantry sullen and resentful because of the prevailing turmoil. They greatly added to the unrest depicted in the last chapter. Such a state of affairs lasted upto the reign of Suhadeva (1301-1320). The rigidity observed in the time of Alberuni did not last for long, and as we have seen in the last chapter, the coming of the Muslims was at times encouraged by the country's rulers to serve as a safety valve between themselves and the other warring classes. But this infiltration of foreigners did not mend matters. The Punjab was unsettled and as trade with it was negligible, there was poverty and consequent unrest. Agriculture was at a standstill and the peasantry was sullen and starving. What was required was a powerful hand that could restore peace and prosperity to the realm. During Suhadeva's reign many foreigners, mainly Muslims, came into Kashmir. The chief amongst them was a Muslim missionary popularly known as Bulbul Shah who converted Renchana, a Tibetan prince settled as a refugee in Kashmir where he became king later. He was followed by Shah Mir who came in 1313 A. D. along with his numerous relations. Suhadeva received him well, being the son of a renowned Muslim divine, and bestowed a Jagir upon him. Lankar Chak, an adventurer, also came during Suhadeva's reign and settled in Kashmir under Suhadeva's patronage. Things went on thus when a terrific catastrophe swept over the country which developed a crisis of a far reaching character, sufficient to pave the path for the epoch-making changes that followed the event. Dulchu, a Tartar chief invaded Kashmir with an army of 70,000 strong. Suhadeva fled towards Kishtwar leaving his kingdom to the tender mercies of the merciless invader. Dulchu ordered a massacre. Thousands were killed, many more were sold as slaves to Tartar merchants who had accompanied him. Towns were set on fire, standing crops were destroyed and having stayed here for about eight months Dulchu took about 50,000 Brahmans with himself as slaves only to perish with all his troops and slaves while crossing Devsar pass.

Dulchu went away from the country. But his visit had upset the whole social and economic fabric of the country. People were in distress. Lawlessness was rampant, and marauding bands infested the highways. The people had lost all faith in their ruler. All they wanted was a strong man who could establish peace with a resolute will. Such a man they found in Renchana, who had previously repulsed an attack of Khasha tribe where he showed a great deal of military prowess and valour. Without any serious opposition, he seized the rule of the country, though Ram Chandra, the Commander-in-chief of the late king, put in a feeble resistance, but was later defeated and killed. This created not a ripple in the populace anywhere and Renchana became the undisputed monarch. Things got settled so much that not long after, Renchana married the daughter of Ram Chandra. His son Ravana Chandra was raised to a very high position in the State and all seemed well for the time being. Renchana was very much impressed by the sad spectacle of warring- sects and creeds that were present in Kashmir. He wanted to establish a uniform faith in the country with himself as its head. He was himself a nominal Buddhist and tried to get himself initiated into the Brahamanical fold. But the Brahmans who were always jealous of sharing their privileges with an outsider, privileges which in spite of various vicissitudes they went through they had largely preserved, did not favour his initiation into their fold. The result was that he embraced Islam at the hands of Bulbul Shah, a Muslim missionary, to whom reference has just been made, and who had continued to stay on in Kashmir. Thus we see that in order to preserve the class ascendency by refusing the outside Renchana admission to their fold, the Brahmans not only destroyed their own ascendency but spelt ruin to their very existence as we shall presently see. The unsettled condition of the times, brought about by various factors briefly dealt with above, had prepared the people for very big changes. With Renchana's conversion who now took the Islamic name of Malik Saduruddin, Ravana Chandra and many others with him accepted Islam. Thus a Muslim ruling class sprang into existence. This class also needed support, and they used various methods for the proselytisation of their faith. The simple tenets of Islam backed by official support gained many adherents from the lower castes. Only the Brahmans put a brave front, as we shall presently see.

Renchana died in the year 1326 A.D. He left behind his widow Kota Rani and a minor son Haidar Shah who on account of his minority was not considered for the kingship. Uddyana Deo, the brother of Suhadeva, who had fled during Dulchu's attack and was staying at Swatgar, was brought back from his voluntary exile and was installed upon the throne. Kota Rani married him. The real power remained, however, in the hands of Kota Rani. She appointed Bikhshana Bhatta and Shahmir as the Prime Minister and the Commander-in-chief respectively. By such means Kota Rani tried to give satisfaction to all the classes. But this arrangement could not last for long. As ill-luck would have it, again another Tartar chief by name Arwan or Archalla, made an attack upon Kashmir with his Tartar hordes. Uddyana Deo, as was customary with the family, fled this time to Tibet. But Kota Rani stirred the local patriotism of the Kashmiris by an impassioned appeal. The people in thousands gathered under her banner and inflicted a crushing defeat upon the Tartars. Kashmir was freed from danger. Uddyana Deo, came back to rule and Shahmir who distinguished himself while defending the country rose very high in the esteem of the people. His sons Jamshed and Allauddin were appointed to very high and responsible posts and he himself was very greatly honoured by the Rani. Uddyana Deo died in the year 1341 A.D. leaving behind him a minor son and Kota Rani his widow. At this time began the real struggle between militant Islam and tolerant but static Hinduism of the day. Kota Rani represented the latter and Shahmir became the rallying point of the forces of Islam. Kota Rani tried to establish herself on the throne, but was defeated by Shahmir who mounted the throne and became the progenitor of a long line of kings known as Salatins. These Salatin ruled Kashmir for more than two hundred years. Thus ended the Hindu rule, not as a result of a foreign aggression, as in the case of the neighbouring province of the Punjab, but as a result of a long chain of events briefly surveyed in the foregoing pages.