We started facing invaders from the middle of sixth century. These increased over a period of time and became intense with Ghazni,Ghori and Taimur. They not only looted and plundered our wealth but demolished our temples, Gurdwara's and converted huge population who could not take on their might. The only way to live for them was by becoming Muslims or Christians depending upon who invaded the country.
Many Kings did try to fight but were hugely unsuccessful due to lack of trained manpower, limited fighting attributes and betrayal by fellow citizens. In 18th century, Sikhs nearly won the Anglo-Sikh war but were betrayed by their own generals.
How does one explain our defeats? Were we physically weak ? Were we mentally weak ? Or did the greed of some let all of us down. Historians have given many reasons but one charitable reason could be that we were peace loving people who abhorred blood shed.
In our ancient past, many Indian Kings subjugated other smaller & weaker kingdoms. Ashoka was supposed to have fought a very bloody war and at the end of it the horrors of war changed him for ever.
History shows the strong always subjugate the weak and if we suffered so many invasions it was because of our inherent weaknesses and deep divisions coupled with the lethal mix of greed and jealousy.
Large number of people who were forcibly converted were probably Hindu's who would have been killed if they resisted. Should we today empathise with the current generation whose ancestors were forcibly converted or attack them and subjugate them once again?
Whose fault was it when they were forcibly converted? Did we rise to their defence or we ran away to save ourselves from being converted? What ever we do now or in future can never erase the past. Is there any need to fight old ghosts or painful realities?
It is time we all moved on and draw the necessary lessons .Changing history books wont help. Let us look at our fellow countrymen as humans and not as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Christians. We are all of the same stock. Some were lucky and some unlucky.
Let us stop fighting the past as we have enough challenges in the present and future.
Many Kings did try to fight but were hugely unsuccessful due to lack of trained manpower, limited fighting attributes and betrayal by fellow citizens. In 18th century, Sikhs nearly won the Anglo-Sikh war but were betrayed by their own generals.
How does one explain our defeats? Were we physically weak ? Were we mentally weak ? Or did the greed of some let all of us down. Historians have given many reasons but one charitable reason could be that we were peace loving people who abhorred blood shed.
In our ancient past, many Indian Kings subjugated other smaller & weaker kingdoms. Ashoka was supposed to have fought a very bloody war and at the end of it the horrors of war changed him for ever.
History shows the strong always subjugate the weak and if we suffered so many invasions it was because of our inherent weaknesses and deep divisions coupled with the lethal mix of greed and jealousy.
Large number of people who were forcibly converted were probably Hindu's who would have been killed if they resisted. Should we today empathise with the current generation whose ancestors were forcibly converted or attack them and subjugate them once again?
Whose fault was it when they were forcibly converted? Did we rise to their defence or we ran away to save ourselves from being converted? What ever we do now or in future can never erase the past. Is there any need to fight old ghosts or painful realities?
It is time we all moved on and draw the necessary lessons .Changing history books wont help. Let us look at our fellow countrymen as humans and not as Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs or Christians. We are all of the same stock. Some were lucky and some unlucky.
Let us stop fighting the past as we have enough challenges in the present and future.
Comments
Post a Comment