Real Historical Facts

Nalanda University was set on fire by the Turkish ruler Bakhtiyar Khilji. The university’s library had a huge collection of books, because of which the fire did not go off for three months. Khilhji also put many of the religious gurus to death.

Khilji’s complete name was Ikhtiyaaruddin Mohammad Bin Bakhtiyaar Khilji. Khilji captures some of the areas ruled by Buddhists. The reason behind setting Nalanda University on fire as explained by world renowned historians was, Once Khilji was very ill, and irrespective of various medication he could not recover. Then Khilji was suggested that, he should be treated under Rahul Sheelbhadra, who was the head consultant (aacharya)of Ayurveda in Nalanda University. Khilji made a condition that he would not take any Indian medicine. He said, if he does not recover he will get the aacharya killed.

Next day aacharya went to him with the holy Quraan and said, Khilji has to read certain pages of Quraan and eventually he would recover. He did so and he was cured. Khilji was angry instead of being happy upon his recovery, he was angry because understanding of an Indian ayurvedic doctors was better than their hakims. Actually Rahul Sheelbhadra, who was the ayurvedic doctor, applied certain medicine on those pages which Khilji was prescribed to read. Every time he turned the page, he consumed the medicine as he licked his finger in order to turn the pages. Thus, he recovered.

Instead of being great full and showing gratitude to Buddhism and Ayurveda , Khilji was angry and set the Nalanda University on fire in the year 1199. The university’s library had a huge collection of books, because of which the fire did not go off for three months. Khilhji also put many of the religious gurus to death.

How many wars were fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Ghauri?  The answer to this question is still controversial. Talking of legends, Prithviraj fought 17 wars against Ghauri and PrithviRaj won 16 out of these 17 wars and forgave Ghauri.

Based on the facts that present historians and historic facts, two wars were fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Ghauri. The first war was fought in 1191 followed by another in 1192. Both of these wars were fought in Tarrain Battlefield. Muslim historians only glorified and proved one war, which was won by Ghauri. However, few Muslim historians like Farishta, Minhaz, As Siraj Janul Masri, Tabqat-e-Nasiri and Hasan Nizami etc believed that there were two wars fought. This falsifies the other historian who believed that only one war was fought. Ojha distinctly said, these historians either disguise or twist the story of Ghauri’s defeat. Hindu and Jain Epic textbooks described many wars fought between these two. Prithviraj Raso and Archeological compilation describes 8 wars being fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Ghauri. Chintamani management believed that there were many wars fought. However, Epic Hammir describes 7 wars being fought. Dasharatha Sharma also describes frequent and continuous conflicts between these two in 1186.

Chauhan and Ghauri lead their own army themselves during the wars in Tarrain Battlefield. Meanwhile many small and big wars were fought amongst feudal lords and their army. Ghauri’s constant invasion was defeated by Chauhan’s feudal lords.  There has been description of two attacks through Khaiber pass. These were primarily small encounters which were handled by Pajwan Rai, who was Chauhan’s general. These attacks by Ghauri were to assess the army strength of Chauhan. He always knew, he wouldn’t be able to rule India unless he defeats PrithviRaj. Ghauri was already defeated by Solankis of Gujrat in 1178. That’s why he was even more careful about powerful rulers like Prithviraj Chauhan. After few small and big attacks, in the year 1191, Ghauri attacked in once again with extravagant war preparation. 

Historically, Prithviraj and Ghauri have only encountered each other twice in the battlefield of Tarrain. There were definitely some fights between the two armies from 1180 to 1190 in which Ghauri was defeted by Prithviraj Chauhan’s general. The historical evidence of Prithviraj’s presence in those fights is not found.  

It is written in history that queen of Chittor Karamvati who is also known as Karnavati once sent Rakhi to Humayun and consequently he helped her. But this is not a truth. In fact, it is a false attempt to prove Humayun a thorough gentleman and a true secular who respected Indian tradition and values.

Chittor's Maharana Vikramaditya was an inept ruler when Gujrat’s Bahadur Shah attacked him. The Chittor's Feudalists were not happy with him. At that time, in order to deal with the trouble, Queen Karamvati sent a Rakhi to Humayun through Seth Padmshah and insisted him to help her like his sister.   Actually, Humayun understood the values of Queen’s Rakhi and reciprocating he sent her a number of gifts and good wishes. Humayun was already aware of the significance of Rakhi and Brother-Sister relations in Indian culture. He knew it because once he took a refuge at Amarkot (currently in Pakistan) ruled by Rajpoot king Rana Veershal when he was deported from Delhi by Shershah suri. At that crucial time, Rana Veershal provided him a shelter and gave him due respect like his close relative. During that time, Humayun's wife gave birth to Akbar in Amarkot.

Initially, in an awe of Indian tradition, Humayun marched towards Chittor along with his troop to save Chittor. But in the midway, in Gwalior, he received Bahadurshah’s letter in which Bahadurshah emphasized that he had had a 'Jehad' against Kafir(infidel) so he should not come to their rescue. After reading this, Humayun’s all emotions were vanished and he quickly forgot the greatness of Indian culture that once gave him shelter and saved his life. He just stopped there and didn't move ahead. The words 'Jihad against Kafirs' had more importance for him than anything else in the world. He forgot the brother-Sister relationship. It had no meaning for him before Islam. He stayed in Gwalior for next one month and returned back to Agra on 4 March 1533.

In the meantime, one of Humayun's man Mohamad Jama escaped from Byana and took refuge in Gujarat. Even on the insistence of Humayun, Bahadurshah refused to send Mohamad Jama back. Urgently, Humayun attacked Gujrat and defeated Bahadurshah's General Tatar khan easily. At that time, Bahadurshah had attacked Chittor for the second time. When he heard his army defeat's against Mughals, He immediately planned to proceed towards his kingdom leaving chittor behind. But his one Sardar counseled him that until he was in Chittor, inflicting JIHAD against Kafir, Humayun would not move ahead against us. And history reveals that exactly the same happened as Badusrshah’s man said.  Humayun stayed in Sarangpur and kept himself waiting for the result of Chittor battle. But he did not turn up for protecting the Rakhi’s respect despite having enmity with Bahadurshah. Later Bahadur Shah won the Chittor battle and went on to Mandsaur along with his troop where Mughals were already waiting for him. History witnesses one more battle, but Bahadurshah’s Army was severely defeated by Mughals. Hearing the news of Bahadurshah's defeat Chittor's 7,000 Rajpoots attacked on Bahadurshah’s soldiers and made them run away from Chittor. Later Vikramaditya was taken back from Boondi and Ascended to the throne.

It is an irony that Humayun was given false credit to help Rajpoots get Chittor back by pseudo seculars and communist historians. But in reality, Humayun never fought any battle against Bhadurshah for Chittor.