Sunday, May 17, 2015

Beginning of Akbar as Ruler



On January 24, 1556, the Mughal ruler Humayun died in Delhi and was succeeded by his son, Akbar. Akbar was only thirteen years old. On February 14, 1556, Akbar was enthroned at Kalanaur, in Punjab. At this time, Mughal rule was confined to Kabul, Kandahar, parts of the Delhi region and Punjab. Akbar had been campaigning at Kabul with his guardian, Bairam Khan.

The fall of Delhi and Agra to Hemu and the defeat of the Mughal commander Tardi Beg Khan disturbed the Mughals at Kalanaur. Many Mughal generals advised Akbar to retreat to Kabul, rather than challenge Hemu larger forces. but Bairam Khan decided in favor of war. Akbar's army marched towards Delhi. On November 5, the armies met at the historic battlefield of Panipat.

Akbar and his guardian Bairam Khan did not participate in the battle and were stationed 5 Koss (8 miles) away from the war zone.Akbar had special guard of 5,000 well trained and most faithful troops and was stationed at a safe distance far behind the battle lines. He was instructed by Bairam Khan to flee towards Kabul for life in case the Mughal Army was routed in the battlefield.

Hemu enticed the Mughal army's left and right wings by inducing a retreat on his flanks. Shah Ali Quli Khan learned of this trick from Tardi Beg Khan and dug a trench to protect the Mughal Army's center. But Hemu's War elephants crossed the trench and caused panic in the Mughal Army's center.A Mughal archer shot an arrow that pierced the eye of Hemu rendering him unconscious and in agony, Shah Ali Quli Khan isolated the elephant and captured Hemu.Hemu was brought before the young Mughal Emperor Akbar, who executed Hemu with his own sword and thenceforth took up the title "Ghazi".

Hemu was captured and beheaded. His skull was sent to Kabul for display outside the 'Delhi Darwaza.His torso was sent to Delhi and hanged outside Purana Quila on a gibbet: to intimidate the Hindu population. Hemu's wife escaped from Purana Qila, with the treasures of the fortress, and remained untraceble. Bairam Khan ordered mass executions of Hindus which continued for many years.Hemu's relatives and close Afghan supporters were caught and many of them beheaded.Minarets were made of their skulls at different places. Hemu's 82 year old father who had escaped to Alwar was traced after six months, and was beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam.

Does our history books tell us about the brutality of Akbar.Can Bollywood make a movie on this.Can a TV series show us this reality.Instead a myth was created and Akbar is called great.Mughals were same as ISIS.

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