Anupama Nair
The topic I am going to write about will shock most of you, especially those who are proud of Bharat and Bharat Maa and her great history, culture and for those whom she is the mother too. As it is said “Janani Janmabhumishcha Swargadapi Gariyasi” which means “mother and motherland are superior even to heaven” in Dev Bhasha Sanskrit, from our great epic Ramayana. I believe in this motto and think my mother and Bharat maa are superior to heaven.
Now put you thinking cap and think have you heard about a loyal horse Subhrak. Ninety percent would say no. He was also loyal like Chetak of Maharana Pratap and Badal of Rani Lakshmibai. What do our history books teach us about Quṭub-ud-Dīn Aibak, he fell from his pet horse, while playing polo. After Independence, due to the fact that our history is written by Left-oriented historians, they never forgot to glorify our invaders from Ghori to Aurangazeb. What is more shocking is, station where you alight to visit the Nalanda University is named as Bhaktiyarpur after the fiend Bhaktiyar Khilji, who burned the world-famous University, and our capital Delhi has streets named after all these invaders. What have we become?
Like the great and loyal sons and daughters of Bharat Maa, even our animals like horses are faithful and willing to sacrifice their lives for their masters. Subhrak was the horse of the hero of this story. I am confident our books have never mentioned him as I have never heard any mention of him – Kuar Karan Singh, the great Prince of Mewar. Subhrak saved his master’s life and took him to Mewar and sacrificed his life instead!
Now let us talk about Quṭub-ud-Dīn Aibak who was the founder of the Mamluk dynasty and the first sultan of the Delhi Sultanate. He was born in Turkistan and was a slave. When his master died, he was sold by his master’s son to Muhammad of Ghor, who made him the Amir-i-Akhur (Master of Slaves). Over the years, he joined Ghori’s military and rose to become the general of Muhammad of Ghor.
Samar Singh Deva was the Rawal of Chittorgarh. He had two wives. His first wife was Prithabai who was the sister of one of Bharat Maa’s greatest sons — Prithviraj Chauhan. His other wife was Kurma Devi, the daughter of Nayaki Devi. Prithviraj Chauhan fought Muhammad Ghori, and was martyred, but killed Ghori too. But do you know that Nayaki Devi had defeated Muhammad Ghori fourteen years before Prithviraj Chauhan had even first fought Ghori? Nayaki Devi was a Solanki (Gujarat) Queen, and was from Gomantak (Goa). Nayaki Devi’s daughter Kurma Devi defeated Qutub ud-Din Aibak. Bharat Maa has given birth to many great daughters and, Nayaki Devi and her daughter were one of them. There is falsehood women were not treated well in Bharat, it may be true in the modern world, but in the ancient period, women were equal to men and treated well. Women were well versed in archery and known for their bravery. Think about the great daughters of this land. I had written a series of articles about great queens of India. We were anything but regressive!
Unfortunately, Samar Singh and his eldest son were killed in the Second Battle Of Tarain (1191-92 AD) that was fought between Prithviraj Chauhan and Muhammad Ghori. After the war Ghori returned to Multan and left Qutub-ud-din in charge of Delhi. Kurma Devi had to look after her young son Karan Singh. After a couple of years, Kurma Devi led her army with nine other kings and eleven Rawats, in her march towards Delhi to seek revenge against the man who had killed her husband, and kill him — Qutub-ud-Din Aibak.
Kurma Devi and her army encountered Qutub-ud-Din Aibak and his army near the old Amber Fort. She herself confronted Aibak and challenged him in a duel. What a brave woman to challenge a sultan! In the duel, this brave queen managed to bury her sword deep into Qutub-ud-Din’s flesh, and he was so severely wounded that he tumbled from his horse. Aibak’s army believed he was dead, and the cowards that they were, instead of fighting back they fled from the battlefield. Kurma Devi thought that she had avenged the death of her dead husband with the death of Qutub-ud-din and she returned to Chittorgarh.
But unfortunately, Aibak was not dead. He recovered and decided to take vengeance. He declared himself the Sultan of Bharat. He destroyed the temple of Vishnu, which also had Vishnu Dhwaj. (later named as Qutub Minar in Delhi.) He attacked Mewar and captured Karan Singh. He looted all the wealth of Mewar and also took Karan Singh as captive and his loyal horse Shubhrak. When they reached Lahore, Karan Singh tried to escape but unfortunately, he was caught. In anger, Qutub-ud-din ordered to behead Karan Singh. He declared that he would play a polo match with the dead king’s head. The next day, Qutub-ud-din arrived at the venue, riding on Shubhrak. But as they say you pay for your evil deeds and now that is what happened.
As I said before animals of Bharat are very intelligent and loyal to their masters, whether it is our horses, elephants or cows. Shubhrak, immediately recognized his master Karan Singh and started crying. When he saw that his master was released from his chains so that he could be beheaded, Shubhrak suddenly became uncontrollable and threw Qutub-ud-din on the ground. Next, Shubhrak stomped on Aibak’s chest and head with his mighty hooves continuously. Hit by such powerful hooves, Qutub-ud-din died on the spot. But this was not it. Before the army could capture it, Shubhrak ran towards his master Karan Singh and saved his life. Karan Singh mounted the horse and escaped and Shubhrak ran for several days and nights till it reached the palace of Udaipur. There, Karan Singh got down, and patted his beloved horse … but after acknowledging the pat from its master, Shubhrak fell to the ground and died.
When I think of such valiant souls, I bow my head with reverence to those who had protected Bharat Maa and our Dharma from avaricious hordes of invaders. Now think about what you were taught in history books and what was the reality? Isn’t it the time we rewrite our history books and invaders shown in their true colors and our cities and streets named as they were before these invaders whose only intention was to loot the “sone ki chidiya” and not work for the benefit of the country? Hope the time comes soon! I for sure would like to see that in my life time. Vande Mataram!
