Ponniyin Selvan Varalaatru Peravai

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Chapter II - ends on a meloncholy note

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.

chapter iv

Shahi Khan now known as Zainulabdin opened a new chapter in the
earlier the Muslims, particularly the Arabs, had almost monopolized
the trade in the East. Arab ships went as far as China and Japan. In
the fourteenth century these traders had established their colonies
in South India, Ceylon, Java, Sumatra, and even in China. Their
contacts with races and religions other than their own had widened
their outlook. The enormous gains which they reaped from trade
abroad made them keep their countries open for non-Muslim traders
too. Fresh ideas poured into the Muslim lands. With the free flow of
ideas which now broke through the iron ring of strict isolation, it
was but natural that the Governments too in most Muslim countries
became very tolerant. Poets and philosophers with a radical outlook
came into being and inspite of the rigidity of the Muslim Code there
came about a revolution in men's minds.


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Zainulabdin got a poisonous boil which gave him much trouble. The
court physicians tried their skill but failed, Jona Raja, the
historian says "As flowers are not obtainable in the month of Magha
on account of the mischief by snow, even so physicians who knew
about poisons could not at that time be found in the country owing
to Governmental oppression. The servants of the king at last found
out Shri Bhatta who knew the antidotes of poisons and was well-
versed in the art of healing, but out of fear he, for a long time
delayed to come. When he arrived, the king gave him encouragement
and he completely cured the king of the poisonous boil." The king
wanted to make munificent gifts to Shri Bhatta. But the latter
refused to accept any. But when pressed hard, he made a request
which was to the effect that the Jazia on the Brahmans be remitted,
and opportunities be assured to them to develop their mental and
moral resources without any let or hinderance. The selflessness
displayed by the physician Shri Bhatta had its effect upon the mind
of the king. The request was accepted and Jazia was remitted. The
Brahman was freed from the position of inferiority to which he was
relegated by the previous kings.

Shri Bhatta's selflessness and the acceptance of his request by the
king proved a land-mark in the history of Hinduism in Kashmir


Chapter V

But Hassan Khan had his own virtues. The seed of cultural unity sown
by Zainulabdin "had borne enough fruit in him". Hassan Khan was a
great Sanskrit scholar and well-versed in the Hindu Philosophy. It
is said about him that " the king freed of envy had learnt the six
Schools of philosophy, and the different works of these six Schools
became one in him." Making allowance for the poetical exaggeration
of the poet historian, it can safely be inferred that Hassan Khan
had drunk deep from the fountain of Sanskrit learning and his hatred
for Hinduism was at the lowest ebb or had none at all. Shri Vara
says that he made a good use of his wealth by building Mathas and
endowing villages in favour of Brahmans." The Pandits performed a
big Homa on the day of his coronation. The mere fact that the king
permitted such a ceremony to be performed on the auspicious day of
his coronation shows that he possessed a fair measure of religious
toleration.

Chapter VII

Both man and nature combined its forces to work for their
destruction. There was an acute class prejudice against them and
every attempt was made to break their power and solidarity by such
highly questionable methods as even death and forcible conversions.
In every turmoil that rose and in every civil war that ensued the
Pandit was dragged into it much against his will and he was made to
pay his toll