The Last Hindu King who Sat on the Throne of Delhi
From the 8th century the Muslim invaders began to make forays into Hindustan and by the 12th century the entire North India and the throne at Delhi had passed into the hands of the Muslims. The Rajputs the original rulers were decisively defeated and Muslims dynasty like the Lodhi, Tughlaq and Slave dyansty ruled Delhi. These rulers imposed the Jizziya and overall the Hindus were defeated.
In 1526 Babar won the first Battle of Panipat and ousted the ruler Ibrahim Lodhi. He crowned himself as emperor of Hindustan. However his son Humayun proved an unequal leader and a Afghan chieftain Sher Shah Suri seized power. He built the Purana Qila( old Fort). In reality it was an old fort used earlier by the Hindu rulers.
During this time a boy was born in a Hindu trading community. His name was Hemchandra and he was popularly called Hemu. This boy had destiny written all over him. He did not wish to be a trader and joined the army of Sher Shah. By dint of his ability in rose in the court hierarchy and came close to Sher Shah. When Sher Shah fell ill , he called this man, now a general in the army of Sher Shah and entrusted to him the defence of Delhi as well as supporting his son.
Sher Shah died, but his son was a alcoholic and indecisive man and power passed into the hands of Hemu. In 1554 Hemu became the most powerful man in the region. This was the time when an astrologer told him that he would be emperor of Hindustan. Hemu had already proved his prowess as a general in the army of Sher Shah as he had quelled many disturbances in the Punjab and the East.
The Muslims and the Mughals were wary of him. However he had the support of the Afghans. Hemu was in the east when he decided to make a bid for the throne at Delhi. He moved forward and in successive battles defeated the Muslims. It is on record that Hemu won 22 battles on the trot in North India as he swept towards Delhi. These victories made historians of the 20th century dub Hemu as the " Napoleon of India:"
The Mughal Force met Hemu outside Delhi in one of the most decisive battles in Indian history at Tughlakabad. The Mughals were defeated and lost 3000 dead and the Mughal commander Tariq Beg ran away from the battlefield. Hemu triumphantly entered Delhi. This was a poignant moment in Indian history as after 300 years a Hindu ruler had entered triumphantly. On 7 October 1556, he was crowned emperor of Hindustan and took the title Vikramaditya, after the legendary Hindu king. He thus established Hindu rule after nearly 350 years of Muslim rule.
Hemu was a decisive ruler and as per the Akbar Nama, he planned an invasion of Kabul. The Mughals army wanted one last fling at coming back to power in Delhi. They marshalled a force at Panipat and set the stage for the second battle of Panipat. Hemu marched for battle and the Mughal army was on the run. Akbar and his regent Bairam Khan were thinking of retreating to kabul, when providence took an hand. A stray arrow pierced the eye of Hemu and he was rendered unconscious. He fell from his elephant and thinking all was over the army, the army lost the will to fight. Seizing this moment the Mughal army regrouped and defeated the army of Hemu.
Hemu was captured and in an unconscious state beheaded by Akbar, then a young lad. His skull was taken to Kabul and displayed there.
The question that bugs me is was it an act of providence that Muslims were to rule India? was it destined? I can find no for the freak accident that rendered Hemu unconscious after he was on the verge of winning the battle. Never the less Hindus must remember his record of 22 victories on the run and appreciate that he was the bravest of the Hindu warriors.
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