Battle of Bahraich in 11th century India

[Bhoja]

The battle of Bahraich was fought between the Turkic invader Salar Masud Ghazni and a confederation of several Indian kings led by Raja Sukhdev in the 11th century.


The nephew of Mahmood Ghazni, known as Salar Masud Ghazni, invaded India with an army of more than 100,000 men in may 1031 AD. This time, the army was not a raiding party like that of Mahmud Ghazni who came with intention of raiding, looting and retreating with the loot to Afghanistan . They were backed by the imperial army and came here with the intention of permanent conquest in India.
King Anandpal Shahi tried to check this Gazni advance towards heartland of India . He was helped by King of Sialkot , Rai Arjun. But, this alliance was overwhelmed by superiority of numbers of Turkic army. After defeating Anandpal Shahi and Rai Arjun, Masud advanced towards Malwa and Gujarat . King Mahipal Tomara tried to check their advance here but was defeated too.
After victories across North Indian plains, Masud Ghazni settled at Bahraich near Lucknow . He stayed here up to mid 1033. Meanwhile, 17 Kings of North India forged an alliance. This is the biggest confederation that have ever existed in India . They were Rai Raib, Rai Saib, Rai Arjun, Rai Bheekhan, Rai Kanak, Rai Kalyan, Rai Makaru, Rai Savaru, Rai Aran, Rai Birbal, Rai Jaypal, Rai Shreepal, Rai Harpal, Rai Hakru, Rai Prabhu, Rai Deo Narayan and Rai Narsinha. Raja Bhoj of Malwa also played an important role in this battle. The head of this confederation was Raja Sukhdev. It would be interesting to know how the alliance was forged and how was the game of chess played before the final showdown on 14th June.
In June 1033, as per Hindu traditions, Masud Ghazni was intimated by Rajput confederation that the land belonged to Rajputs and Hindus and Masud should evacuate these lands. Masud replied that all land belongs to Khuda and hence he would not retreat.
On 13th June, Morning, Rajput army of about 120,000 descended on Ghazni camp of Bahraich. Masud's army was completely besieged and encircled. The battle continued for hours. In the end, each and every man in Masood's camp was killed. No POW's were taken, no mercy was shown on the Turkic army. The location of this battle to be precise was near Chittaura Jheel, a lake about 8 KM away from modern Bahraich on Bahraich-Gond Road . The battle ended on 14th June with Victory of Raja Sukhdev and his Rajput alliance.On the evening of 14 June 1033 AD,Sunday Salar Masud was beheaded by Raja Sukhdev. The battle ended with Victory of Raja Sukhdev and his Rajput alliance.
The invasion was completely crushed and such resounding was this victory that none of the king from Northwest dared to invade India for 160 years..

 

[KS]

No POW's were taken, no mercy was shown on the Turkic army.

That is how it should have been. No quarters given, no prisoners taken..:thumb:

But these battles when native Indians crushed the invaders , which should have been the pride of Indians, are hardly mentioned in our history books..

I admire the Chinese in this regard. They study their high points much more than the high points of their oppressors and hence a natural pride in their civilization is instilled. In Indian history books its the exact opposite - the supposed high points of the invaders are given wide coverage while the actual high of our own are not even mentioned in some cases like this or suppressed...falsification of history.all for the sake of some 'mythical' harmony.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Thanks for sharing..

I wish we have pics..

 

[LalTopi]

That is how it should have been. No quarters given, no prisoners taken..:thumb:

But these battles when native Indians crushed the invaders , which should have been the pride of Indians, are hardly mentioned in our history books..

I admire the Chinese in this regard. They study their high points much more than the high points of their oppressors and hence a natural pride in their civilization is instilled. In Indian history books its the exact opposite - the supposed high points of the invaders are given wide coverage while the actual high of our own are not even mentioned in some cases like this or suppressed...falsification of history.all for the sake of some 'mythical' harmony.

Also shows how much we achieve when we are truly united against a common enemy.
We must never again breakup and get conquered.

 

[Kunal Biswas]

Remind me 300 movie..

 

[devgupt]

Sindh fell in 712 AD. Delhi - 1196 AD. It took various categories of invaders from west half a millennium to consolidate the area from Sindh to North India- which shows the level of resistance put up.
There is a reason why Hinduism survives today.

 

[Patriot]

That is how it should have been. No quarters given, no prisoners taken..:thumb:

But these battles when native Indians crushed the invaders , which should have been the pride of Indians, are hardly mentioned in our history books..

I admire the Chinese in this regard. They study their high points much more than the high points of their oppressors and hence a natural pride in their civilization is instilled. In Indian history books its the exact opposite - the supposed high points of the invaders are given wide coverage while the actual high of our own are not even mentioned in some cases like this or suppressed...falsification of history.all for the sake of some 'mythical' harmony.

If you read history books of RSS sponsored schools, the history of ancient India is given in full glory & wars we have faced. Even the details which Indian has defeated the Alexander the great and wounded him & defeat of Salyukas & feat of Samudragupt , Skandgupt & Vikramaditya etc..

Our government is not putting our history facts in right perspective and instilling the pride & patriotism in the students.

 

[pankaj nema]

Sindh fell in 712 AD. Delhi - 1196 AD. It took various categories of invaders from west half a millennium to consolidate the area from Sindh to North India- which shows the level of resistance put up.
There is a reason why Hinduism survives today.

Mate you brought tears to my eyes ; Really .

I only wish we could have been more united during the periods when there was peace
such as ; here it is told that this Battle happened in 1033 AD

SO this 160 year period between 1033 till 1199 AD should have been for consolidation
and forging national unity .Anyway

 

[rao]

1. Why was there a 150 year gap between Md. Ghazni and Md Ghori’s invasion into India?

- Because of the Great Battle of Bahraich(near present day Lucknow) where the huge and undefeated invading armies of Ghaznavid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud faced the much smaller army lead by Dalit King Suhal Dev Pasi on 1033–34 AD.

It was a clean sweep for Suhal Dev, with almost every member of the invading turk army killed or captured. Salar Masud himself was killed and buried along with his horses near the battlefield, where his Mazar stands till this day.

The defeat left the invaders shell shocked and ensured that no one dared come back to India for the next 150 years. The Indian History might not have given importance to King Suhal Dev Pasi, but the invaders did 300 years ago and the folk songs of the Pasi community still do to this day, singing the events of the Great Battle of Bahraich.

 

[Hemu Vikram Aditya]

Guess what the Hindu King Suhal Dev was Dalit
I (a Brahmin ) have utter respect for the Dalit king Suhal Dev and the martyred Soldiers

 

[Ramesh Vaka]

1. Why was there a 150 year gap between Md. Ghazni and Md Ghori’s invasion into India?

- Because of the Great Battle of Bahraich(near present day Lucknow) where the huge and undefeated invading armies of Ghaznavid general Ghazi Saiyyad Salar Masud faced the much smaller army lead by Dalit King Suhal Dev Pasi on 1033–34 AD.

It was a clean sweep for Suhal Dev, with almost every member of the invading turk army killed or captured. Salar Masud himself was killed and buried along with his horses near the battlefield, where his Mazar stands till this day.

The defeat left the invaders shell shocked and ensured that no one dared come back to India for the next 150 years. The Indian History might not have given importance to King Suhal Dev Pasi, but the invaders did 300 years ago and the folk songs of the Pasi community still do to this day, singing the events of the Great Battle of Bahraich.

There's a change in here from what is said at the start of thread? what is true? the King or the count both are different.
Please let me know.

 

[Tshering22]

SO this 160 year period between 1033 till 1199 AD should have been for consolidation
and forging national unity .Anyway

Why blame that era?

How different are Indians today?

Fighting over caste, language, region, cities, towns, sub-castes etc.

The enemy is right at the gates once again in the form of 'liberals' and the Hindus are still fighting each other.

We don't have powerful righteous rulers to hold back jihadi hoardes today. Only PM Modi stands along with the military.

A cultural invasion this time would be subtle and is happening already in the garb of secularism.

I am telling you Hindus that this is going to be a mess if you don't stop in-fighting and streamlining yourself.

 

[OneGrimPilgrim]

Why blame that era?

How different are Indians today?

Fighting over caste, language, region, cities, towns, sub-castes etc.

The enemy is right at the gates once again in the form of 'liberals' and the Hindus are still fighting each other.

We don't have powerful righteous rulers to hold back jihadi hoardes today. Only PM Modi stands along with the military.

A cultural invasion this time would be subtle and is happening already in the garb of secularism.

I am telling you Hindus that this is going to be a mess if you don't stop in-fighting and streamlining yourself.

Lt. Gen. DB Shekatkar, in a FINS seminar, had mentioned a noteworthy point - our enemies have already, to quite an extent, weakened us & rendered us vulnerable (demographically) in our extremities. the point he was trying to drive home was, that in warfare, its known that to subdue a giant, you should attack its extremities so that the core is rendered vulnerable.

 

[AMCA]

Battle of behraich was fought between Suheldev and Salar masood gazhi. But there is another less known battle which was fought between Sayed Salar Dawood ( Father of Salar masood gazhi ) and local farmers ( my ancestors ) just 2km from my village in a place called Satrikh. Entire Turkish Army was butchered in the battle fought on the banks of Reth River and Salar Dawood was killed. My 'Kul devta' 'Baal Bir' made supreme sacrifice fighting these invaders 1000 years ago.

From Wikipedia :

The battle field of Saiyed Salar Dawood Ghazi was at village Zafarpur on the banks of river Reth. Still remains of that period, unknown graves are present and remains of dead ones emerge if anyone digs the battle field. The property is now owned by family of Zamindar, late Fareed Ahmed who use it as their ancestral graveyard.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satrikh
Every year thousands of mullahs and even Hindus visit Tomb of Salar dawood during five day long mela.