Rulers who made history
By Pramod Sangar

THE age-old definition of history that it is a record of achievements of men, still hold good in present times. E.H. Carr has rightly opined that history cannot be written unless the historian can achieve some good contact with the minds of those about whom he is writing. There have been notable personalities in medieval India who have changed the course of history by providing an astute leadership in crisis. Endurance of physical strain was a common feature of medieval warriors. Much depended upon the wisdom, chivalry, cool courage, resourcefulness and timely decisions against opponents. The quality of a general was not judged in the battlefield alone but his display of words — before the commencement of an encounter — was considered an important ingredient for the making of a great general. We have examples of ‘some great oratory’ delivered by great generals before the commencement of an encounter. Their speeches had the desired effect and turned the tide of the battle in their favour, giving them a pulsating victory over the enemy. Even the best military organisation will be useless without the cultivation of military spirit among the soldiers. The arousal of this spirit through speeches and words was a characteristic feature of medieval Indian history.

"My lords and comrades in arms: Do you not know that there lies a journey of some months between us and the land of our birth and our familiar city? If our side is defeated (God preserve us from that day; God forbid it!) where are we? Where is our birth place? Where is our city? We have to do with strangers and foreigners. But let every man remember that whosover enters this world is subject to destruction; for God alone is eternal and unshakable. He who commences the banquet of life must at length drain the cup of death. Better it is to die gloriously than to live with a name disgraced. If I die with glory, all is for the best. Let me leave an honourable name, for certain my body cannot escape death. Almighty God has ordained for us, this fortune, and put before us this noble destiny, that if we are vanquished, we die martyrs, if we conquer, we have won his holy cause. Therefore, let us all swear in the name of the Almighty, that we will never flee, from a death so glorious, and that while our souls are not separated from our bodies, our bodies shall never be separate from the perils of this combat." The response was enthusiastic. The spirit of the army was entirely restored and the soldiers swore by the divorce of their wives, and on the Holy Book, they recited the faith and said, "Oh king! God willing, we will not spare ourselves in sacrifice and devotion, so long as breath and life are in our bodies." Babar’s inspiring address on the eve of Kanwaha has been considered a classic example of eloquent speech.

Sher Shah before the battle of Chausa (1539) against Humayun collected his men in secret counsel and motivated them with his brilliant exposition of words. Again, on the eve of battle of Kannauj (1540), Sher Shah made a supreme effort to galvanise Afghans. He appealed to their sentiments the way Babur had done: "Death must come positively, but it is better to die fighting heroically for a good cause, so that a good name be left behind. I have grown old, and have gathered together the Afghans after undertaking enormous difficulties. If this army is scattered by being defeated (God forbid it), it is simply impossible to re-gather it, for buds once separated from the tree by a gust of wind can no longer be restored on the branches." The Afghans exhibited utmost obedience and full faith in their leader’s ability to guide and Sher Shah won both the battles with amazing ease.

Akbar, the greatest of the Mughal rulers, was also an accomplished orator. Appealing to his soldiers at Ahmedabad during the second campaign against Mohammad Husain Mirza of Gujarat, he said: "The enemy appears to be numerous yet the favour of God toward this suppliant in divine court is great than man can conceive. It behoves our comrades to hold fast to the cable of the divine favour and not give place to perplexity or alarm. Let them be of one heart, one face and one way, and avoiding distraction and dispersion assail the doomed body of troops which carries red standard." Akbar revealed his identity as a brilliant leader in his arduous second campaign of Gujarat in which he covered the area between Agra and Surat in just eleven days and destroyed the enemy in a tough encounter.

Noorjahan turned the tables on Mahabat Khan, a general who had treacherously imprisoned Jahangir. Noorjahan immediately organised a counter move and at a meeting reproached the principal nobles: "This has all happened through your neglect and stupid arrangements. Whatever entered into the imagination of anyone has come to pass, and now you stand stricken with shame for your conduct before God and man, you must do your best to repair this evil and advise what course to pursue". Ultimately Noorjahan decided to lead the imperialist against Mahabat Khan. She seated herself on the elephant with the daughter of Shahriyar. Noted generals like Khawaja Abdul Hussain, Asaf Khan and Mutmaid Khan received messages from Noorjahan to take courage, maintain discipline in the army and cross the river. However, the army crossed the river during the battle which was supervised by Noorjahan. During the course of the battle, her grand-daughter was struck by an arrow in the arm. Noorjahan gave a heroic display of her skills as a warrior and despite the initial setback to her plan of liberating Jahangir from the custody of Mahabat Khan, she ultimately succeeded.

Though Aurangzeb was endowed with certain laudable qualities — he was a teetotaller and did not indulge in other vices of the age and no danger or threat of any kind could unnerve him — yet he was a colossal failure. Khafi Khan rightly says that in spite of his "austerity, courage, long suffering and sound judgement, every plan and project he formed came to little good, and every enterprise which he undertook was long in execution and failed of its object." He failed as a general, as a man and even as a good ruler. He failed on all fronts and paved the way for the end of the Mughal rule. Yet, he too, at times, showed his brilliant leadership qualities and inspired his army men. His spirited address delivered on the eve of battle of Samugarh (1655) enthused the generals. "Tomorrow is the day of heroic and manly deeds. Our capital is very far from this place, try and try like heroes make the vein of your life strong by your endeavour. If we are victorious the country is ours and if we are vanquished the country is Dara’s property". During Jaswant Singh’s treacherous desertion at the battle of Khawaja, it was Aurangzeb’s ability to stay cool in crisis that saved the situation. Undisturbed, he finished his morning prayer and addressed his men, "Thank God this occurrence has led one to make a distinction between friends and foes. The flight of that ill-behaved mischief monger is good for us. He will be properly punished for his disgraceful action". Aurangzeb thus by his clever tactics outmanoeuvred his opponents, one by one and became the ruler in 1658.