Nirmal Kanth-A Symbol Of Resistance

Kashmir was part of the general Muslim missionary movement of Asia. This period coincides with the emergence of Shamasud-din Iraqi on the scene and his penetration is rooted deep in the fervid ideology which would brook nothing to destroy Hinduism root and branch. Religion thus played as the most influential social and political force in the Kashmir’s history of Muslim rule. It is directly related to the politico-ideological invasion and its subsequent conquest. It descended like an avalanche upon Kashmir, ruthlessly destroying and destructing its native religion, heritage and value structure. Consequently it led to the change of its primary religion, the Hinduism to Islam.

This movement has fundamentally two proponents namely Sayyeds led by Mir Sayyed Ali Hamdani, Shamas-ud-din Iraqi and some neo-converts like Malick Saif-ud-din nee Suha Bhat and Malick Musa Raina nee Soma chandra. Islam therefore owes its success to the demonstration of force displayed by them. The important task undertaken by them was to force a favorable socio-Political and religious atmosphere by turning the tide of local history in favour of Islam.

Arrival of Shamas-Ud-Din-Iraqi

Shamas-ud-din Iraqi had two stints in Kashmir. His first innings starts with his entry in the year 1484 during the reign of Sultan Hassan Shah. He came to Kashmir from Khurassan as an envoy of Sultan Hussain Mirza Baiqara. Though he came as an ambassador but his real purpose ostensibly appears to promote the Nurbakhshiya doctrine in Kashmir. He was a great patron of Shias and founder of Nurbakhshiya sect. However, upon his arrival Sultan Hassan Shah died. His passing away created a political vacuum in the state and opened it to civil wars. Sensing an opportunity, he associated himself with an influential Islamic missionary ‘Sheikh Ismail Kubrawi’ and used his platform to extend his stay in Kashmir. During the period he encouraged one of the disciples of Kubrawi namely Baba Ali Najar resulting in creating a niche and small group of admirers for himself. Eventually he left Kashmir but not before creating a discord among Muslims.

Iraqi returned second time to Kashmir permanently during Fath Shah’s reign(1505-16).While entering he thoroughly analysed the situation prevailing at the time and finding the moment right carried his mission of conversion from were Sultan Sikander had left. They employed identical methods. He identified himself with the Kashmiri Ministers namely Musa Raina(1505-1514) and Qazi Chak(1514-1526).He also reactivated his previous contacts during his first visit and Baba-Ali-Najar whom he had patronized and pitted against Ismail Kubrawi had by now become an influential religious leader with a large following. It thus became easy for him to proclaim himself a representative of Sayid Muhmmad Nurbakhash.

Hinduism as anti-islamic was a dominating factor of his psyche therefore used religious fanaticism as a potent weapon to root out Hinduism from Kashmir. As a follow up unleashed an era of unprecedented tyranny against Hindus, got their temples demolished and built mosques over them. To carry on his task of conversion and indoctrination he created new forces in the form of Neo-converts prominent being Malick Musa Raina, who after accepting his faith used him as an instrument in bringing death and destruction on Hindus. Musa Raina supported and advanced Iraqi’s mission as he had become his ardent supporter. Repeating the coarse of History of earlier periods, Iraqi’s great opportunity came when Musa Raina became Chief Minister of Fateh Shah as he exerted a tremendous influence over him. After becoming Chief Minister, he wielded a considerable authority. He added new chapters to the Muslim history of Kashmir that is replete with both religious and political persecution of Hindus.

The stage was set as it was the same as was the audience but only change of dramatis personae. Thus at the instance of Iraqi Musa Raina became a dreaded tyrant and promulgated an order throughout Kashmir that

1-1500 to 2000 infidels be brought to the doorstep of Mir-Shamas-ud-din-Iraqi everyday

2-Remove their sacred thread (Zunnar)

3-Administer Kalima to them, circumcise them and make them eat beef.(Chronicle of Medieval Kashmir p.106)

He therefore let loose religious forces who spread their tentacles and started a crusade against Hindus. Hassan says(THK p.223)twenty four thousand Hindu families were converted to Iraqi’s Shia faith by force and compulsion (qahran wa jabran).The property of Hindus was confiscated not only that but Jazia too was revived should somebody wish to live as Hindu. These holy warriors thus succeeded in erasing traces of deity worship and replaced it by Islamic attributes.

Emergence of Nirmala Kantha

Uncertainty and fear characterised the KP response to the changes. The conditions were deplorable and the exhaustion was writ large on Hindu faces. They somehow wanted to free themselves from such an intolerable situation. As a response to this formidable challenge, a daring Pandit, Nirmala Kantha shot into prominence to salvage Hinduism. Suka writes about him: ‘In times gone by Shriya (meaning Shriya Bhat),the lord chief Justice of Sultan Zain-ul-Abdin, had planted the creeper of his Karma. On the approach of winter it was watered by the good Brahaman Nirmala Kantha(alias Kanthabhatta).Then at the time of the meleecha oppression (caused by Shamas-ud-din Iraqi)this Kanthabhatta and others held a council and he was able to avert the disgrace which such oppression begot’. The force of circumstances thus made him a rallying point for Hindus who were desperate to seek protection of their religion as Hindus and Hinduism was under severe strain.

It assumes significance to mention that though on the one hand the brute force increased the pace of conversion of people to Shia faith but on the other hand there was a simmering discontent among Sunni Muslims. This led to the sharp polarization along sectarian lines which only intensified and left Muslim leaders to fight amongst themselves. There ensued a bitter power struggle between Musa Raina and Kali Chak which ultimately consumed Musa Raina in the process. It lasted for about two years and this preoccupation of Muslim leadership provided an opportunity to Nirmalakantha to undo Iraqi’s success story.

Those who had withstood the storm of religious war organized themselves under the leadership of Nirmala Kantha. Consequently, Nirmalakantha, a religious reformer started with a movement of gradual re-conversion of those Hindus who had been forced to embrace Islam during preceding years. But his movement was faced with great odds as Islam by then had spread and gained strength. Defying the pressures of oppression he went ahead with his mission and reconverted most of the Hindus converted during the rule of Musa Raina and Kaji Chak. He thus vigorously pursued the shuddhi of newly re-converted Hindus.

His initiative also included a long and hectic confabulations with the co-religionists to find a way to wriggle out of the wretched situation. This led to the drafting of a petition against the atrocities and inhuman treatment meted out to Hindus and lay it before Sultan. A delegation therefore was sent to Musa Raina with the prayer but it brought out a dreaded tyrant in him and came down heavily on the petitioners who were jailed, unfed and starved to death.

By this time Musa Raina had been eliminated and Kaji Chak had taken over. The anti-Hindu policies thus initiated by Sayyids and prominently pursued by Musa Raina were perfected by Kaji Chak. Ruffleded at the work done by Nirmalakantha, it was considered as a seditious act. Thus in order to eliminate Hinduism from Kashmir, Kaji Chak in 1518 under the advice of Iraqi got about 800 Hindu leaders gruesomely assassinated. This event silenced all the Hindu voices and erased the space of contest if at all any.

The History of Kashmiri Pandits is a story of persecution and martyrdom. It is a story of continuous decline culminating in the current situation with neither an identity nor a future.

DISCLAIMER:                                                                      The views expressed in the Article above are Dr Ramesh Raina’ s personal views and kashmiribhatta.in is not in any way responsible for the opinions expressed in the above article.                                                    

Courtesy: Dr Ramesh Raina: 23rd May, 2020-  Posted bycashmiri4323rd May