India has historically attracted several Islamic invaders due to its wealth, vibrant culture, and the regal inheritance of its kings and queens. The Islamic forces often presented a façade of alliance with Indian rulers, yet their true intentions were to conquer the empire and expand their dominance over the land. Unfortunately, there have been instances where members of Indian kingdoms betrayed their rulers, either driven by jealousy or malicious motives. A notable example of this betrayal was when Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj was captured in Maharashtra, with his brother-in-law revealing his location and critical details to Aurangzeb. Another example includes Man Singh, who is believed to have betrayed Maharana Pratap during the Battle of Haldighati.
A similar episode occurred in the 16th century during the reign of Aliya Rama Raya of the Vijayanagara Empire. His defeat and death were caused by an alliance of Mughals from Ahmadnagar, Berar, Bidar, Bijapur, and Golconda, who, notably, were aided by the Gilani brothers, trusted commanders in Rama Raya’s army. This betrayal led to the fall of the Vijayanagara Empire and the death of its king.
Rama Raya, the Hindu ruler, was killed by the Deccan Sultanates in the Battle of Talikota on January 23, 1565. The battle took place at Talikota, a town in present-day northern Karnataka, approximately 80 kilometers southeast of Bijapur. Following the defeat, the Vijayanagara Empire was decimated, and the ruins of the empire can still be seen in Hampi, Karnataka.
This history reflects the anti-Hindu stance of certain Muslim forces toward Hindu kingdoms during the medieval period. The Vijayanagara Empire, once the most powerful empire in southern India under King Krishnadevaraya, was on the verge of victory in the Battle of Talikota. However, two Muslim generals within the Vijayanagara army suddenly switched allegiances to the Deccan Sultanates, leading to the empire’s downfall. This is recorded by historians Hermann Kulke and Dietmar Rothermund in their work History of India.
Historians Dispute Claims of Communal Intent in the War
Although this widely known fact holds a prominent position in Hindu history, historians like Richard Eaton, Muzaffar Alam, and Sanjay Subrahmanyam contend that the War was not driven by communal motives. They argue that it was sparked by Rama Raya's decision to reignite an ongoing conflict with the Nizams of Ahmednagar. “The more proximate reason for the sudden unity displayed by the sultanates was their alarm at Rama Raya’s territorial ambitions, specifically his desire to control Kalyana, an old city in the northern Deccan that was the capital of the western Chalukya Empire during the eleventh and early twelfth centuries,” it is said to provide a reason for the Gilani brothers' alleged switch to the Mughal side. The arguments put forth by the latter historians are largely irrelevant, as the issue of communal intentions only emerged towards the end of the war, when the Vijayanagar Empire was on the brink of victory. This occurred after the Gilani brothers switched sides, not at the outset of the war.
The Battle of Talikota: A Revised Account of the Event
In the 16th century, the Vijayanagara Empire was ruled by Krishnadevaraya, a capable administrator and skilled diplomat. Rama Raya, his son-in-law, was a brave commander and a strategic warrior, leading numerous successful campaigns under Krishnadevaraya. Upon Krishnadevaraya's death, his brother Achyuta Raya succeeded him, but Achyuta died in 1542 CE. The throne then passed to Sadashiva Raya, Achyuta's son and Krishnadevaraya's nephew, who was still a minor. Seizing the opportunity, Rama Raya placed Sadashiva Raya under house arrest and took control of the empire by appointing his loyal followers to key positions.
Rama Raya was known for his tolerant and inclusive approach to religion, notably recruiting many Muslim soldiers into his army, earning praise for his fair treatment of them. Several displaced Adil Shah followers found refuge within the Vijayanagara Empire.
Rama Raya’s political strategy centered on expanding the empire and playing a skilled game of diplomacy. Surrounded by five rival Bahamani kingdoms, he cleverly maneuvered between them, sometimes pitting two of them against each other. He raided Ahmednagar at the request of Ali Adil Shah of Bijapur and later assisted Ahmednagar's Nizam and Golconda's Qutub Shah to retaliate against Ali Adil Shah. Rama Raya's tactic of sowing discord among the Sultanates worked for a time, but eventually, the Sultanates recognized their shared enemy in him.
The turning point came when Chand Bibi, the daughter of Nizam, married Ali Adil Shah, and his sister married Nizam's son. This union of the Sultanates led to a coordinated plan to attack Vijayanagara after the wedding celebrations. The five Sultanates allied and sent an envoy to Rama Raya, demanding the surrender of two key forts, Raichur and Mudgal. Rama Raya refused the demand, and the Sultanates marched toward Vijayanagara, halting at Talikota (modern-day Tangadi or Rakkasatangadi).
Once there, the Sultanate rulers attempted to present a united front, claiming affinity, and sealed their alliance against their common adversary. Rama Raya rejected their overture, and the battle began. He gathered an army of one hundred thousand cavalry and five hundred thousand infantry to prevent the Sultanates from crossing the River Krishna. Despite this, the enemy forces advanced, and Rama Raya, fueled by rage, failed to devise a coherent battle strategy. According to historians, he ordered a series of reckless, uncoordinated attacks, saying, “We are not cowards to fear such an insignificant war! Go ahead, fight.” This strategy proved disastrous, with many Hindu soldiers falling in battle. However, the promise of immense rewards spurred the remaining soldiers on, and they succeeded in defeating the left flank of the Sultanate forces.
This victory caused anxiety among the Sultanates, some of whom placed 'Rahtaanat' (holy oaths of martyrdom) in front of their camps. Yet, the combined forces of Nizam Shah, Qutub Shah, Ali Adil Shah, and Ali Barid, despite their fears, rallied and attacked the Hindu forces. Ali Adil Shah targeted Rama Raya’s brother, Tirumala Raya, while others focused on Rama Raya’s key commanders. In the final stage of the battle, Ali Adil Shah confronted Rama Raya directly, with Nizam Shah and Qutub Shah engaging him head-on.
Gilani Brothers' Directive: Muslim Soldiers Ordered Not to Fight for the Hindu Ruler
During this time, many Muslim soldiers from the Vijayanagara Empire refused to fight for Rama Raya. They either laid down their weapons or sided with the Sultanates against him, openly rejecting the Hindu army. This defection was notably led by the Gilani brothers, two of Rama Raya's trusted commanders. The Sultanates responded by firing two cannons at the Vijayanagara forces, killing most of the soldiers. Another shot targeted the elephant carrying Rama Raya.
Wounded, Rama Raya was brought to the foot of Nizam on the battlefield, where he was beheaded, marking the collapse of the vast Hindu empire. “The warriors of Islam chased them and slaughtered everyone in sight. An area spanning about twenty miles was littered with dead bodies, the earth bloody. The victorious soldiers of Islam took untold riches in the form of coins, jewellery, and slaves: both male and female,” according to historical accounts, which also noted that it took twelve days to tally the number of corpses on the battlefield.
Chasing the Mirage of Communal Harmony at the Expense of Facts
The incident highlights the roots of radical Islamism, which compelled the Gilani brothers to direct their soldiers to fight for Islam. The Gilani brothers were trusted commanders of Rama Raya, and who would have expected them to switch sides if religion hadn’t been a factor? Historians who twist facts to preserve so-called communal harmony must recognize that the true point of contention was when Rama Raya’s soldiers defected toward the end of the war, as Vijayanagara was on the verge of victory, not the purported cause of the war, as commonly claimed. Left-wing historians insist that there was no communal motivation behind the war, attributing Rama Raya’s death to his diplomacy. In doing so, they attempt to justify the alleged rise of radical Islamism.
Numerous examples can be cited to support the fact that Hindus have faced terror from radical Islam. Hindus remain unsafe in a modern nation-state like India if Muslims become the majority in any state. Regions like Kashmir and Kerala serve as warnings for Hindus across India.
Forgetting these historical events in the name of ‘communal harmony’ or ‘secularism’ is unjust. Hindus must never forget the brutal nature of these events and should ensure such actions are universally condemned. Silencing these facts to protect minorities from ‘embarrassment’ will only empower religious fanatics and extremists.
Comments