User:M Tariq Habib

Historiography concerning Somnath

Historians including Romila Thapar, A.K. Majumdar and Richard M. Eaton have questioned the iconoclastic historiography of this incident. Thapar quoted Majmudar (1956):

"But, as is well known, Hindu sources do not give any information regarding the raids of Sultan Mahmud, so that what follows is based solely on the testimony of Muslim authors."[27]

Thapar also argued against the prevalent narrative:

"Yet in a curiously contradictory manner, the Turko-Persian narratives were accepted as historically valid and even their internal contradictions were not given much attention, largely because they approximated more closely to the current European sense of history than did the other sources."[28]

But the majority of history by Muslim authors of this period have not yet been discovered and translated in English and still hidden for majority of the world. However the famous words of Mahmood at somanath and the same as mentioned by Edward Gibbons in his book "The Decline And Fall Of The Roman Empire"

The trembling Brahmins are said to have offered ten millions sterling for his ransom; and it was urged by the wisest counselors, that the destruction of a stone image would not change the hearts of the Gentoos; and that such a sum might be dedicated to the relief of Muslims, the true believers.

"Your reasons," replied the sultan, "are specious and strong; but never in the eyes of posterity shall Mahmud appear as a merchant of idols."

He repeated his blows, and a treasure of pearls and rubies, concealed in the belly of the statue, explained in some degree the devout prodigality of the Brahmins.

[29]