Uloba Riaz
Many attempts were made in order to conquer Kashmir by Arabs, who had established themselves in Sindh under the leadership of Muhammad bin Qasim. But he was called back to Damascus. In the reign of Caliph Hashim,when Lalitaditya was monarch (hewas a powerful ruler of the Karkota dynasty), Arab trudge towards Kashmir under the leadership of ambitious and energetic governor junaid. Lalitaditya defeated junaid and overran his government. Again in the hegemony of Caliph Mansur Arab marched towards Kashmir under the supervision of Hashmiibnamr al-Taghlibi (governor of Sindh). He could not entered or occupy the valley, though he reached as far as the southern slopes of Himalayas, which were part of the Kashmir kingdom. After the Arabs it was the gadnivis who tried to take over the control of Kashmir. In 1002 Mahmud Gadnavi defeated raja jaipal (the ruler of place called Waihand) now in modern days it is located near peshawar Pakistan. During the government of triochandpala grandson of jaipal threatened by the gadnavis.Triochandpala appealed to Kashmir kingdom for help against Gadnavis. Sangramaraja the ruler of that era sent heavy army but both of them were defeated badly by Gadnavis. Gadnavis tried to enter Kashmir through toshamaidan pass but due to heavy snow fall and bad weather the sultan lost the communication with his army. Again in oct 1021 Sultan again sent his army towards Kashmir but due to bad weather they failed. Up until 1320! Kashmir remained unchanged and unaffected by the invasions that were aimed in the plains of India. It was the Lohara dynasty that ruled from (1002-1320). Just before the invasion of ZulchaKhan( a mangole),a man from swat Shah Mir came to Kashmir to find some work. The ruler was suhadeva and he made friendly relation with him. In spring of 1320 a turkistanicheiftan invaded Kashmir through Jehlum valley. Suhadeva the last ruler of lohara dynasty tried to organize a resistance but failed. In that same era son of ladakhi chief Rinchen left his home after the murder of his father. He was employed byRamachandra( priminister of Kashmir) for the establishment of law and orders. Taking advantage of the chaos that was created by the invasion of Zulcha Khan. He got murdered of Ramachandra and married to her daughter (Kota Rani). After taking throne at the end of 1320, now he wanted the acceptance of the Kashmiri people. He went to dewaswami and wanted to become hindu Brahmin, devaswami refused his initiation into hindu religion. Afterwards on a secret meeting with Bulbul shah he accepted Islam and changed his name to sadruddin shah, Thus he become the first Muslim ruler of Kashmir. Rinchen(Sadruddin shah) died in 1323. After the death of sadruddin shah his wife Kota Rani took control of government, once again for the short period of time the kingdom of Kashmir was in hands of Hindus. Kota Rani was very intelligent and a great thinker she saved the city of Srinagar from frequent floods by getting a wall constructed. It is written by victoria schofield in her book “ Kashmir in crossfire” that, “ After the death of sadruddin she married to Udheynadeva brother of suhadeva and invited him to become king.Shahmir remained in the background gaining support from the lords. But when mangols once again threatened Kashmir Udhenadeva fled to ladakh. Shahmir and kota rani were remained to counter the attack. However Udhenadeva came back to his throne and died afterwards in 1339. When kota rani attempted to become queen in her own right. Shahmir opposed her” There is a contradiction present regarding death of Kota Rani many historian wrote she took her life and some has recorded that she was murdered by shahmir.After the death of Kota Rani in 1339 Shahmir proclaimed himself as Sultan. . “The Shahmiri Dynasty” was created which lasted for two hundred years.
(-The Writer is Student of Numl Islamabad.)
