History of Unknown Martyrs of Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries

History of Garhwal including Haridwar (1223- 1804 AD) –part -33

                                            

 History of Uttarakhand (Garhwal, Kumaon and Haridwar) -278

                       By: Bhishma Kukreti (A History Student)

                  Lack of Historical Records

          There are no historical records available for knowing the exact History of Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries. The last record is Baleshwar inscription of Krachal of 1223. Then till 1450, no authentic record is available.

           No ruler coins are available from 1200-1400 AD. The inscription custom restarted from 1455 of Jagatpal Rajwar.

                                 Dependence on Folklores

           Most of the historians depend on History of Garhwal from eleventh century to thirteenth century on folklores of Garhwal. Most of the folklores of Garhwal are related to central Garhwal and in some cases from upper Garhwal. Less is known for South Garhwal (Gangasalan, Malla Salan , Talla Salan, ) Dehradun and Haridwar.  The folklores do not indicate the ruling period, major incidents and events of Gadhpati or chieftains of Gadh described in folklores.  

                         Muslim Historians

               There are scanty descriptions about South Garhwal (Bhabhar, Dehradun and Haridwar) in a few history records written by Muslim historians. Dr. Dabral appreciates the Muslim historians recording a few events happened in South Garhwal. Dr. Dabral mentions that these records provide some ideas about chronological history of Garhwal.

       Faults in Records of Muslim Historians about History of Garhwal and Haridwar

    No doubt, Muslim Historians provide some ideas about history of Garhwal and Haridwar. However, there are flaws too in the records of Muslim Historians for history of Garhwal including Haridwar.

1-The Muslim historians were taking shelter under Muslim Delhi rulers. Therefore, they could record about Garhwal including Haridwar only that was related to their masters.

2- The Muslim historians described the Muslim attack and looting on Sirmaur (Himachal Pradesh), Shivalik region (Dehradun and Haridwar) and Kumaon. They did not write about political and social situations of Garhwal. Less is described the names of rulers of Garhwal regions in Muslim history records. If they recorded ruler names those names do not tally with actual history.  

3- Since, the Muslim historians were living in Delhi and were not acquainted with names and culture of Garhwal they wrote names as they could hear from others. Therefore, there are mistakes in names. They wrote in Persian and there are also problems of writing Hindu names.

3- Mostly, Muslim Historians of twelfth century had wrong perceptions that Garhwal and Kumaon are in china. Muhammad Tuglaq attacked on Gargachal (Garhwal) and Kurmachal in 1329-1330. However, the historians sitting in Delhi or far perceived that the said region is in China.

4- Muslim Rulers attacked on Bhabhar, Dehradun and Haridwar but not on Central and Upper Garhwal. We don’t have any record for the Central and Upper Garhwal for the period when Muslim Rulers were attacking South Garhwal including Haridwar.  

5- There is mention by Muslim Historians the defense of Garhwal rulers and people against attackers and looters. There are no mentions of conditions and mental conditions of slaves made by looters and conditions of who were attacked brutally. There is mention about organized way of defending by Garhwal rulers and their subjects.

However, , whatever is there in Muslim Historian writings that provide some ideas about  the prevailing situation in Garhwal including Haridwar of that period.

 People were killed in abundant by Muslim attacks and loots in Garhwal. We don’t have records of martyrs of Garhwal including Haridwar.

Copyright@ Bhishma Kukreti Mumbai, India, bckukreti@gmail.com4/3//2014

                                      References

1-Dr. Shiv Prasad Dabral, 1971, Uttarakhand ka Itihas Bhag-4, Veer Gatha Press, Dogadda, Pauri Garhwal, India 

2-Harikrishna Raturi, Garhwal ka Itihas

3-Dr. Patiram, Garhwal Ancient and Modern

4-Rahul Sankrityayan, Garhwal

5- Oakley and Gairola, Himalayan Folklore

6- Bhakt Darshan, Garhwal ki Divangit Vibhutiyan

7-Foster, Early Travels in India William Finch

8-Upadhyaya, Shri Shankaracharya

9-Shering, Western Tibet and British

10-H.G. Walton, Gazetteer of British Garhwal

11-B.P.Kamboj, Early Wall Paintings of Garhwal

12-H.g Walton, Gazetteer of Dehradun

13- Vimal Chandra, Prachin Bharat ka Itihas

14-Meera Seth, Wall Paintings of Western Himalayas 

15-Furar, Monumental Antiquities

16-Haudiwala, Studies in Indo-Muslim History

17- Rahul Khari 2007, Jats and Gujjar Origin, History and Culture

18- Upendra Singh, 2006, Delhi: Ancient History, Barghahan Books

19- B.S. Dahiya, 1980, Jats the Ancient Rulers (A Clan Study) , Sterling Publications

20- Maithani, Bharat –Gotrapravardeepika

21 Prem Hari Har Lal, 1993, The Doon Valley Down the Ages

22-Dashrath Sharma, Early Chauhan Dynasties

(The History of Garhwal, Kumaon, Haridwar write up is aimed for general readers)

History of Garhwal from 1223-1804 to be continued in next chapter          

History of Garhwal – Kumaon-Haridwar (Uttarakhand, India) to be continued… Part -279  

Notes on History of Garhwal; History of Pauri Garhwal; History of Chamoli Garhwal; History of Rudraprayag Garhwal; History of Tehri Garhwal; History of Uttarkashi Garhwal; History of Dehradun, Garhwal; History of Haridwar ; History of Manglaur, Haridwar;  History of Rurkee Haridwar ; History of Bhadarpur Haridwar ; History of Haridwar district to be continued…  

Xx

History of Unknown Martyrs of Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries; History of Unknown Martyrs of Bhabhar Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries; History of Unknown Martyrs of Salan Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries; History of Unknown Martyrs of Gangasalan Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries; History of Unknown Martyrs of Talla Salan Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries; History of Unknown Martyrs of Malla Salan Garhwal and Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries; History of Unknown Martyrs of Dehradun  of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries; History of Unknown Martyrs of Haridwar of Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries;