The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India c7.s2.13

c7.s2.13

Mahmud Ghaznavi had destroyed the Hindu Shahiya dynasty of Punjab. Alberuni, who witnessed its extinction says about its kings that in all their grandeur, they never slackened in their ardent desire of doing that which is right, they were men of noble sentiments and noble bearing⁵⁷ On the other hand, the Ghaznavid rule in the Punjab was essentially militarist and imperialist in character, whose sole business was to wage war against the Thakurs and Rajas (whereby) Mahmud sought to make the plunder of Hindustan a permanent affair.⁵⁸ The susceptibilities of the Indians were naturally wounded by an inopportune display of religious bigotry, and indulgence in women and wine.⁵⁹ In such a situation, "Hindu sciences retired away from those parts of the country conquered by us, and fled to Kashmir, Benaras and other places.⁶⁰