The Sultanate of Delhi, 711–1526 A.D. c8.s5.4

c8.s5.4

The concluding part of the tragic drama might afford some consolation to the Indian patriot. The women of Sindh, headed by Dahir's widow, Rani Bai, made an attempt to expiate for the sins of their men-folk. The Rani put up a heroic defence within the fort of Rawar and her garrison, 15,000 strong, rained stones and missiles on the besieging Arabs, causing them considerable headache. When it became impossible to hold out any longer, she performed the traditional *jauhar* along with her women followers, after the Rajput fashion, in order not to fall into the hands of the 'unclean' foreigners.¹¹ Brahmanabad (north of Hyderabad), too, like Rawar, redeemed its fair name. Here had gathered the remnants of Dahir's troops who fought with a grim determination, losing 8,000 (according to another account 20,000) of their number as killed, though not without killing an equal number, if not more, of the enemy. Jai Singh, Dahir's son, finding further resistance useless, retired to Chitrur and Muhammad occupied the town with its treasure and other valuables, including Rani Ladi, another widow of Dahir, and his maiden daughters, Surya Devi and Parmal Devi. The invader's next objective was Aror (also called Alor), the then capital of Sindh, held by another son of Dahir who stoutly defended the town and abandoned it only when further resistance proved to be of no avail. The subjugation of Sindh was now complete.