History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c14.s1.34

v1.c14.s1.34

Though not connected with the period treated of in this volume, we shall go on to relate succintly the later history of Kashmir down to the end of the Hindu period, as Kashmir in the next portions of that period seems to be practically cut off from India. This history has not much importance for the general history of India, but it has an importance of its own. It exhibits on a smaller scale how despotic kingly government always tends to abuse after a period of glorious exhibition of justice and valour, how degenerate and debaucherous kings succeed highly vigorous and conscientious kings in the same line, how while kingly power is borne with a great weight of conscience by some kings, in the hands of others it becomes the instrument of oppression and opportunity for licentiousness, how for some time able ministers under the firm guidance of able rulers achieve great progress in administration, and how during another period unscrupulous ministers keep the country under their heel by bribery and terrorizing under incapable masters, how while under some kings an organised army is the means of securing peace at home and respect abroad, under others it becomes the de facto master of the state raising to the throne puppet after puppet, and how lastly the love of kingship sets father against son and son against father, not to speak of brother against brother and even mother against son and wife against husband. These and similar regular tendencies of despotic rule are as fully exhibited in this history of Kashmir as they were at Rome or at Baghdad, at Delhi or at Cairo. We will, therefore, describe this history in some detail and show how after all, a form of government combined of king and people is the best for securing continuous good government and progress.