History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c18.s3.3

v1.c18.s3.3

The absurdity of this exaggerated story is so apparent that it is a wonder that historians like Smith have not seen it in its true proportions. The difference between Indian and Chinese or Tibetan civilizations and armaments was then not great—was in fact nil—and it is impossible to believe that a few hundred Tibetans could defeat several thousand Indians and annihilate them as the English did the Mahomedans at Plassey or the Hindus at Assaye. Moreover, if Arjuna had usurped Harsha's throne, where was the mighty military machine which Harsha had reared and by which he had conquered and kept in subjection the whole of Northern India? And why was the fall of Tirhut sufficient to humble the usurper and why was not Kanauj itself besieged? The scene is laid at Tirhut and not at Kanauj and the story may easily be reduced to its true proportions. What really happened must have been something like the following.