History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v1.c23.27

v1.c23.27

The other point of importance to be noticed is that during the first period of 1200 years' subjection to foreign rule in the Panjab, there was no difference of religion between the rulers and the ruled. The foreign invaders were with one exception Buddhists and they too were half Hindu and half Buddhists. There was, therefore, no bitterness of religious difference added to the gall of foreign rule during this period. The Huns of Mihirakula were not Buddhists but were Śaivites. But that too was in response to and in consonance with the changed sentiment of the people. A reaction had already set in against Buddhism and Mihirakula did not offend the majority of his subjects when he persecuted the Buddhists as related bitterly by Hiuen Tsang. Under Mihirakula too, therefore, there was no religious difference between the people and their foreign rulers and it is hence perhaps that the warlike sturdy people of the Panjab remained reconciled to foreign rule. The tendencies generated by this long subjection to foreign rule consequently were too strong to be suppressed by even the difference in religion when Mahomedan conquest under the Turks of Mahmud came over the land in 1000 A. D. How it affected the people little we shall see in our next volume.