History of Mediaeval Hindu India (being a History of India from 600 to 1200 A.D.) v3.c33.s5.11

v3.c33.s5.11

Mahmud's greatness as a general and commander has been acknowledged by all. Lane-Poole describes him as "a great soldier and a man of infinite courage and indefatigable energy of mind and body.” Lane-Poole also extols his good government and justice and quotes the opinion of the great Vizier of Seljuk that “Mahmud was a just sovereign, a lover of learning, of generous nature and of pure faith” (p. 35). That he was a patron of learned men is proved by the fact that great luminaries like Al-Beruni the astronomer, Al-Faribi the philosopher, Al-Utbi the chronicler, Al-Baihaki the gossiper, (Arabic writers) and Ansuri, Farukhi and Asjudi (Persian poets) and above all Firdusi the Homer of Persian literature resided at his court and obtained support from him. While thus duly appreciating the greatness of Mahmud, Lane-Poole thinks that “Mahmud was not a statesman; no new institutions or methods of government were initiated by him, and he did not attempt to organise and consolidate what he had acquired; for as soon as he passed, his ill-knitted dominions fell asunder.