Sikander Shah (1389–1413 Ce): Medieval India
Introduction
The Shah Mir Dynasty is regarded as the first Muslim dynasty that welcomed several significant figures who contributed to the spread of Islam and produced outstanding kings who transformed society from the social, economic, and political spheres to the moral spheres. The sixth sultan of Kashmir's Shah Mir dynasty, Sikandar Shah (also known as Sikandar Butshikan), ruled from 1389 until 1413.
Sikander Shah's History
• Sikandar, the eldest child of Qutubu'd-Din and Queen Sura (also known as Subhata), was Shah Mir's great-grandson. He was born around 1380.
• His mother had to serve as his regent for a while because he was still a minor when his father passed away in 1389.
• Sura consented to burning her own daughter and son-in-law Muhammad, the son of fellow minister Sahaka, on suspicions of plotting against Sikandar by Prime Minister Rai Magre (var. Uddaka), her cousin.
• Then Magre poisoned Sahaka, Haybat, and Sikandar's younger brother. Sikandar decided to reaffirm his position as ruler after detecting a potential usurpation.
Sikander Shah: An Intolerant of Religion
• Between 1354 and 1470, every other monarch save monarch Sikander Shah, who was more of an iconoclast, was tolerant of different religions.
• He pushed conversion to Islam, levied fees on non-Muslims, and destroyed idols, earning the nickname But-Shikan.
• During his rule, the state's support for Islam took an extreme turn when he ordered that all Hindus, particularly the brahmins living in his kingdom, convert to Islam or leave.
• It is believed that his minister, Suha Bhatt, who was once a Hindu but forced to convert to Islam and was determined to persecute his former co-religionists, requested that these orders be given.
Sikander Shah: Victimization of Hindus
• Getting Hindus to convert to Islam was Sikandar's main goal with them. To convert Hindus to Islam, he employed a number of brutal techniques.
• Sikandar was known as Butshikan (Idol Breaker) for the damage he inflicted on Hindu temples and idols of Hindu gods.
• His brutal deeds and torture caused many Hindus to convert to Islam, while many others ran away or were killed by him.
• He forbade Hindu and Buddhist aesthetic pursuits including iconography, theatre, music, and dance.
• He prohibited Hindus from painting their brows with tilak. It was forbidden to blow a conch shell, and anyone who did so were subject to severe punishment.
• To ring a bell was likewise illegal. To have their deceased bodies cremated, Hindus and Buddhists had to pay a 4 tola silver fee.
• After Sufi Mir Mohammad arrived, the cruelties multiplied. The directives of Mir Mohammad to spread Islam and eradicate Hinduism in Kashmir were carried out by Sultan Sikandar.
• On the remains of Hindu temples, Sikandar erected the city of Sikandarapora. He destroyed the Maha-Shri temples in Praversena and Tarapida.
Military Operation: Sikander Shah
• With the exception of Rai Magre's successful invasion of Ladakh, Sikandar did not conquer any additional land.
• After launching a rebellion and killing Shobha's brother (Khunjyaraja), Magre turned on Sikandar with the help of his devoted followers.
• With the aid of Laddaraja's troops, the uprising was put down, and Magre was sent in prison, where he later killed himself.
• A Persian tribe called the Palas was likewise cruelly put down.
• A successful battle was fought against Firuz, the Hindu Shahi ruler of Ohind, in the year 1400 as a result of his refusal to recognise Sikandar's suzerainty.
• After that, Sikandar wed Mera, the daughter of Firuz, and gave Shobha one of his daughters in exchange for Firuz's hand in marriage.
• Pala Deo, the Rajah of Jammu, was the target of another effective campaign after he refused to pay taxes.
• Jasrath Khokhar was made Jasrath Khokhar's vassal, and Sikandar married another of his daughters while giving another daughter to Pala Deo.
Architecture And Art By Slikander Shah
• The Nowhatta neighborhood was created by Sikandar, and his royal palace soon after.
• He also constructed two more mosques in Bijbehara and Bavan in addition to the Jamia Masjid in Srinagar, which is regarded as the best example of Indo-Saracenic architecture in Kashmir.
• The latter was a two-story structure with a garden surrounding it; Sikandar used it as his spring retreat.
• On the bank of the Jhelum near Zaina Kadal in the center of Srinagar, Sikandar also authorized the construction of a brand-new royal and affluent cemetery called Mazar-i-Salatin.
• The first stone sculpture in Kashmir and one of the best in its history, a four-armed Brahma, was created by the Buddhist Sanghapati's son in 1409 and presented to Sikandar.
• Sayyid Muhammad Khawari provided a commentary on Lum'at ul-I'tiqaad as well as another work (Khwar Nameh) of an unspecified genre, and Muhammad Baihaqi composed verses honoring Sikandar. Sayiid Ahmad of Isfahan authored epistles and a commentary on a Firazi book.
Conclusion
After a protracted and grueling death, Sikandar is reported to have passed away in 1413 from elephantiasis. After Sikandar passed away, Mir, the eldest son, was crowned Sultan and given the name Ali Shah. Shadi Khan succeeded Mir, and two years later he adopted the name Zain-ul-Abidin.