Zain-ul-Abidin

Sultan Ghiyas-ud-Din Zain-ul-Abidin (r.1423-1474) was a sultan of Kashmir in the present day Jammu and Kashmir state of India, who was fondly named "Badshah" (the great king) by his loving subjects and remembered with love and reverence by the posterity even to this day.

Early life

Shahi Khan, the son of Sultan Sikander was left with the charge of the kingdom by his elder brother Sultan Ali Shah when he went for pilgrimage to Mecca. But Ali Shah's father-in-law, the king of Jammu induced him to return from Thatta to Kashmir with a contingent of the army of Jammu. Shahi Khan became angry and went to Jasrath, the chief of the Khokkars after handing over the kingdom to Ali Shah and refused to come back. Ali Shah led an expedition against Jasrath and was defeated. According to late accounts, Ali Shah was captured by Khokkars and died at Chadura. Shahi Khan ascended the throne under the title of Jain-ul-Abidin [Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). "The Delhi Sultanate", Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.380] .

Reign

The period of his reign up to the 35th regnal year is described by Jonaraja in the "Rajatarangini Dvitiya", while the rest of it is described by his pupil Srivara in the "Rajatarangini Tritiya". According to these texts, he extended his suzerainty over Gandhara, Madra (Punjab), Sindhu and Rajapuri (Rajouri). He defeated the king of Udbhandapura (Ohind) several times. He carried his victorious arms to Gogga in Bhotta-desha (Guge in Ladakh). Jasrath, the Khokkar chief defeated Maladeva, the king of Madra with his help [Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). "The Delhi Sultanate", Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.381] .

During the last days of his reign, his three sons, Adam Khan, Haji Khan and Bahram Khan rebelled against him but he took energetic measures to crush them. He was succeeded by his son Haji Khan, who took the title of Haidar Khan [Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). "The Delhi Sultanate", Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.383] .

Administrative policies

Zain-ul-Abidin enforced the system of responsibility of the village communites for local crimes. He regulated the price of the commodities. He stabilized the currency which had been debsed debased during the reign of his predecessors. He was responsible for a large number of public works] [Mahajan, V.D. (1991, reprint 2007). "History of Medieval India", Part I, New Delhi: S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, p.277] . He founded several new cities, built many bridges and dug many irrigation canals. He also prevented the local governors from exacting illegal taxes and gave the peasants much needed tax relief [Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). "The Delhi Sultanate", Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.382] .

Religious policies

Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin was a learned man. He knew Persian, Sanskrit and Tibetan. The Mahabharata and the Rajatarangini were translated into Persian by his order. He was known for his religious tolerance. He called back the Brahmans who left Kashmir during his father's reign and abolished the Jizya [Mahajan, V.D. (1991, reprint 2007). "History of Medieval India", Part I, New Delhi: S. Chand, ISBN 81-219-0364-5, p.277] . He allowed the Hindus to built their temples and follow the personal law according to the Dharmashastras. He stopped the killing of cows by means of poison and passed some regulations about eating beef. He re-introduced the grant of stipends to the learned Brahmans [Majumdar, R.C. (ed.) (2006). "The Delhi Sultanate", Mumbai:Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, p.382] .

Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin is credited for inspiring the genesis of "Kashmiriyat" - a socio-cultural ethos of religious harmony and Kashmiri consciousness.

Notes

External links

* [http://64.233.161.104/search?q=cache:ABHTkDrAVf4J:ikashmir.org/PastPresent/chapter2.html+Zain-ul-Abidin&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=4 Sultan Zain-ul-abidin]
* [http://ikashmir.org/displaymore.php?subitemkey=1029&itemid=301&subchnm=Folk%20Tales&subchkey=24&chname=Culture A King's Metamorphosis - By K. N. Kaul: This fanciful tale centres round one of the illustrious kings of Kashmir, Sultan Zain-ul-Abidin (1423-1474 A.D.) fondly named 'Badshah', the great king, by his loving subjects]