“The silence of the night is like a cool breeze!
Course if you have allergy it can make you sneeze!
Then again the peace and calm is the deal!
It’s not how you look but how you feel!”
There was a ruthless barbarian who has been believed to have killed over ten percent of the world population!
The only solace for Indians is that at that time they were saved by an animal!
Yes! both statements are true…or so we believe!
read on!
The book by William Dalrymple called the Golden Road mentions about the Tyrannical barbarian Genghis Khan!
He was so cruel that mere mention of his name would make kingdoms surrender!
His use of archery and horse attacks and the ‘surrender or die’ combined with spot attacks made sure that he won at all costs!
Genghis Khan born c. 1162 – August 1227 was also known as Chinggis Khan and was the founder and first khan of the Mongol Empire.
While in India we bow to our elders and brothers; Temüjin killed his older half-brother to secure his familial position!
After spending most of his life uniting the Mongol tribes, he launched a series of military campaigns, conquering large parts of China and Central Asia!
Almost all writers, even those who were in the Mongol service, have dwelt on the enormous destruction wrought by the Mongol invasions!
One Arab historian openly expressed his horror at the recollection of them. Beyond the reach of the Mongols and relying on second-hand information, the 13th-century chronicler Matthew Paris called them a “detestable nation of Satan that poured out like devils from Tartarus so that they are rightly called Tartars.” He was making a play on words with the classical word Tartarus (Hell) and the ancient tribal name of Tatar borne by some of the nomads, but his account catches the terror that the Mongols evoked!
In a list of the most cruel invaders ever, Genghis is in the second place! This is what is written about the invader who was less cruel that Genghis and is in the third place! The invader called Timur!
Timur led military campaigns through a large part of western Asia, including modern Iran, to Syria. In present-day Afghanistan, he ordered the construction of a tower made out of living men, one stacked on top of another and cemented together! He also ordered a massacre to punish a rebellion and had 70,000 heads built up into minarets!
If that shocked you then remember that Genghis is on second place in that list! Yes! I know you want to know the first! It was Atilla the Hun! But then that’s a blog for another sad day…
Nearly 40 million people were believed to be killed in Mongol invasions which led to an empire that spanned 22 per cent of the Earth’s surface!
One estimate is that approximately 10% of the contemporary global population, amounting to some 37.75–60 million people, was killed either during or immediately after the Mongols’ military campaigns!
This number would have been much greater (how!?) if he had come to India! But enroute to India, one animal changed his mind!
Legend has it is said that Chengiz Khan saw an horned unicorn which he assumed to be a command from heaven to halt his march into India!
He may have been a big invader but the fact was that he was a barbarian so what he saw and thought as a unicorn since the eyes would see only that the mind knows! Was in all probability the Great Indian One horned Rhino!
Knowledge is always greater than strength! Which is why it has been said “‘Swadeshe pujyate raja, vidwan sarvatra pujyate’ which means that A king is honored only in his own country, but one who is learned is honored throughout the world!
Historical reminds me of the historical movies by celebrity Govind Nihalani!
Now thank the Rhino and sleep in peace! By the way the study of nose is also called Rhinology but then thats the blog for another day!
Shubh Ratri!
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