History, they say, is written by the victors. But what they don’t say loudly enough is that it’s also editedby the loyalists, erased by the guilty, and weaponized by the descendants.
The Indian subcontinent, with all its grandeur, wisdom, and spiritual depth, has also been a land of conquest, power struggles, and unimaginable cruelty. And in that historical panorama, one harsh truth stands tall: every single king who has ever ruled—be it a Hindu monarch or a Muslim sultan—has blood on his hands.
The Lie of Selective Memory
We speak often, and rightly, of the atrocities committed during Islamic invasions—temple desecrations, forced conversions, and the horrors of mass killings. They are well-documented, thanks in part to Persian chroniclers, Arabic historians, and European travelers.
But what about the Hindu kings who ruled before them? What about the internecine battles of Mauryas, Guptas, Cholas, and Rajputs? What about the Brahmanical tyranny faced by marginalized communities under so-called “dharma rajyas”? What about caste-based slavery, bonded labor, and the absence of any sense of equality?
The uncomfortable truth is this: those acts were rarely recorded.
Not because they didn’t happen. But because the winners sang only songs of glory, and not of guilt.
War Knows No Religion
Violence in the name of expansion or ideology is not exclusive to any religion. It is an unfortunate byproduct of power.
• The trishul and the sword, the bow and the scimitar, all sliced through human flesh without prejudice.
• Women were abducted and raped in every period—not as an exception, but as a brutal reward of war.
• Massacres weren’t about piety—they were about domination, fear, and control.
To single out one group over another is not just historically inaccurate—it’s morally dishonest.
The Legacy We Inherit
Today, we live in a time where people seek pride in their past and vilify the past of others. But if we really believe in our own civilization’s depth, we must mature into a more honest relationship with history.
A true civilization doesn’t grow by glorifying its kings, but by acknowledging its wounds, its oppressions, and its brutalities. Because only then can healing begin.
So, What Should We Teach Our Children?
Let’s not teach them that one side was good and the other evil.
Let’s teach them that human nature is fallible, kings are not gods, and history is not mythology.
Let’s teach them that true pride doesn’t come from erasing the truth, but from rising above it.
Because whether it was the trishul of a Hindu raja or the sword of a Muslim sultan, blood once spilled does not carry a label. Only pain does.