Hemu

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Hemu : biography

1501 – 1556

Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya (also known as Hemu Vikramaditya, Raja Vikramaditya or simply Hemu) (1501–5 November 1556) was a Hindu emperor of north India during the sixteenth century AD, a period when Mughals and Afghans were vying for power in the region.

Born in a humble family, Hemu rose to become Chief of the Army and Prime Minister to Adil Shah Suri of the Suri Dynasty. He fought Afghan rebels across North India from the Punjab to BengalBhardwaj, K. K. "Hemu-Napoleon of Medieval India", Mittal Publications, New Delhi, pp.59–60 and the Mughal forces of Akbar and Humayun in Agra and Delhi,Smith, Vincent A. "Akbar: The Great Mogul", Oxford, (1926), pp.36–37 winning 22 consecutive battles.Bhardwaj, K. K. "Hemu-Napoleon of Medieval India", Mittal Publications, New Delhi, p.25Sarkar, J. N. "Military History of India", p.67

Hemu acceded to the throne of Delhi on 7 October 1556, assuming the title of "Vikramaditya" that had been adopted by many Hindu kings since Vedic times. His rajyabhishek (coronation) as Samrat was held at Purana Qila in Delhi. Hemu re-established the native Hindu rule (albeit for a short duration) in North India, after over 350 years of Muslim(Turkic and Mughal) rule. Some historians say that this rule was on the pattern of a strong Hindu state prevailing in South India for more than three centuries, known as ‘Vijaynagar Empire’. Hemu struck coins bearing his title.

Second Battle of Panipat

On hearing of Hemu’s serial victories and the fall of large territories like Agra and Delhi, the Mughal army at Kalanaur lost heart and many commanders refused to fight Hemu.Akbarnama Vol I by Abul Fazl page 619 Most of his commanders advised Akbar to retreat to Kabul, which would serve better as a strong-hold. However, Bairam Khan, Akbar’s guardian and chief strategist, insisted on fighting Hemu in an effort to gain control of Delhi.

On 5 November 1556, the Mughal army met Hemu’s army at the historic battlefield of Panipat. Bairam Khan exhorted his army in a speech with religious overtones and ordered them into battle. Akbar and Bairam Khan stayed in the rear, eight miles from the battleground, with the instructions to leave India in case of defeat. The Mughal army was led by Ali Kuli Khan, Sikandar Khan and Abdulla Khan Uzbeg.Dr. Parshu Ram Gupt, Rashtra Gaurav Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, p. 65 Hemu led his army himself into battle, atop an elephant. His left was led by his sister’s son General Ramiya and the right by Shadi Khan Kakkar. He was on the cusp of victory, when he was wounded in the eye by an arrow, and collapsed unconscious. This led to confusion amongst the soldiers, with no supreme commander to coordinate decisions. According to Abul Fazl, 5000 soldiers of Hemu were slain.Abul Fazl, Akbarnama, Vol. II, pp. 71-72

Aftermath

After Hemu’s death, a massacre of Hemu’s community and followers was ordered by Bairam Khan. Thousands were beheaded and towers of skulls built with their heads, to instil terror among the Hindus. At least one painting of such minarets is displayed in the "Panipat Wars Museum" at Panipat in Haryana. These towers were still in existence about 60 years later as described by Peter Mundy, a British traveler who visited India during the time of Jahangir.

His attempts to drive the Mughals out of Hindustan and establish the Hindu Raj was a continuation of various Hindu efforts to regain control from Muslim invaders. As most of the Muslims were intolerantQuoted by Michael Edwards in A History of India , NEL Mentor Edition (1967), page 125 to their religion, they never reconciled to their rule. Romilla Thapar says that "although the Muslims ruled the infidels, the infidels called them barbarians."Romila Thapar, A History of India Vol. I (Reprint), Penguin (1992), Page 279

Nirod Bhushan Roy considers Hemu to be "the harbinger of a new era in which the Hindus were to share equally with the Muhammadans the burdens of the state".Nirodh Bhushan Roy, The Successors of Sher Shah, Dacca (1934), page 92.