Yavanraj Vanshavali - Book Summary

Here is a comprehensive summary of the Jain text "Yavanraj Vanshavali" by Munshi Deviprasad Kayastha:

Book Title: Yavanraj Vanshavali (यवनराजवंशावली) Author: Munshi Deviprasad Kayastha Publisher: Indian Press, Prayag and Indian Publishing House, Calcutta Year of Publication: 1909 (VS 1965)

Core Purpose and Introduction:

The "Yavanraj Vanshavali," meaning "Genealogy of the Yavanas (Muslim Rulers)," is a historical compilation that aims to provide a year-by-year account of the Muslim rulers who governed various regions of India. The author, Munshi Deviprasad Kayastha, a Munisif from Jodhpur, recognized a growing interest among Hindus in history, not just of their own land and people, but also of foreigners and those of different origins. He noted that while many Hindu history enthusiasts who were proficient in Urdu and Persian could access original histories written in those languages, and English-educated individuals could rely on translations, there was a lack of comprehensive historical works on Muslim rulers available in Hindi. This book is intended to fill that gap for the general Hindi-reading public.

Source Material and Scope:

The book is primarily based on "Tarikh-i-Firishta" (Tarih-i-Firishta), a comprehensive historical collection of Indian Muslim rulers compiled by Munshi Muhammad Qasim Firishta in 1015 Hijri (1663 CE) under the orders of Ibrahim Adil Shah of Bijapur. The author highlights that even English scholars use Firishta's work as a reference.

The "Yavanraj Vanshavali" covers the genealogies, significant years, and important events of Muslim rulers in the following regions:

Lahore
Delhi
South India
Gujarat
Malwa
Bengal
Multan
Sindh (Thatta)
Kashmir
Berar
Bahmani Sultanate (Deccan)
Bijapur
Ahmednagar
Telingana
Bidar
Burhanpur (Khandesh)
Jaunpur
Sikhs (though listed, the content seems to be about the Gurus rather than a dynasty).

Key Themes and Approach:

Genealogical Focus: The primary aim is to present the lineage of rulers, detailing their reigns and the chronological order of their succession.
Chronological Accuracy: The book meticulously records the Hijri and Vikram Samvat years for each ruler's reign, facilitating historical understanding across different calendar systems.
Historical Context: While focusing on genealogies, the book also touches upon the reasons for the rise and fall of various dynasties and significant battles or events that marked their rule.
Debunking Myths: The author actively engages with and often corrects narratives found in popular historical accounts, particularly the "Prithviraj Raso," pointing out inaccuracies in dates, events, and relationships based on the "Firishta" and logical deduction. For instance, the book disputes the story of Prithviraj kidnapping Sanyogita and its role in inviting Shihab-ud-din Ghori.
Inclusion of Regional Dynasties: The book goes beyond the Delhi Sultanate and Mughal Empire to detail the rulers of independent sultanates that emerged in various parts of India, reflecting the fragmented political landscape.
Emphasis on Hindi Accessibility: The author's motivation stems from the need to make this historical information accessible to a wider audience through the Hindi language.

Summary of Key Sections (as illustrated by the provided pages):

Introduction of Muslim Rule in India: The book begins by tracing the initial incursions of Muslims into India, starting with the Arab conquest of Sindh in 66 Hijri (742 CE). It then discusses the subsequent Turkic invasions from the Kabul region and the establishment of their rule in Punjab.
Lahore Rulers: The text details the lineage of the Turkic rulers of Lahore, starting with Sultan Mahmud Ghaznavi and his successors, tracing their rule until the rise of the Ghori dynasty.
Delhi Rulers: This forms a significant portion, covering the dynasties that ruled from Delhi:
- Slave Dynasty (Gulam Badshah): Starting with Shihab-ud-din Ghori and his successor Qutb-ud-din Aibak, and continuing through Iltutmish and his descendants, including Razia Sultan.
- Khalji Dynasty: Beginning with Jalal-ud-din Firoz Khalji and including Ala-ud-din Khalji.
- Tughlaq Dynasty: Commencing with Ghiyas-ud-din Tughlaq Shah and covering rulers like Muhammad Shah Tughlaq and Firoz Shah Tughlaq, and their successors.
- Sayyid Dynasty: Tracing the rule of Khizr Khan and his descendants.
- Lodi Pathan Dynasty: Starting with Bahlol Lodi and including Sikandar Lodi and Ibrahim Lodi, whose reign ended with Babur's conquest.
- Mughal Dynasty: Beginning with Babur and continuing with Humayun.
- Sur Dynasty: Detailing Sher Shah Suri and his successors.
- Later Mughal Dynasty: Listing rulers from Humayun's second reign, Akbar, Jahangir, Shah Jahan, Aurangzeb, and subsequent emperors, culminating with the capture and exile of Bahadur Shah.
Southern Kingdoms: The text describes the fragmentation of the Tughlaq Empire, leading to the rise of independent sultanates in the South, including:
- Bahmani Sultans: Starting with Hasan Gangu Bahmani, and listing his successors.
- Bijapur Rulers: Tracing the Adil Shahi dynasty, from Yusuf Adil Shah.
- Ahmednagar Rulers: Detailing the Nizam Shahi dynasty, starting with Malik Hasan Bahri (later Nizam-ul-Mulk).
- Telingana Rulers (Qutb Shahi): Describing the Qutb Shahi dynasty, from Sultan Quli Qutb Shah.
- Bidar Rulers (Barid Shahi): Listing the Barid Shahi dynasty, starting with Qasim Barid.
- Berar Rulers (Imad Shahi): Outlining the Imad Shahi dynasty, from Fatehullah Imad-ul-Mulk.
Regional Sultanates: The book also dedicates sections to:
- Malwa Rulers: Starting with Dilawar Khan Ghori and covering the Malwa Sultans, including the Khaljis and their successors, ending with Baz Bahadur.
- Burhanpur Rulers (Farooqi Dynasty): Detailing the Farooqi dynasty of Khandesh, from Malik Raja Farooqi.
- Gujarat Rulers: Tracing the history from the Delhi Sultanate's influence to the establishment of the Gujarat Sultanate by Zafar Khan (Muzaffar Shah), and listing subsequent rulers like Mahmud Begada and Bahadur Shah.
- Sindh Rulers: Covering the Arab conquest and the subsequent rule of the Sumra and Sama dynasties, ending with the Mughal conquest.
- Multan Rulers: Detailing the Langha dynasty.
- Kashmir Rulers: Tracing the transition from Hindu rule to Muslim rule, beginning with Shah Mirza (Sultan Shams-ud-din) and listing the various dynasties that followed.
- Bengal Rulers: Describing the period after Lakhshman Sena's flight and the subsequent independent Bengali Sultanate, from Malik Fakhruddin, and listing its rulers until the Mughal conquest.
- Jaunpur Rulers: Detailing the Sharqi dynasty, from Malik Sarwar (Sultan-ush-Sharq).
Sikh Gurus: A section is dedicated to the ten Sikh Gurus, listing their names, birth, and Nirvana dates, which is an interesting inclusion in a book primarily about Muslim rulers.

Overall Significance:

The "Yavanraj Vanshavali" is a valuable historical resource that provides a structured and chronological account of Muslim rule in India. Its strength lies in its reliance on a prominent Persian historical text and its effort to make this information accessible in Hindi. Munshi Deviprasad Kayastha's work serves as a testament to his commitment to historical scholarship and his desire to inform and educate the Hindi-speaking populace about a significant period of Indian history.