HAND GRENADES TO QUELL OPPOSITION, BY DIRECT CHARGE – AS WELL AS THROWING SAME FROM TOP OF FORT RAMPANTS.

Gun powder starts from China itself, but it spread all over the civilized world as soon as was possible at that time. Cannons of course did their job. Biggest cannons were made, as well as the famous Zamzama of Lahore. But cannons were not mobile. To charge a fort, or to quell army rising above the fort walls, hand grenades requirement was there. Atish hukas came into play. Afghanistan is full of Atish hukas of the past. But they are found in the Punjab too. Lahore has its own version of same. Many shapes and sizes. But the most bizarre is Atish hukas shape like a fish. Muslims were obsessed with aesthetics. Who could have thought that Lahoris would design their grenades in form of fishes? Yes, various designs occur in Islamic world, but fish shaped things are related to Lahore only. These are of Sultanate period and not Mughal in their nature. Probably Ghoris. Most of them are full of carvings of flames but some of them have monograms. A segment of the charging army may be represented in this way. Very little research on the subject. One book in Pakistan, by late Dr Syed Zafar Haider, but a number of books in the Western world. None has the fish Atish huka in any way. Unique, enjoy!