UMRO BIN MUHAMMED SON OF QASIM AND LADI
A FORGOTTEN AND LOST GOVERNOR OF SIND
THE LEGACY OF MUHAMMED BIN QASIM
I do not think we hear much of Muhammed bin Qasim at all. We only hear of the tussle between Islam and Hinduism. The character and life of the man is left uncertain. The love of Qasim and Ladi actually speaks of the rebellion of the women hood in Sindh at that time. When warriors were ordered to assassinate all women folks on the brink of Dahir’s defeat, the warrior attached to Ladi, actually hesitated, and Ladi jumped to the ground from the camel she was riding. In this way she escaped her husband’s (actual brother) wrath, and certain death. When she was saved by the army folks attached to Qasim, it was her luck again. And then Qasim bought her from those who had captured her and certainly it seemed the prophesy had come true. The prophesy was that Ladi would marry a Ruler of Sind and will give birth to another. Not that we believe in any such prophesy as being the truth. It was the love radiation between the two characters.
We are told that Qasim was so much loved, that they put a life size statue of Qasim on the chowk of their main city. But we have forgotten one more thing. The product of the love of Qasim and Ladi, the son born to the living couple. They named him UMRO, and he was brought up in Sindh itself. When Qasim was removed, as the new Caliph did not approve of him (different versions of his death are there), the situation in Sindh had changed after all. Historians talk of a grave of Muhammed bin Qasim in Mosul, here he was tortured at the behest of the new Caliph. This is contrary to the story given in the Chach-nama, which is obviously the floated legend at that time.
In any case UMRO was reared up in Sindh, and must have become popular with the people, as he became eventually a Governor of Sindh. We have not come across more material on him, but we will search for same, as there is evidence here, that the DNA of Qasim is still in Sindh to this day. It reminds me of a 9000 year old skeleton they discovered in a mining cave in Scotland, and after research in the nearby village (the entire’s village DNA sample was taken), they found a match to the DNA. A living person descendant of a miner 9000 years old. What fun it would be to discover a descendant of Muhammed bin Qasim in Sindh?
There was another son of Muhammed bin Qasim and he was named simply as Qasim. He was Governor of Basra for 15 years, and also reached a certain kind of fame in his lifetime. So one leaves for Arabia, the other remains in Sindh. There must be more about them in some archives. Suffice that Qasim did not conquer Sindh in the battlefield alone, he conquered the hearts of Sindh and that is why Sindh never became a Hindu nation again. Three cheers for the icon of all times!
When most people hear the name bin Qasim they do think of just the conqueror of Sind. Yours is the only site I have seen that gives the romantic story any coverage. Even the Wikipedia page on Qasim is all about his military campaigns, and discusses the biases of the Hindu vs Muslim accounts of his place in history.
Two nations and one nation determined to make hay out of falsehood. We go to documentation. Historical truths. Death of Qasim various versions. One version he was ordered to wrap himself in wet skin to commit suicide, the other two Machiavellian Hindu girls embraced Islam and asked to be sent to the Islamic capital to learn more about Islamic life. There they complained against Qasim for stealing their womanhood by raping them. Both versions do not match with reality. He was still alive after that. Chach nama is not complete and lost. But factual evidence comes from Sindh itself. But brainwashing is so complete with the other nation that we start doubting the valour or romance f our own leaders. Beware!
I am just in awe of this romantic account of Qasim as never knew it ever existed. On top is the mesmerising Chughtai sb portrayal of him which also I am seeing for the first time. This is way too good. Thank you for sharing sir and keep writing.
Those who lose slumber over Raja Dahir, remember he did not die in battle. On his white elephant with the latest cross bow, he was killing people at will from high up. Then the black warrior SHUJA HABISHI put a covering on his horse’s face, and rushed towards the feet of the huge elephant. He was successful in wounding the legs of the elephant and in panic the elephant sped with Dahir on him. The body of Dahir was found a few days later in a pool of stagnating water, dead on the back of his panic stricken elephant. Chach nama records this well in full detail.
Black Habishi represents egalitarianism. In Hindu kingdom lower castes were not allowed in battle considered inferior.