भारतीय इतिहास के ६ स्वर्णिम पृष्ठ (वीर सावरकर - विदेशी आक्रान्ताओं पर विजय गाथा)

precipitate haste, he crossed the river and with his fine cavalry, dashed against the forces of King Porus. This disturbed the whole plan of Porus. Still, he fought on a fierce battle. But the rains had turned the field muddy, rendering utterly useless Porus’s two great instruments of war, namely chariots and elephants. He could not, therefore, successfully check the brisk and energetic attacks of Alexander’s horsemen. In the thick of the battle, Porus seated on his elephant and desperately fighting was grievously wounded and fell into the hands of the enemy. Thus, partly because of Porus’s misfortune and partly because of Alexander’s military skill on the battlefield, the Greeks were crowned with success. Victory—Shrewd Political Strategy 25. When Porus was taken as a captive before Alexander, the latter asked the Indian King, ‘How should I treat you?’ Porus promptly replied, ‘Like a King’. This apt reply evoked the comment of European as well as our own historians, that impressed by this bold reply, Alexander returned to Porus his territory making him a governor under him, instead of putting him to death. But this interpretation of Alexander’s treatment of Porus is wrong, and therefore, such platitudes should be avoided in school textbooks. 26. Obviously, Alexander was not like the artless simple Indian King, Harishchandra, who gave away his kingdom in his wakeful hours in order to fulfil a promise made in a dream. He knew if he killed Porus or liquidated his kingdom, placing in his place some Greek Satrap, the high-minded people of the state would be aflame with rage and hatred towards the Greeks. Now Alexander wanted to fight his way all along to the chief Capital of India, namely Pataliputra! Could he ever do so with the sole support of his own Greek army? On the other hand, it was far more profitable to win over Porus with apparent magnanimity and kindness, as he had done to King Ambhi of Taxila (Takshashila) and enlist his active support in order to facilitate the accomplishment of his daring plan of the conquest of India. It is, therefore, not for the sake of appreciating the bold rejoinder of Porus but as a clever political strategy, that the arch diplomat Alexander returned to Porus his Kingdom. He even annexed the smaller neighbouring states, which he had conquered immediately before or after his clash with Porus to the latter’s Kingdom. He had appointed him his satrap (governor) of this vast Indian Province. Porus too gave his assent to Alexander’s proposals simply to wait for his time, for fortune had played foul with him. Porus had done his duty, as a Kshatriya warrior would do of

fighting till the end against the enemy of his nation. In fact, तावत कालम् प्रतिक्षेताम् (Bide the time!) is a valuable tenet in political science. Knowing that the submission of King Porus was only time serving, the Indian populace also did not take it amiss. It will be shown later, how at the opportune time, King Porus (now Satrap Porus) turned the tables against Alexander himself. 27. After the end of the war with Porus, Alexander set himself up to the task of stabilising the newly conquered neighbouring states, and began a careful study of the life of the people there and in the yonder regions. Besides, to replenish his army that was depleted in numbers and energy because of the incessant wars from the Hindukush to the Panchanad, Alexander ordered fresh regiments of forces from his Satraps in Babylon and Greece, and sent back those of his fighting forces, who were wounded and rendered invalid and also those who were shirkers. Inquiry of the Indian Ascetics 28. The scouts, whom Alexander had sent round to survey the local condition of the people in the subjugated as well as non-subjugated provinces, brought, among other reports, detailed descriptions of the penance-groves in the forests, and of the ascetics, anchorites, recluses, freed from all worldly bonds, wandering about all alone in search of knowledge and also of those sages, who were deeply engrossed in philosophical thought. Alexander himself was fond of learning and philosophical discussions, for he called himself the disciple of the great philosopher, Aristotle. He had already heard much in Greece itself of such ascetics and of austere Brahmins. So, he earnestly desired to see personally at least some of these austere Brahmins in India, who the Greeks called ‘Gymnosophists’ and have talks with them. So, he sent for some of such hermits from their forest abodes and some he saw in their secluded cells. The Greek writers themselves had given some interesting tales about such occasions. I would like to cite a tale or two from among those in words of the Greek writers themselves, so as to throw some light on the thoughts and feelings of the Greeks and their leader, Alexander. 29. “This philosopher (Kalanos), we are told, showed Alexander a symbol of his empire. He threw down on the ground a dry and shrivelled hide and planted his foot on the edge of it. But when it was trodden down in one place, it started up everywhere else. He then walked all round it and showed

that the same thing took place wherever he trod, until at length he stepped into the middle and by doing so made it all lie flat. This symbol was intended to show Alexander that he should control his empire from its centre and not wander away to its distant extremities.” The Canon of Dandamis 30. Alexander keenly felt that he should send for and have a personal talk with one Brahmin, of whom he had heard so much in Taxila (Takshashila). The Greeks called this Brahmin ‘Dandamis’, but I have not so far succeeded in tracing down his original Sanskrit name. The Brahmin, bent with age and knowledge, was free from all worldly ties and wandered naked everywhere. He did not pay any heed to Alexander’s messages. Thereupon, Alexander sent his own officer ‘Onesikretos’ to this selfless recluse, who told him, “Alexander, the very son of God Zeus (Sansk: Dyus) and a world- conqueror has summoned you to his court. If you still fail to come, you will be beheaded instantaneously.” The Brahmin began to laugh vociferously at this threat and replied, “If Alexander is the son of Zeus, in the same manner and for the same reason, I am also the son of that very Zeus (Dyus). As to his boast of being a world-conqueror, it is absolutely vain! He has not as yet seen the other bank of the river Vyas. If he successfully faces the brave Indian states beyond and, yonder still, the powerful empire of Magadha and still remains alive, we shall have time to consider whether he is a world- conqueror. Alexander offers me land and gold; but go and tell him that ascetics like me spit upon such things. This motherland of mine provides me with everything I want, wilh the loving care of a real mother. If Alexander is going to chop my head off, then my head and body would mix up with this earth of what they are made, but he would never be able to murder my soul. It is invincible, indestructible and immortal. Go and tell him, that he should issue these threats to those, who are slaves of gold and power and are afraid of death. Before us, these threats of a mortal like Alexander fall flat and are powerless. For, a true ascetic Brahmin can never be won over by gold, nor does he ever fear death. I won’t come go away.” 31. We have quoted only some of the sentences from the reply of Dandamis to Alexander. Greek writers have given the full text of his fearless and direct reply. Plutarch, too, has mentioned these tales. Some writers, astounded by his dauntless and straightforward answer, have remarked, “If, at all, anyone in the world has so successfully defied

Alexander, who had conquered so many kingdoms, it was this naked, old Brahmin ascetic of India.” Brahmins hanged for Political Conspiracy 32. In his survey, Alexander came to know that although these world- forsakers, ascetics, recluses and others were wandering all alone, their opinions exerted a powerful influence because of their disinterestedness, fearlessness and their disregard for any consequences whatsoever, upon the governments of Indian republics and also on the monarchies. The tongues of these free and fearless Brahmin ascetics, had sharp edges like the swords of the Indian Kshatriyas and they protested against the unjust Greek aggression very sharply and spread, openly or secretly, great discontent against Alexander amongst the Indian populace. Naturally, his first adoration of these ‘Gymnosophists’ suddenly gave place to his intense hatred against the Brahmin hermits. Thereupon, he began to seize some such Brahmins and hang them. Before beheading one such Brahmin, when Alexander asked him why he instigated a certain Indian ruler against the Greeks, he fearlessly and firmly replied that it was his most sacred tenet and that, if he were to live, he ought to live honourably, else he should die honourably.” (Plutarch LXIV). 33. After defeating King Porus, Alexander thought his dazzling victory should unnerve the neighbouring states and force them to submit meekly, but his hopes in this respect mostly belied him. As he crossed the Vitasta (Jhelum) and marched onward, the various republics, big or small, on his way began to offer sanguinary battles. Without a decision at the battlefield, they would never accept his overlordship meekly. Although the superior number and might of the Greeks went on overpowering the Indians, the consequent strain of incessant fighting did not fail to make itself felt on the Greeks. 34. Greek writers have described many such battles with various Indian republics, but this is no occasion to mention them, either at some length or briefly. However, some of the chosen incidents have got to be given here at some length, at least as a mark of respect to those brave Indian republics who, though not jointly yet severally, offered the toughest of resistance to that mighty Greek army of a hundred thousand gallant soldiers and their brave, world-famous, captain-general Alexander, who had vowed pompously to trample over the whole of India and conquer the Crown of

Magadha for himself, which finally forced him to stirke a retreat homeward, from the very threshold of India. Republics of Saubhootis and Kathas 35. The constitution of both these republics was democratic. Writes a Greek writer Diodoros “They were governed by laws in the highest degree salutary and their political system was admirable. One special feature of these republics was that with a view to promoting healthy, strong and handsome progeny, the procreation of human species was not left to individual whims and fancies, but was controlled by the state. They were very fond of physical beauty. Hence, marriages were arranged not with an eye on the handsome dowry, but with proper consideration of mutual physical fitness, beauty and health, and the ability of the bride and the bridegroom to bring forth healthy and sturdy children. Even while electing their leaders, who were to guide the nation and bear the yoke of national welfare, sufficient weightage was given to the candidate’s build of the body and physical strength. Their laws regarding the proper production of human species were so strict that within three months of their birth, children were medically examined by the state authorities, and if a child were found with some native defect or to be suffering from some incurable disease or deformed, it was immediately put to death under state orders without any mercy.” 35A. Readers of history know well that the Republic of Sparta had similar laws about heredity. 36. Though not so very strict and ruthless as the Saubhootis and the Kathas, there were other Ganas or republics in India, which paid special attention to heredity, and bringing forth of strong and handsome children. The ‘Vrishnis’ were also very particular, from the ancient times, about the physical beauty and strength of their leaders and state officials. The physical strength and beauty of the world famous leader of these Vrishnis, Lord Shree Krishna, has been immortalized. Lord Shri Krishna’s sons, too, have been credited by the Puranas with exceptional beauty. Republic Subsisting by Arms 37. A good many republics in the Panchanad (the Punjab) and along both the banks of the Indus, right up to its great leap into the sea, were said to be living on weapons. The most remarkable fact about them was that not only the men but the women too in those republics had necessarily to undergo military training so that at the time of war, literally the whole nation could

be drafted for military action. Although different from each other in some particular respects, their constitutions, needless to say, were essentially democratic. Whether big or small in size, they were all independent. The Republic of the Youdheyas 38. The Republic of the Youdheyas, spread far and wide in the fertile lands to the south of the river Vyas in the Panchanad (the Punjab), was the most prominent of them all. It was looked upon with awe and respect by every one because of its valiant youths who always fought for their independence, regardless of their lives. It was truly called, by the foreign historians, ‘A nation in arms’. They too had a law necessitating everyone between the ages of 18 and 21 to undergo sound military training, which kept not only their male but even the female population well-equipped with arms. 39. On seeing Alexander march down the Vitasta (Jhelum) and the Chandrabhaga (Chenab) in order to cross the Vyas, after defeating King Porus, the adjoining republics and the hill tribes, the gallant Youdheyas, who were to the south of the river, spurned Alexander’s ultimatum of abject surrender and began all-out preparations for war. Yet the so-called Emperor of Magadha, the cowardly Dhananand, was not roused from his stupor. That lily-livered coward does not seem to have sent any mlitary help to the gallant Youdheyas in order to vanquish Alexander at the very portals of India. Nevertheless, the Youdheyas got ready to face Alexander, relying on nothing but their own strength. Alexander’s Army Struck with Terror 40. When Alexander’s army came fighting to the banks of the river Vyas, after crossing the Indus, the Vitasta, and the Chandrabhaga, they came to know that beyond that river, the democratic Youdheyas had taken arms to fight for their independence against the Greeks. Besides, they learnt about their bravery, and also of the fact that beyond the Youdheyas, mightier Indian states along the banks of the Ganges were making ready to fight with them. The Greek soldiers, already spent and disgusted with unceasing warfare with the Indians in the Panchanad, dared not cross the Vyas and join battle with the courageous and daring Indian states like the Youdheyas and others. 41. But the lust for war and conquest of their war-intoxicated, enterprising and exceptionally courageous captain-general and emperor, Alexander was not quenched in the least. He proclaimed, throughout all the divisions of his

army, his immutable decision to cross the Vyas, conquer the Youdheyas and march straight off to Magadha. This obstinate declaration of Alexander roused a great furore and rage amongst the already war-weary army, even amongst the veterans! The Greek soldiers secretly began to pass resolutions, group-by-group, to refuse straightaway to go ahead. In spite of the fact that they had been considering Alexander unconquerable and the son of God Zeus, they were extremely disgusted with his lust for power. No sooner did Alexander smell of this dissatisfaction amongst his soldiers, than he delivered an inspiring speech. Alexander’s Speech to His Army 41A. “On seeing that you, O Macedonians and allies, no longer follow me into dangers with your wonted alacrity, I have summoned you to this assembly that I may either persuade you to go farther or to be persuaded by you to turn back if we have driven the Scythians back into their deserts, and if besides the Indus, Hydaspes, Akesines and Hydraotes flow through the territories that are ours, why should you hesitate to pass the Hyphasis also? Are you afraid? 41B. “For my part, I think that to a man of spirit, there is no other aim and end of his labours except the labours themselves. 41C. “But if any one wishes to know the limits of the present warfare, let him understand that the river Ganges and the Eastern sea are now at no great distance off.... 41D. “But if we turn back, many warlike nations extending beyond the Hyphasisto Eastern sea and many others lying northwards between these and Hyrkania, to say nothing of their neighbours, the Scythian tribes, will be left behind us unconquered, so that if we turn back, there is cause to fear lest the conquered nations, as yet wavering in their fidelity, may be instigated to revolt by those who are still independent. O Macedonians and allies! glory crowns the deeds of those who expose themselves to toils and dangers. 41E. “Such of you wish to return home I shall send back to your own country, or even myself will lead you back.” 41F. According to Smith, “He (Alexander) recited the glories of their wondrous conquests from Hellespont to Hyphasis and promised them the dominion and riches of all Asia. But glowing words fell on unwilling ears and were received with painful silence, which remained unbroken for a long time.” (P. 79)

42. But the effect of his inspiring speech was contrary to his expectations. As it was now amply clear from the very lips of Alexander that they would be required to fight more sanguinary wars of attrition, they were scared to the marrow. Dr. Jayswal writes in his Hindu Polity, “The Greek army refused to move an inch forward against the nations, whose very name, according to Alexander, struck his soldiers with terror.”
43. Alexander was extremely enraged to see that his soldiers disobeyed him by flatly refusing to cross the Vyas in order to save all further trouble, because they were thoroughly exhausted and afraid to fight immediately, without any rest. But Alexander was as cunning as he was brave. Apprehending danger, Alexander refrained from doing any thing rash in a fit of anger, and straightaway walked off into his tent in utter despair. He stopped talking to anybody. He did not show himself outside his tent for three consecutive days. Then he thoughtfully hatched a new plan in his mind. He, thereafter, gathered the whole of the Greek army and told them that he had given up the plan of crossing the Vyas. He said, “I have now decided to go back to Greece.” This statement naturally elated the rank and file of his army. Alexander then asked, “But how are we to go back? If we turn our backs straightaway and go to Greece by the same route as we came along, all this Indian territory we have conquered would rise in revolt, thinking that we are stricken with terror. So instead of turning our back straight off towards the land route to Greece, we should better go a little obliquely to the sea along the banks of the Indus and then return to Persia along the sea-route. Next time when we shall come again to India, we shall conquer the Indian states beyond the Ganges and accomplish our conquest of India.”
44. True it is that Alexander said “When once again we shall come to India’—“But O Greek Captain General, once again! Truly! But when? Let alone the kingdoms beyond the Ganges, but if these very states that you have conquered today were to renounce the yoke of your sovereignty and become independent, then? Nay, even before that next time you mentioned, if you yourself were to be no more, then...? Even the race of Zeus can succumb to the ravages of time, may it then belong to Greece.”
45. If those Indian Gymnosophists, ascetics and recluses have ridiculed Alexander’s threat of coming back again to India in some such manner, it could never have been out of place. Alexander’s Retreat

46. However loudly and pompously Alexander might have swaggered with his mouth, the fact remains that the Greek soldiers took a fright of the Youdheyas and others beyond the Vyas and, hence, Alexander could not dare cross that river! Indian valour had taken the conceit out of the haughty spirit of the advancing Greek army, and so they had to strike a retreat. Alexander did not retire willingly. The Greeks proved to be powerless before the Indians, and, hence, was this ignoble retreat! To hide this simple fact, the Greek and European historians write, “Had he but crossed the Vyas, Alexander would have defeated not only the Youdheyas but the Magadha empire also. The Youdheyas and the Magadhas had never actually defeated the Greek army of Alexander on the open battlefield. These boastful ‘ifs’ and ‘whens’ can be answered most aptly on behalf of the valorous Indian Youdheyas in some such way: का कथा बाण संधाने ज्या शब्देनैव दूरतः। हुंकारेणैव धनुषः सहि विघ्नान्यपोहति॥ —Kalidas Shakuntalam, Act 3 Shloka 1 (“Why fight with an enemy who flees away at the mere twang of our bow.”)
47. Again, this typical itch of the Greek army for fighting in the open field was to be allayed for ever by the Indian military strength a little later! Soon Chandragupta was to make his entry on the military stage of India. Wait a bit, O you, reader! Alexander builds a powerful Navy
48. Soon after his retreat from the Vyas, Alexander had five to six hundred warships built in order to make his way to the sea along the course of the Indus. Embarking thousands of his well-equipped warriors on these warships, he began to march off to the sea through the river. About the commencement of this voyage of Alexander along the waters of the Indus, arrived the two fresh regiments of forces, ordered from Babylon and Greece. Naturally, the heretofore war-weary and rebellious Greek soldiers of Alexander were cheered up once more.
49. But while Alexander was making his way towards the sea after striking an ‘honourable’ retreat from the Vyas, a very great political conspiracy began to shape itself most secretly throughout the Greek-trodden Indian territory from the banks of the Vyas right up to Gandhar. But of that conspiracy, we shall have occasion to speak in a more detailed way a little

later. Here, it should suffice to say that the Indian republics along both the banks of the Indus, whether big or small—made light of Alexander’s threat to come again to conquer India as nothing more than a pompous political stunt, and prepared grimly to oppose his forces, as severely and as stubbornly as possible. But alas! it was a decision taken separately by each particular republic. It was not a well-organized, united effort, under a central authority to destroy the Greeks under Alexander. Hence, the same story of Gandhar and Panchanad was repeated here, and the well-organized army of Alexander, with its superior numbers, could successfully fight each Indian republic and go ahead. Even if these stray battles with various Indian armies did not fail to exhaust and weaken Alexander’s forces, they could not crush him completely. There were, of course, some exceptions to these separatist war efforts. Of them at least two, which even the hostile Greek historians praise wholeheartedly, and which gave such a severe blow to Alexander, deserve a brief mention here. The Republics of the Malavas and the Shudrakas 50. The two republics led their separate lives along the banks of the Indus. Both were rich, brave democracies with a high sense of honour. Of the two, Malava republic was the more famous from the ancient times and was quite extensive. These two republics had at times been hostile to each other. But when they saw Alexander’s powerful navy went on defeating every single Indian state in various battles and kept on forging its way to the sea, the political leaders of both these republics decided to correct the mistake of those several Indian democracies that fought singly with a vastly superior enemy, a mistake that was proving fatal to their wider national interests. So, instead of fighting the Greek army singly, they decided to amalgamate their fighting forces under a unified control. Not only did they unite their men at arms, but they intermarried in order to bring about political and social unity among them. For the intermingling of castes and blood, they had a great collective marriage ceremony, wherein at least a thousand girls from both the ‘Ganas’ (republics) were inter-married to the youths of the other republic. 51. While this unified army of the Malava-Shudrak republics was fighting tooth and nail with the Greeks, Alexander laid siege to one of their important cities. Although the name of this city cannot be ascertained positively, it must have been some capital city or one of similar importance. As this republican city kept on fighting desperately, the Greek siege had to

be prolonged. The haughty Alexander could not bear it. He thought of ordering the ladders to be put up on the ramparts of the enemy stronghold, and commanding his Greek soldiers to climb them up and straightaway storm the city. 52. But the same sort of unrest and disaffection against Alexander began to be seen in his army, as was once experienced at the time of the crossing of the Vyas. The Greek army was avowedly wending its way homeward in order to avoid new wars. But all along the bank of the Indus, they had to fight fresh battles. And they knew that unless Alexander gave up his aggressive designs calculated to pacify his unsatiable lust for conquests, brutal wars were unavoidable. Because of this bitter war with the Malava- Shudrak combined forces, the Greek discontent reached the climax and there were rebellious whispers openly flouting Alexander’s commands. 52A. When the Macedonian soldiers found that they had still on hand a fresh war in which the most war-like nations (गणs) would be their antagonists, they were struck with unexpected terror and began again to upbraid the King in the language of sedition. (Curtius Bk. IX Ch.IV. as quoted in ‘Hindu Polity’) {Mc Crindle I.L. by Alexander P. 234). 53. Still, in the end, Alexander promulgated his command to his soldiers to climb up the ladders and leap straight into the enemy stronghold, which valiantly defied the Greek siege. Seeing that his Greek soldiers hesitated to undertake the daring feat, that exceptionally valiant commander of the Greeks, the mighty Alexander, himself began to climb one of the ladders put up against the ramparts of the stronghold. At this, the whole Macedonian army was suddenly inspired to do the great deed, and all began to climb instantaneously. Once at the top of the ramparts, Alexander straightaway jumped down in the midst of the enemy and there ensued a hand-to-hand fight between the Indian and the Greek forces. And Suddenly 54. And suddenly an Indian warrior took out an envenomed arrow from his sheath and applied it to his bowstring, and let it fly with an unmistakable aim at the place where Alexander stood edging on his warriors, and shining in his golden helmet. 55. It was not an arrow, it was, in fact, Indian revenge incarnate. To use the lines of poet Moropant (with a slight variation of course) we can say— तो शर गरधरवरसा पविसा रविसा स्मरारिसायकसा।

म्लेंच्छ हृदंतरि घुसिला वल्मीका माजि नागनायकसा ॥ (with apologies to Moropant आर्याभारत-कर्णपर्व) Alexander Rolled into a pool of Blood 56. The shaft of the Indian warrior unmistakably pierced the heart of Alexander, and suddenly the emperor rolled down unconscious. A Greek soldier immediately covered him with his shield. There was a sudden hue and cry in the Greek ranks that Alexander had been wounded, that he had fallen unconscious. With exceptional daring, the Greeks lifted him from the pool of blood and carried him safely to his camp. There, with great difficulty that terrible shaft of the Indian warrior was extricated. The Greeks heaved a sigh of relief when after a long time of patient nursing, Alexander gradually regained consciousness. It took several days for the wound to heal up. During all this time, Alexander was confined to bed. 57. But everywhere in Babylon and Greece the news that was received, reported that Alexander was killed in the war by an Indian arrow. Consequently, there were some uprisings in Gandhar and Persia. But later on, when it was known that Alexander was only severely wounded and was now recovering, the situation came to normalcy. 58. No wonder whatsoever, if the news of Alexander’s having fainted by a bowshot was greeted cheerfully throughout the Malava-Shudrak republic. Alexander was so much puffed up with pride when King Pourav (Poros) was wounded in the battle, that he circulated a new coin with a picture showing his fall stamped on it. The coin is still to be seen as a mark of his vanity. That insult inflicted on India was fully avenged by the Indian arrow, which sent the Greek emperor rolling down on the battlefield in pools of blood. The Ionian Emperor, Alexander, who unjustifiably shed Indian blood, was made to atone for it personally by the shedding of his blood. 59. The Malava-Shudrak republic too should have stamped on some golden coin the picture of Alexander, fallen in a pool of blood with an arrow deeply thrust into his chest. Possibly they did. 60. According to his cruel military code, he had been cruelly rushing down the states, which had opposed him. But whenever there appeared any foe, who was equally strong and who retaliated furiously, Alexander had the cunning to dissemble nobility and frankness of heart. When he recovered from his wound, he began to make overtures of peace to the commanders of

the Malava-Shudrak army, instead of dictating his usual arrogant terms. For ceasefire talks, a hundred representatives of the joint Malava-Shudrak republic were elected, and for them, Alexander held a grand reception ceremony in his camp. Detailed and very entertaining descriptions of this reception are available in the books of Greek historians. But for want of space, we have to satisfy ourselves with a brief reference to it. The hundred representatives were, even according to the Greek standards, of uncommon height, heavily built, having handsome muscular bodies. They were clad in valuable embroidered clothes and had worn beautiful ornaments of gold and pearls and precious stones. Everyone of them went to the Greek camp in his well-decorated and well-equipped golden chariot. They had with them elephants, too, with costly and beautiful outfits. The Greeks had always felt a special fascination for the elephants. 61. Although rankling in his mind was the fact that these very representatives of the Malava-Shudrak joint republic had brought upon him, a little while ago, a mortal danger, Alexander showed his magnanimity in that reception ceremony and paraded his own imperial splendour. For every one of those hundred representatives, there was a special golden seat. The banquet given in their honour was attended with costly wines and excellent savoury dishes. The grand banquet was followed by various field games and tournaments, music and dancing. In the end, a treaty was signed by the Malava-Shudrak representatives and Alexander. 62. The divergent accounts given about this treaty by various Greek writers of the time have, at least, this much in common to tell. The Greeks and the Indians had jointly agreed to put a stop to their hostilities and that the Malava-Shudrak republic was not to cause any harassment to the retreating army of Alexander, while it was progressing on its way home along the Indus. Of these, two valiant republics, the Malavas will be referred to later on, when I shall be describing the wars with the Sakas, the Yucchis and other Mlenchha powers. The fact that this Malava republic had been prosperous and strong for many centuries to come, therefore, need not be specially proved. 63. Even the Greek writers could not help recording some more acts of valour during the Indian resistance to the Greek onslaught, although the details of the time and place of their happenings are not available. Two of them are cited here to serve as specimens. The Treacherous attack of Greeks on Masaga Tribe

64. At Masaga, Alexander captured a small armed community of seven thousand, which included several women. Alexander promised them their lives on condition that they should join his army and fight with his Indian enemies, or else, he threatened them with wholesale man-slaughter, or, as a third alternative he said, he would carry them off as slaves! The leaders of the community agreed to his first proposal, but requested that they should be allowed one night for mutual exchange of views. Alexander agreed. Thereupon, these seven thousand Indians marched towards a hill, some nine miles ahead of the Greek camp. Writes Vincent Smith, “The Indians being unwilling to aid the foreigners in the subjugation of their countrymen desired to evade the unwelcome obligation.” So, they decided to give the slip to the Greeks, but Alexander came to know of their intention. So, while they were sleeping for a little rest, Alexander fell upon them, all of a sudden, with his huge army and began to cut down eveyone. There was a great havoc amongst those Indians. But within a short time, they drew up their swords and other weapons. They made a hollow circular formation, gathering the women and children inside it, and faced the Greek attack most heroically. A good number of women were also found desperately fighting with the foe. Till almost all of them were killed, they kept on fighting for the freedom of their nation. 64A. “The gallant defenders met a glorious death they would have disclaimed to exchange for a life with dishonour.” (Early History of India by Vincent Smith 1924, p. 59) The Agrashrenis
65. This little Indian republic of the Agrashrenis too, instead of surrendering, fought to the last with the vast Greek navy of Alexander, as it was making its headway to the sea through the course of the Indus. When the Greeks attacked their very capital, these brave Indian warriors erected blockades and barricades at different intervals, and fought every inch of their ground so tenaciously that Alexander could not enter the city before he had sacrificed many Greek lives. According to Curtius, “When those brave fellows could not further resist the odds, they (the Agrashrenis) set their houses on fire, and their wives and children and all threw themselves into the flames!” That is to say, they ‘made johar’ (to use a latter day phraseology). This is the Aame Johar!—Jai Har!!

66. We generally believe that this magnificent and awe-inspiring tradition of ‘johar’ or self-immolation of large groups of men and women in times of national crisis was originally practised by the Rajputs only. But instances like the one just mentioned, cited by the Greek writers who were astounded to witness them, go to prove that even before the name of the Rajputs was ever heard of, this splendid tradition was followed by our Indian warriors right from the ancient days. The word ‘johar’ is comparatively modern. It was perhaps derived from the war cry ‘Jai Har’! The Indian God of war and destruction is Har, Har, Mahadev! That is why, the Indians fought desperately, inspired by this deafening war cry! The Marathas too used the same war cry ‘Har, Har, Mahadev!’ After fighting to the last, when every hope of success was over, or every chance of escape from the enemy was lost, this johar, this martyrdom, this noblest type of self-sacrifice was resorted to by the Hindus as the last unfailing weapon to save their religion, their nation, their own self-respect and to avoid captivity, abject slavery and hateful conversion! As soon as all men of fighting age were slain on the battlefield after taking the greatest toll of the enemy blood, their wives, mothers, daughters, hundreds of them, with babies at their breasts, used to leap into the burning pyres, specially kept ready for the purpose and were reduced to ashes. This was what was known as ‘Johar’! It was not an easy job! It was the limit of valour and endurance for the sake of keeping up the prestige of one’s self and one’s own religion!
67. Whoever had donned this exceptional armour of ‘Johar’ and its leaping flames were beyond all attempts of an Alexander, an Alla-ud-Din or a Salim-why, even of Satan himself—to pollute them and convert them to his religion! Confronted with this horrible sacrificial fire, the enemy stood aghast, discomfited and crestfallen.
68. The above-mentioned ‘Johar’—collective immolation of lives—by the Agrashrenis is one of the many described by the astounded Greek writers, which the Indians preferred to the humiliation of being the captives of the Greeks. The Janapad Republic of Brahmanakas!
69. At last, when Alexander’s naval force reached the mouth of the Indus, fighting incessantly all the way, it met with yet other independent republics. These ‘janapadas’ or ‘Ganas’ were like the small Greek city-states, and had none amongst them, which could ably withstand with equal numbers, the mighty and numerous army of Alexander. Still one of them, the

‘Brahmanak janapad’ made up its mind to cross swords with, rather than submit to Alexander. This was the same ‘Brahmanak janapad’, that is referred to by Panini, says Dr. Jayaswal. It is already told how, while fighting in the Panchanad (the Punjab) Alexander had wreaked his rancorous revenge against the clan of philosophers, especially the Brahmins. When Alexander learnt that it was the same clan of Brahmins, this small state belonged to, he decided to whack his malicious stroke upon it with all his might. Plutarch (McCrindle ‘Invasion of India by Alexander’ p. 306; V.A. Smith E.H.I. p. 106) writes in his ‘Life of Alexander’, “These philosophers were specially marked down for revenge by Alexander as they gave him no less trouble than the mercenaries. They reviled the princes who declared for Alexander and encouraged free states (in India) to revolt against his authority. On this account, he hanged many of them”. (ChLIX) 69A. That little ‘Janapad’ too fought to the last with these Greeks for the sake of its national honour and independence. Pattanprastha 70. What now is called by the Muslims, Sindh Hyderabad, was at that time known as Pattanprastha. In Sanskrit language, the cities along the seashore, or at the mouths of rivers, were mostly called ‘Pattan’. Pattan is equivalent to the English word ‘port’. Perhaps the English word ‘port’ might have been a corruption of the Sanskrit ‘Pattan’. When Alexander neared the sea, this small state of Pattranprastha was confronted with a dilemma: to surrender to the enemy was most hateful to the ‘Pattanprasthis’, but they knew fully well that they would never be able to fight with the powerful Greek army on equal ground. So they resolved the dilemma by forsaking, collectively their native country, their homes and landed property and motherland with sad hearts. Alexander’s Homeward Voyage 71. That part of the ocean, where the Indus flows into it, should really be called Sindhusagar. Sindhusagar, a name for the sea to the west of India, is a fitting counterpart for the Gangasagar, a traditional name for the eastern sea. 72. On first reaching the sea, Alexander divided his army into two parts. The first batch he sent back to Iran (Persia) by a land route through what now goes by the name of Baluchistan. The whole of Alexander’s army had been thoroughly exhausted in this expedition to India. Moreover, Baluchistan at that time, was full of impregnable forests, thoroughly unknown to the Greeks. So, the Greek division, sent this way, somehow

reached Persia, after so many hazards and privations. On the other hand, Alexander himself set sail by the sea-route with another division of his army, and reached Persia. As the whole of the old Persian Empire had now formed a part of Alexander’s greater demesne, he went to his capital, namely Babylon. But he did not return to the capital in that same triumphant spirit he had started on his Indian campaign two years ago, with a view to winning for himself the vauntful title of the Emperor of India. Not only did he not return like the Emperor of India, he did not even appear to be an emperor at all. He returned just like an ordinary commander of an army, despaired and worn out, after a long-drawn and hazardous campaign. India was not Persia 73. The cause of this disappointment of Alexander was that the Greeks up to that time, knew only one empire worth the name—much more extensive than their own—that of Persia! When these Greeks marched upon that Persian emipre under their uncommonly brave and brilliant commander, Alexander, and when after only two or three campaigns the vast Persian empire fell before them like a paper palace, they were so much flushed with their victory, that they fondly considered their commander to be endowed with divine qualities, and as such unconquerable. Alexander himself could not escape the infection of pride. His ambition to win for himself the overlordship of the whole world soared to the sky. Bharat appeared to him just next to and as easy a prey as, Persia. So very vast a land and so very weak! So, he wanted to crown his Persian conquest with the glittering diadem of the Indian imperial authority. Greedily enough, he ran to have it with all haste. 74. But the experience he had was quite contrary to what he had expected. In India, he had to face the bitterest opposition at every step. Although he never lost a battle as such, his Greek army was completely exhausted and exasperated in the very process of winning them. These victories were far too costlier than the ones in Persia, and all their vauntful declarations of conquering India as easily as Persia proved to be empty words ‘full of sound and fury signifying nothing‘. And in the end, he had to return with the acquisition of only a small all of land along the Indus river. 75. Thus was Alexander disappointed and to a certain extent insulted. But that valiant emperor was not downcast. He was itching to return once again to India after stabilizing things in the newly conquered regions of India and

annexing them permanently to his vast empire like those of Syria, Persia, Babylon and others. 76. Alexander declared the annexation of the region from Hindukush and Gandhar to Taxila (Takshashila), half of the Panchanad up to the river Vyas, and that from the confluene of the Vitasta with the Indus to the sea. He appointed the Indian King Ambuj or Ambhi of Taxila his governor (satrap) of the Hindukush region, and King Porus as his governor of the Panchanad. To the third but narrow strip of land along the Indus were appointed his two trusted Greek generals, Philip and Nicanor, under whom he placed the mobile force of Greeks. He established in India some townships too, one of which was Alexandria in the direction of Taxila. Alexander’s Death 77. Before Alexander decided to stabilize things in the Indian territory he had recently captured, he learnt that the local democratic institutions refused to accept his overlordship. Even while Alexander was in Sind, he received intelligence of a revolt by the Indian subjects in Gandhar. He was about to send a fresh and large Greek army to Gandhar. But in quick succession followed another disturbing news of a fresh conspiracy being hatched in Punjab (Panchanad) to overthrow Alexander completely. But Alexander could at that time do nothing to thwart any such attempts at revolt. During his campaign against India not only his army but he himself was completely exhausted. To add to it, his addiction to drinking had grown beyond all limits of safety; he suddenly took ill and died in B.C. 323. That is to say, hardly within a-year-and-a-half of his return from India with all his army, the great Greek (Macedonian) Emperor breathed his last at Babylon. Indian Politicians Conspire 78. As has already been told, as soon as Alexander began to retreat along the Indus, some of the Indian politicians began hatching out a secret plan against the Greeks in Punjab to win back their lost freedom. But it was not merely aimed at the recovery of the lost territory. It was essentially to overhaul and revolutionize the whole gamut of the political life of India and to bring about a sweeping change in the internal life of the country. Even if Alexander had not died so soon, the deep-laid Indian plot was destined to achieve this daring political revolution. This sudden death of Alexander, however, gave Indian political workers an unexpected golden opportunity

and they were quick enough to utilize it, for the overthrow of the Greek power. Greek Governors Beheaded 79. Alexander had left behind Nicanor and Philip as the chief representatives of Greeks. When the news of Alexander’s death reached India, the Indians in the republic of the Ashvinis suddenly fell upon the Greek Governor, Philip, and assassinated him along with his small Greek regiment. The second, Nicanor, was also similarly despatched, and all those monarchies and republics along the banks of the Indus, which had acquiesced in the Greek overlordship, shook it off at once and proclaimed their independence forthwith. Greek colonies, Greek ensigns and standards — whatever signified the Greek power — were completely destroyed on the spot. The whole of the tract along the banks of the Indus right from the Panchanad to Sindh, which Alexander had conquered and annexed for ever and anon to his empire, became independent within six months of Alexander’s death. 80. Alexander had conquered states and countries and empires like Greece, Syria, Persia, Babylon, Egypt and the likes. There he founded Greek cities and Greek colonies, and even after the division of his vast empire, just after his death, his governors and military commanders and their descendants, ruled the respective regions like Babylon for centruries, together. Even now in some other countries cities exist with the name Alexandria, and Alexander’s name is ever crowned with the honorifix ‘The Great’ throughout ancient histroy. 81. But what happened in Bharat? The small states and republics in the farthest corner of India, that Alexander had annexed to his empire under the impression that he had conquered them for ever and for ever, after fighting incessantly on various battlefields for two long years and shedding the blood of millions of Greek and Hindu soldiers — those very Indian states and republics and monarchies literally uprooted his power, his standard, the Greek colonies and every hateful sign of the Greek victory — and that too within six months or at the most a year! 82. At last, not to speak of the city of Alexandria, which he had established, his own name too is not to be traced anywhere in Indian history, as if there never was any invasion, any aggression on India’s borderland of any Mlenchh (Yavan) emperor, named Alexander, who dinned the ears of the people throughout Europe with his proud title, ‘The

Great’! Curiously enough, not even a stray reference has yet been discovered in Vedic or Jain or Buddhist ancient literature. 83. Writes Vincent Smith in his famous Early History of India: “All these proceedings prove conclusively that Alexander intended the permanent annexation of those (Indian) provinces to his empire.... But within three years of his departure from India (from 325 BC to 322 BC), his officers in India were ousted, his garrisons destroyed and all traces of his rule had disappeared. The colonies he founded in India, unlike those established elsewhere in Asiatic provinces, took no root. His campaign, though carefully designed to secure a permanent conquest, was in actual effect not more than a brilliantly successful raid on a gigantic scale, which left upon India no mark save the horrid scars of a bloody war. India remained unchanged. She continued her life of splendid isolation and soon forgot the passing of the Macedonian storm. No Indian author—Hindu, Buddhist or Jain—makes even the faintest allusion to Alexander or his deed.” (p. 117) 84. Who were the most prominent leaders of this political conspiracy, which wiped out, within a period of six months or a year, the whole of the foreign political dominance caused by Alexander’s aggression right from the Panchanad to Sindh? Histroy, as yet, is ignorant of their names! Still two of them, at least, have become immortal. They are the same two men whom I have mentioned while describing Alexander’s advance up to Taxila. The first was a brilliant and smart youth, who had just completed his studies at the University of Taxila, Chandragupta. And the other was Acharya Chanakya, who had been a teacher at that University and who, later on, gave a practical lesson in political craft and political revolutions to the young Chandragupta! As they were to lead the whole of Bharat, hereafter, it is fit and proper that they should be introduced here. The Story of Chandragupta’s Birth 85. Like all other great men of the ancient world, Chandragupta and Chanakya have their life stories clouded with legends, anecdotes and imaginary accounts. Those who are interested in them for the sake of intellectual entertainment may profitably read Radhakumud Mukherjee’s ‘Chandragupta Maurya and His Times’. We shall give here only so much of their lives as appear to us to have historical sanction. 86. Some small bands of the Shakyas, amongst whom was born the great Lord Gautam Buddha, had at one time to shift to far-off regions, because of some disastrous calamity that had befallen them. They called themselves