The Muslim rulers of West Asia finally took the lead and established their sway over north India , and later of the whole of India . The Mongols, who were later Islamized were the first to take the lead, and established a powerful empire in India . Their empire came to be known as Delhi Sultanate, for they still considered themselves to be the representatives of Central Asian rulers. Their greatest contribution is to art, architecture and learning. What is despicable about them is their iconoclasm, destroying what is considered as anti-Islamic. Nalanda, North East India is a centre of Buddhist learning faced the ire of Muslim invaders, and its greatest library was burnt-down. Nalanda was a residential centre for the promotion of studies in Buddhism, and had nearly 10,000 students and 1500 teachers from all around the world.
The Delhi Sultans were followed by mighty Mughals, of whom Akbar was the greatest for not only establishing imperial sway over the length and breadth of India , but also for his religious tolerance. His respect for Hindu culture and religion and his evolving of truly secular DIN-I-ILLAHI proves the point. The mughal ruler Shahjahan was a great builder, for he built the wonder of the world Taj Mahal. What is unique is that during the rule of Delhi Sultans and later of Mughals, many ancient Hindu texts and scriptures saw the light of the day, with translations of Hindu texts being produced, in-spite of the official wrath of anything Hindu.
During the Mughal rule, the British came to India along with
other European traders. Starting as a small trading company,
the British established their position in South and East of
India. The decline of Mughal power gave an impetus to British
ambition to build an empire in India . Bengal and Bihar soon
came under their sway. Robert Clive the governor of Bengal
followed by Warren Hastings consolidated and stabilized the
British position in Bengal and eastern India . The British
could also oust their European rivals like Portuguese, French
and Dutch reducing them to subordination and submission. By
the first quarter of the 19th century, the British imperialism
was clamped over India , with Indians being brought under
the British Crown-in-England.
(The monarchy of the United Kingdom, ie the British monarch,
is a system of government in which a hereditary monarch is
the sovereign of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories.
The terms British monarch and the British monarchy can also
mean different things in different contexts, beyond the United
Kingdom. The present monarch is Queen Elizabeth II, who has
reigned since February 6, 1952. The heir apparent is his eldest
son, Charles, Prince of Wales. With the Queen's husband and
consort, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, they undertake
various public functions in line with their positions.)
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