The English translation of a novel ‘Maharaja Dahir’ authored by Kolkata-based renowned novelist Debasree Chakraborti in Bengali language. The novel has been translated by Rajesh Giri
Makran, Baghdad, Nerun, Debal
Year 712
This nature is divided into two channels between the light of the flambeau and the darkness of the night, at this time there is a weird chilling sensation in the air of Makran. That frigidity touches Hajjaj‘s soul with a chilling sense of apprehension. After a sleepless night, the mind is full of sadness at this time. Meanwhile, it is time for Fajr prayer, there is an invisible power in the prayer at the time of beginning of the day, through which one can establish a direct connection with Allah. The place of ablution is near the camp, he goes there to perform ablution and tried to connect with Allah.
The touch of the cold water continued to make a strong impression on his mind. Then he sat down to pray of Fajr. At the same time prayers were also started in the newly built mosques around. Hajjaj felt that there was a power in their combined prayers, which Allah could not disregard. He continued to pray fervently for the conquest of Sindh. Conquest over Hindustan is possible if and only if conquering Sindhu does happen, if the infidel idolaters of Hindustan can be brought under the umbrella of Allah, Allah’s purpose of sending them to this world will be successful.
He had just finished his prayer and opened his eyes when he saw a shadow on the curtain of the entrance of the tent. He is staring in that direction, it seems to receive a good news waiting for him on the other side of the curtain. At that time the watchman came and informed him of the messenger’s arrival. Hajjaj raised both of his hands and looked at the sky and said, “O my Lord. Give strength to me and my parents to express the gratitude for the blessings you have bestowed upon me. And may I do the good deeds that please you and that I may be yours righteous servants by your grace.”
Hajjaj stares at the entrance, supplicating to Allah, a very important moment in his life. There is only a curtain between the present and the future, which when removed reveals the stage of the future play before him. From here a new direction in the history of Islam will be determined. The torch is burning on by the wall of the room, the entrance to this room looks very dark in the light-dark environment of the torch, and from there the marching of shoes is slowly approaching towards this room. Hajjaj keeps gazing at the approach, the sound of roaring Makran Sea seems as if a terrible vortex has appeared in the womb of time, resulting in the beginning of a new era on earth. The oscillation of waves of the sea and his heartbeat are synonymous today. Finally the messenger came and entered the room. He has arrived dressed in black, his face covered with a black cloth, so he could not read his body language, the messenger greeted him and began to read Dahir’s message. Hearing this message, Hajjaj’s face became bloody, his eyes started to glow, he was eagerly waiting for such an opportunity. That day, sitting in the light-dark environment of Makran, he started writing letter to the Khalifa. He wrote a letter to the Caliph, ‘that King Dahir of Sindh has imprisoned and been torturing the followers of Allah, if Sindh is not attacked at this moment, it is an insult to Islam. Our only duty is to save the followers of Allah. Waiting for your permission.’
All the surrounding Muslim rulers, including Iraq, Syria, started helping the Caliph with troops, arms and resources. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were dragged into this vortex and drove themselves on their horses towards the Sindh.
Then the torrent of anticipation continued to flow through the mystical drift of time. In which the sound of the Azan, the desert wind and the sound of the sea waves composed an ambient music. The coldness of the inner and outer dimensions of Hajjaj seemed to condensed into death. He felt like he was the dead body of a long-desired dream. Yet the Caliph’s envoy is nowhere to be seen.
Then one day before Fajr prayer again a shadow appeared on the curtain of his tent camp. A thousand sea waves came and jumped inside Hajjaj. The curtain was removed and the messenger arrived. The Caliph replied that at the moment the armies of Islam were all engaged in the crusade in Egypt, and that it would be a very expensive and risky undertaking to send army troops into the remoteness and adverse conditions of Sindh. So he has no intention of conquering Sindh.
Now the wheel of time started spinning very fast. Hajjaj realized that it was not possible to convince the Caliph in such simple terms, so he wrote in the letter, ‘Islam Khatre Mai Hai.'(Islam is in danger)!
This message of Hajjaj channelized the flow of time towards its destined future like flash floods. When Islam is in danger, if the Caliph sits idly by, the consequences will be dire. He will have nothing left to justify himself to the entire world of Islam. Caliph declared a vengeful war against Sindhu Naresh Dahir, which created a whirlwind in the bosom of Baghdad. All the surrounding Muslim rulers, including Iraq, Syria, started helping the Caliph with troops, arms and resources. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were dragged into this vortex and drove themselves on their horses towards the Sindh. The dust of the desert darkened all around. People became terrified by watching this scene till the horizon. They left their houses and started to run away but these desert monsters devoured them in no time.
Hajjaj, however, did not wait for the Caliph’s troops. Before their arrival, he sent General Bazil to Sindh. (Continues)
Click here for Part-I , Part-II, Part-III , Part-IV , Part-V , Part-VI , Part-VII, Part-VIII , Part-IX , Part-X, Part-XI, Part-XII, Part-XIII
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Debasree Chakraborti is a renowned novel writer of Bengali language. Based in Kolkata, West Bengal, India, she has done Master’s in Modern History from the Kolkata University, and authored some thirty books, mostly the novels, with historical perspective and themes. Her most recent novel is ‘Maharaja Dahir’ that covers the history of Sindh from 662, the year of first attack on Sindh by the Arab armies till date.
Rajesh Giri, born in Kolkata, had his early schooling from Kolkata and then from Medinipur—a village in Bengal. He graduated from Calcutta University with Physics and Maths and Master’s from Burdwan University in 2016. Now he is associated with Adhdhyaan educational institution teaching Physics. History enthusiastic Rajesh Giri is particularly interested in the ancient civilization of India and other regions like Egypt, Mesopotamia, and North America. He loves traveling.
