Date: 07/08/2014
Rawalpindi now in Pakistan was named after Bappa Rawal, a Rajput King of whom you do not hear or come across in secular text books prescribed in India's schools. So please study the brief account here from Wikepedia. This brave Rajput carried the flag of victory to Afghanistan defeating then ruler of Gazni. Contrary to presrcibed texts, his exploits reveal India's history is not one of series of defeats. Only because of Rawals, or Thapas and Singhs and so on to day the size of Pakistan is much smaller than India. And had their examples were followed by India's leaders, there would not have been Pakistan at all.
Also included is an article from Dawn , Pakistan's news paper in which a sensitive Pakistani writer laments about damage being done what ever left of legacy of the area, Rawalpindi.
Initial History Bappa Rawal c 718 to 810
Bappa Rawal was one of the most powerful and famous rulers of the Mewar Dynasty. Although a surviving member of the Guhilot clan, Prince Kalbhoj (his actual name) who came from Atri clan did not continue the family name of seven generations when he came to the throne; instead, he established the Mewar Dynasty, naming it for the kingdom he had just taken. He went on to become a celebrated hero on battlefields near and far, yet his fascinating life is full of enigmas, and many were the legends created about him. It is said that Bappa was blessed by Harit Rishi, a sage of the Mewar region, with kingship. His father, Rawal Mahendra II had married a woman of the Paramara Rajput clan, from Mt. Abu or Chandravati, both Paramara centres at that time. She was also the sister of Maan Mori, the Paramara king who ruled much of the State of Mewar. This included Guhilot clan land, which Paramara invaders from Malwa had annexed a century or so earlier, and set up their capital in the ancient fortress of Chittorgarh.
Childhood[edit]Bappa Rawal is said to have spent his childhood near a place called Nagda. As with most high-spirited princes, there are several legends from Bappa's early years as a youth in the wild Vindhya Range. The pranks of this royal shepherd (he tended the sacred cattle of the Brahmans) include his allegedly innocent mischief among village damsels, although perhaps it was not so innocent. One afternoon, in a game of his own devising, he 'married' several of the young girls, which ended with his having to flee Nagda to a hide-out in the hills to escape the maidens' irate parents. An interesting footnote to this legend of potential virility is that Bappa Rawal is said to have married many women, and sired well over one hundred children.
Battles against Muslims[edit]Bappa Rawal played an important role in the Battle of Rajasthan, a series of wars fought in the 8th century AD between the regional rulers of North-Western India and the Arabs of Sindh, in which the regional Indian rulers inflicted a resounding defeat on the invading Arabs. In the 8th century Arab Muslims started attacking India within a few decades of the birth of Islam, which was basically an extension of invasion of Persia. In order to ward off Muslim invasions across the western and northern borders of Rajputana, Bappa united the smaller states of Ajmer and Jaisalmer to stop the attacks. Bappa Rawal fought and defeated the Arabs in the country and turned the tide for a while. Bin Qasim was able to defeat Dahir in Sindh but was stopped by Bappa Rawal. Some accounts say that Qasim attacked Chittor, which was ruled by Mori Rajputs. Bappa, of Guhilot dynasty, was a commander in Mori army and so was Dahir's son. Bappa defeated and pursued Bin Qasim through Saurashtra and back to the western banks of the Sindhu (i.e. current dayBaluchistan). He then marched on to Ghazni and defeated the local ruler Salim and after nominating a representative returned to Chittor. After Raja Mori named Bappa Rawal his successor and crowned him King of Chittor, Bappa Rawal and his armies invaded various kingdoms including Kandahar, Khorasan, Turan, Ispahan, Iran and made them vassals of his kingdom. Thus he not only defended India's frontiers but for a brief period was able to expand them.
Religious beliefs[edit]Bappa Rawal was also known to be a just ruler. After having ruled his kingdom for almost 20 years he abdicated the throne in favour of his son, he became a devout Siva 'upasak' (worshipper of Shiva) and became a 'Yati' (an ascetic who has full control over his passions). {{citation needed|date=June 2012}}
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Past Tense
By Shiraz Hassan
Published 7 minutes ago
.— File photo
.— File photo
A trek around the streets of old Pindi offers one a rare glimpse into the religious diversity steeped into the city’s past.
In older parts of Rawalpindi, the magnificent architecture of Hindu temples, Sikh gurdwaras and ancient havelis always enthrall visitors. But after partition, when most minorities that owned and managed these places migrated to India, these structures were used to provide shelter to Muslim migrants from India.
Several buildings were converted into educational institutes, while others were abandoned or used as residences. The Mohan Temple is one of those unlucky ones.
One of the tallest temples in the city, Mohan Temple still towers over the famous Lunda Bazaar. This temple is believed to have been built by two Hindu hakims; Hakim Asa Anand and Moti Ram, in the 1930s. It is said that Moti Ram was the paternal uncle of Asa Anand and both ran clinics.
This temple was devoted to the Hindu deity Shiva and faded images of its likeness can still be seen on the sides of the octagonal dome. Images of Parvati and Ganesha also adorn the front of the temple, drawing curious tourists and others to the crumbling temple to this day.
The temple’s structure is in a state of decay; the top of the main dome is covered with wild grass while the ground portion has been converted into a commercial area with shops. People now live in the upper portion of the temple, doing untold damage to this heritage site.
Published in Dawn, August 7th, 2014
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