Sher Shah Suri – More of a Guardian of his People than a Ruler

Sher Shah Suri – More of a Guardian of his People than a Ruler

A number of politicians in Pakistan and India claim to emulate the achievements of the great Muslim ruler of the 16^th century, Sher Shah Suri, who changed the face of the sub-continent within five years, which is amazing in its literary sense,
considering the barriers of advancement in that era.

A number of historians rate Sher Khan as one of the greatest kings to have ruled India. When it comes to wisdom and the spirit of enhancing the condition of the masses, the Pathan leaves behind every other ruler of the Slave or the Mughal dynasties.

Unlike majority of the past and present rulers/politicians of Indo-Pakistan, Sher was completely a self-made person. He was an extra-ordinary soldier and a tactician as he knew when to step back and when to attack like a lion.

In 1539, Sher Shah defeated Humayun, the son of Babur, and forced him to run away from India and take shelter in Persia. The great king then ruled India till 1544 and these five years are considered to be the greatest period of the history of India.

The king was a practicing Muslim, who ruled India in the true spirit of Islam. He looked after his masses without religious discrimination and set up a state which was a reflection of the reign of the Pious Muslim Caliphs.

He believed that justice is one of the most beautiful Islamic rituals and insured that there were same rules for the friends and the foes. Sher Shah did not even spare his close relatives when they broke any law and kept a strict check on the judicial system
of the state.

Some of the great achievements of Sher Shar are the huge net of roads across the country, including the famous Grand Trunk Road, devolution of power to the lowest level, the world famous ‘Sarayas’ (rest houses) and a public kitchen, from where everyone could
get food for free.

There is no doubt about the fact that Sher Shah had more of a spirit of a guardian than a ruler. He was an authoritarian but he was an ideal ruler whose policies were emulated by the later Mughal Rulers and the East India Company.

Pakistan is surely in need of another Sher Shah Suri, who can change the fortunes of his nation within a short span of time.   

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Posted by Yasir Hashmi on Feb 15 2012. Filed under Pakistan, World. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry