An almost Contemporary Account of Mahmud's Invasions of India
Summary
This article presents an English translation of a Persian account of Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni’s invasions of India, preserved in Girdizi’s Zainul Akhbar and dating to around 1052 CE. As one of the earliest narratives, written within 22 years of Mahmud’s death, it offers a valuable perspective on events often known from later chronicles like Firishta’s history. The translation describes Mahmud receiving the titles Yamin-ul-Daulat and Amin-ul-Millat from the Abbasid caliph and recounts his campaigns against Indian rulers. It details his first invasion in 1000 CE, in which he defeated King Jayapala near Peshawar and captured rich spoils; his subsequent attacks on Waihind, Bhatinda, Thanesar, Mathura and other cities; and the famous raid on the temple of Somnath. The account notes the strength of Mahmud’s forces, the resistance offered by Hindu kings and the immense wealth seized. It records that Mahmud killed or enslaved thousands, destroyed temples and carried idols back to Ghazni. The article emphasises the importance of comparing this nearly contemporary account with Utbi’s Kitab al-Yamini to gain a fuller picture of Mahmud’s motives and methods. It also highlights the propaganda element, as the text portrays Mahmud as a champion of Islam bringing victory over infidels. By translating and annotating the narrative, the author provides historians with a primary source for reconstructing the Ghaznavid impact on early medieval India.
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Conclusion
The translation of Girdizi’s account enriches our understanding of Mahmud’s invasions by presenting a near-contemporary perspective. It corroborates the extent of his campaigns, the ferocity of battles and the scale of plunder. The article concludes that studying such primary sources alongside later histories allows historians to assess biases and reconstruct events more accurately.