The First Jihad against the Hindus

When cornered, a creative and determined man would skillfully convert his adversity into virtue.   Babur’s stunning victory against Rana Sanga of Mewar in the Battle of Khanua, 1527 AD, under the banner of Jihad (Holy War) was one such example.  Religion would be used as a means to advance personal ambitions, not for the last time in history.

While there were countless battles between the Hindus and the Muslims before, they were fought over India’s legendary riches.   Religion was never deemed a prime reason to wage a war in “Hindustan”, as the land was then called.

While Babur termed the very first Mughal battle against the Hindus as Holy War, such a label was more reflective of Babur's shrewd military prowess than his religious zeal.   Earlier, Babur had no qualms in accepting Rana Sangha’s help, who promised (but never delivered) diversionary attacks on Ibrahim Lodi in the First Battle of Panipat, 1526.

Rana Sanga, a ferocious Rajput warrior, was an worthy adversary of Babur, a battle-tested veteran and a descendant of Timur and Chingiz Khan.  Rana had lost an eye, an arm, had broken his limb and sported eighty wounds from sword or lance on his body – all the result of his previous military engagements.   

Rana dreamt of erecting a Hindu Raj, following Ibrahim Lodi’s defeat at Babur's hands, expecting Babur to quickly retreat to Kabul.   When Babur decided to stay in Hindustan, with his capital as Agra, Rana decided to take on Babur.  

Babur’s soldiers wanted to retire to Kabul with their loot after defeating Lodi.  Some of his allies in India began deserting him.  Babur estimated the strength of Rajputs at 200,000, far more than Lodi’s army that he had vanquished earlier.  Babur’s army numbered less than 12,000 men, but sported a modern army with muskets and cannons.

When confronted by a far superior enemy, Babur found a way to conveniently raise the morale of his troops, under the guise of Islam.

To win moral authority for his encounter with the Hindus, Babur turned to Islam - giving up wine and swearing not to trim his beard thereafter.  He declared the war as a Jihad, and addressed his troops that they will either become martyrs if defeated, or avengers of His sacred cause, if victorious.

Babur recounted the Battle of Khanua, 1527, in his autobiography, Baburnama.   The Mughals, with their blood ignited by Babur’s apparent religious zeal, overcame the Rajputs with their firepower.   Babur assumed the title of Ghazi, Holy Warrior, at this victory.

But Babur had no further interest in the Hindu army.  He did not pursue the Rajputs.  He even let Rana Sanga escape, who would later succumb to his wounds.  Content at securing his power, Babur returned to Agra.  Later, he would even return to drinking, breaking his vow at the Battle of Khanua.  Babur had little results by way of religion to show, having proclaimed the first Jihad against the Hindus.

Khanua was a watershed event in Indian history, with the Hindus losing forever their chance to establish a Hindu Raj all over their beloved Hindustan.   But the animosity of the Hindus towards the Mughal Empire would soon subside.

(Reference: The Mughal  Throne, Abraham Eraly, Phoenix, 2004)