FOUR BEST DEMOCRATIC RULERS IN INDIAN HISTORY

Hemu:- King Hemu, also known as Hemu Vikramaditya, was the Chief Minister and General in the court of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri dynasty. He was an excellent strategist & was remarkably skilled in warfare. At the time when there were Mughal forces all around him, and the Afghans were an added threat to the North of India, he valiantly fought battles for his king. His dauntless attitude won him twenty-two battles, securing a unique position in the Suri dynasty. Moreover, according to Abu'l-Fazl, Hemu undertook all appointments and dismissals, and the distribution of justice in the Adil Shah's court, displaying that he was an incredible administrator. He took the title of 'King' after defeating Akbar's Mughal forces in the Battle of Delhi. Unbeknownst to him, he fought against the Mughal forces once again in the Second Battle of Panipat. The war, unfortunately, led to the demise of Hemu by the hands of Akbar's regent, Bairam Khan. Hemu's forces were indeed on the brink of victory but due to his blinding by a stray arrow, he was arrested. Had Hemu won, the Mughal dynasty would not be as we know it today. His victory would have led to the end of Mughals and India would have been ruled by its own people on the principles of equality. Historians also believe that Hemu's warfare strategies inspired Mughals to such an extent that they henceforth started using elephants in their cavalry.

Razia Sultan:- An awe-inspiring woman, she was the first and the only female Muslim ruler of South Asia. She was the daughter of Iltutmish and had many brothers, who challenged her succession to the throne. She ruled Delhi for a year in her father's absence and did such a commendable job that upon returning, she was decreed the heir to the throne. Her father, when questioned for his choice, said that Razia was more capable than his sons. However, after the death of Iltutmish, her half brother was declared the ruler by the nobles who refused to be ruled by a female. She decided to fight for her rights and led an uprising against her half-brother. The locals & the common folk declared her as their ruler and thus, she ascended the throne. At first, she remained in 'purdah' and had female security, but later, progressed to wearing armour like males. She also held parades, rode elephants and led her armies in battles. Her bold choices and decisions further irked the high nobles. She also brought about significant changes in her court. Time and again, she demonstrated that she was not just an impressive administrator but also a tactical leader who was beloved by her subjects.

Samudragupta:- Samudragupta was the greatest king of a time, which has often been referred to as the Golden Age of Indian History by chroniclers due to the advancement of art and literature, the Gupta period. He ascended the throne after his father, Chandragupta-I in 335 A.D. The detailed and authoritative records of his reign are preserved in the Prayag Prashasti (Allahabad Pillar) inscription. According to Chinese writer Wang-Hiuen-Tse, he was a great conqueror and never lost a battle in his life. For this reason, he was given the title of 'Indian Napoleon' by V.A. Smith, a renowned Indologist and historian. He is known for the introduction of Dinars, which is officially the currency of many Middle-Eastern nations. In a period, when nomadism prevailed in most parts of the world, he even maintained a well-organized navy and his dominions were situated in Java, Sumatra and Malaya islands. His empire extended from the foothills of the Himalayas to the south where Cholas ruled. Inscriptions reveal about the enlightened character of the government because the taxes were light and punishments were also mild. A valiant ruler, who guarded India against invasions of Huns, assumed titles like Kaviraja (King of poets), Vikram (Prowess) and Sarva-raj-occhetta (Uprooter of all kings).

Sher Shah Suri:- The principal intention of most Turk and Afghan invaders, who came to India, was to spread Islam by military conquests and discourage the local traditions. Sher Shah Suri, the founder of the Sur Empire,however, stood apart as he introduced various ameliorations.He ascended the throne by defeating the omnipotent Mughal army in the battles of Chausa & Kannauj. He introduced a coin called 'Rupiah',which was the currency of over 25 nations in the past. He also fixed standard weights & measurements, long before the introduction of the Napoleonic code in Europe. One of the greatest achievements of Sher Shah was the creation of a systematized relationship between people and their ruler, with no corruption. He also enhanced communications by building several highways. The Grand Trunk Road, that runs from Calcutta to Peshawar, was extended on his orders. Being influenced by his reforms and administrations, Humayun, his greatest nemesis, called him 'Ustaad-e-Baadshah' which means 'the instructor of kings'. He abolished the zamindari system and was the first king in the history of the Indian subcontinent to provide rights to the peasants in a written form. He is known for building magnificent forts like Purana Quila, Rohtas Fort (UNESCO World Heritage site) and Sher Mandal. The greatest reformist of the medieval period, Sher Shah Suri, gave the world a lot in his brief reign of five years.

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