6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

178 SIX GLORIOUS EPOCHS OF INDIAN HISTORY
duty to help in all possible ways, their molestation and forci­
ble conversion to Islam. No Muslim woman whether a Begum
or a beggar, ever protested against the atrocities committed
by their male compatriots; on the contrary they encouraged
them to do so and honoured them for it. A Muslim woman
did everything in her power to harass such captured or
kidnapped Hindu women. Not only in the troubled times
of war but even in the intervening periods of peace and even
when they themselves lived in the Hindu kingdoms, they
enticed and carried away young Hindu girls locked them
up in their own houses, or conveyed them to the Muslim
centres in Masjids and Mosques. The Muslim women all over
India considered it their holy duty to do so**.
THE HINDU CHIVALRY TOWARDS ENEMY WOMEN
449. The Muslim women never feared retribution or
punishment at the hands of any Hindu for their heinous
crime. They had a perverted idea of woman-chivalry. If in
a battle the Muslims won, they were rewarded for such crafty
and deceitful conversions of Hindu women; but even if the
Hindus carried the field and a Hindu power was established
in that particular place (and such incidents in those times
were not very rare) the Muslim-men alone, if at all, suffered
the consequential indignities but the Muslim women—never !
Only Muslim men, and not women, were taken prisoner.
Muslim women were sure that even in the thick of battles
and in the confusion wrought just after them neither the
victor Hindu Chiefs, nor any of their common soldiers, nor
even any civilian would ever touch their hair. For 'albeit
enemies and atrocious, they were women' ! Hence, even when
they were taken prisoner in battles the Muslim women,—
royal ladies as also the commonest slaves,—were invariably
sent back safe and sound to their respective families ! Such
incidents were common enough in those times. And this
act was glorified by the Hindus as their chivalry towards the
enemy women and the generosity of their religion ! For a
sample, read the following incidents.