6_Glorious_Epochs_of_Indian_History

452 SIX GLORIOUS EPOCHS OF INDIAN HISTORY
for its last breath on the battle-fields of the Indus valley, the
moribund Muslim power did continue to make feverish efforts
to rise again here and there for some time more; that dying
body did in fact take a long leap like that of Panipat, but
ultimately it could not avert its fast approaching death.
1089. And in the end throughout the whole of India
began to flutter the flag of independent Hindu power ! Not.
alone from the Indus but right from the banks of the Kabul
river, spread throughout the whole of the Punjab, upto the
frontiers of Jammu and Kashmir, was established the Hindu;-
Sikh empire of Maharana Ranjitsingh ! Further on, from
Delhi right up to Rameshwaram in the rest of India was esta­
blished the paramountcy of the Marathas, and to the north
was the independent Hindu State of Nepal !!! Thus every­
where in India began to rule once again the Hindu political
power : the Muslim power could not recover its fall !
1090. That is why it must be said that on the day on
which the Marathas uprooted and flung away the green flag
of the Muslim political dominance from the fort of Attock.
and hoisted in its place their own triumphant saffron colour­
ed Jaripatka, the Hindus gave a really mortal blow to the
Muslim power in India and caused its subsequent death !
1091. Even a historian like Sardesai, who was wont to
make under-statements, wrote; 'AH Maharashtra felt electri­
fied with the proud performance of Raghunathrao and his
bands having reached the extreme frontier of India and
bathed their horses in the Indus". (New History of Maha­
rashtra : Vol. II Page. 401)«.
1092. As soon as the reports of the final victories of the
Hindus over the Muslims in this millennial Hindu-Muslim
War reached Maharashtra, the Charans, the Bhats, the Gond-
halees, who were the chief exponents of the poignant nation­
al feelings of the people at large began to surcharge the
atmosphere of every village in Maharashtra with triumphant
joy by means of their heroic poems and ballads, imbued with
the most warlike spirit. There was not to be found any self-
respecting Maratha who was not enthralled and inspired to