The Long Shadows of Hindu Kush

Re: # 9

``He is believed by many to be of a low caste (Modern day Guptas in India are, asaik, Vaisyas/Banias). ``

I don`t think there is any connection b/t Chandragupta and the modern day guptas. Maybe ``Gupt`` was more of a title at that time, as someone else pointed out that Chanakays real name was Vishnu Gupt.

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#10

``True.Hindu probably didnt refer to a certain religious group.But then again werent the majority Hindu or followers of hinduism!``

you can say that most of them were either vedic, buddhists, jains. may be some of them were atheists or agnostic but were still hindu (by culture). Hence some say that converted muslims/christians are also hindu!!

``barmanu in local chitrali dialect``

does ``barmanu`` mean big man. Just curious because thats what it would mean in my native language.

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#4 Beejay

``I thought “koh” meant cave and “kush” meant a type of grass. But I may be wrong. ``

Koh-e-noor: light of the mountain
khud-khushi: killing oneself
hindu-ksuh: killer of hindus

some say that that was hindu holocaust. I think the GoI should do some research to find the fact so that we can know what happened and why.

Dost # 5

Historically, Hindu Kush was a Persian backyard. The books talk about the Vedic Aryans -whatever loose theoligical concept they had. Later Zoroastrianism seems to have picked up.

Chandra Gupta is said to have introduced Buddism - which fully flourished during the times of Ashoka.

I guess there could be differences in the shades of interpretations.

nhk

BeeJay # 4

In Persian, Koh means `mountain`. And `Kush` means killing.

There are different theories with ragard to the name `Hindu Kush`.

In ancient times, the term `Hindu` did noot carry any religious connotation. It simply denoted the people who lived in South Asia.

nhk

A good, broad historical sweep. Enlightening as usual from you!
Some minor quibbles! I believe that the region also went through a vedic/hindu phase between zorastrainism and buddhism. I believe that buddhism was brought into this region by Ashoka and not by Chandra Gupta. Ashoka, as you know, was a descendant of Chandragupta Maurya.

Re: # 5
Right,
Also Hindu Kush was the name given by Muslim Invaders, killers of the Hindus.

A fascinating and very interesting insight into the history of the region! Thanks!

Minor notes:
[And thus came about the name Hindu Koh or the Hindu mountain]
I thought “koh” meant cave and “kush” meant a type of grass. But I may be wrong. (Rahul_Capri to the rescue?)

[In recent times, it produced its very own radical Talibans and the international terrorist cult of Al Qaeda.]
I thought that one originated in Pakistan and the other in the Middle-east.

[Therefore, when the push comes to a shove, it would be a wise decision for Pakistan to side with the regional rather than the extra-regional states.]
I don’t doubt the wisdom of this advice (and I certainly don’t want to turn this into a discussion on geopolitics) but it is not as if Pakistan is siding with the “extra-regional” states by CHOICE? Also, let’s be serious, in this region the “wisdom” has always been highly subservient to political expediency.

Sir,

Nice insight into the region.

regards,

B++

Nice overall summary, tiny bit biased but I can live with it.

You are proabbly the first Pakistani whom I heard writing about Bullah Shah`s writing about Abdali. Your contrymen will get you my friend.

Good research.Interesting read.Thank you.