Jalâl ad-Dîn Khwârazmshâh (1220 – 1231)
( جلال الدین خوارزمشاه )
was the last ruler of the Khwarezmian Empire. No one in Muslim world could withstand the onslaught of Genghis Khan as did Jalal-ud-Din Muhammad, the Khwarazm Shah.
Genghis Khan closely chasing the forces of Jalaluddin Khwarazshah stood on one side of the Indus, and saw the fleeing forces of Jalal cross over. Khwarazm Shah put his horse in the River Indus at Hund above Attock. And just as he thought he had got his bitter foe, Genghis Khan’s marksmen took positions on the river bank ready to hurl their arrows. “Stop, no one will let the arrows fly,” ordered Khan to his soldiers who were surprised because Genghis Khan was not known for forgiving.
Genghis Khan forbade pursuit and watched in admiration as his opponent swam his horse to safety on the far bank still carrying his weapons, called his sons and pointing at Khwarazm Shah said, “Look at the brave man. Such sons should a father have”
All those who are familiar with the tussle between Khwarazm Shah and Genghis Khan still are at loss about who out of the two was braver, Khwarazm Shah whom a man like Genghis Khan who used to say, “I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent punishment like me upon you” was calling brave or Genghis Khan who could control his anger and accept the bravery of arch enemy giving his example to his sons as a role model?
Nasim Hijazi in his novel “Akhari_Chataan” described him as a Muslim hero while mostly western historian described him as a coward. A certain columnist at The Express Tribune , Salman Rashid, wrote Jalaluddin as shameless Jalaluddin and coward , for the man known to have resisted the Mongols for a long period.
Whatever the truth is , but as a human , a reader can’t remain untouched by Jalal uddin KhwarazmShah , he was fighting at that time to mongols when nobody dared to do.
Below is the clip of last episode of Akhari Chaatan ( Last Clif / The Last Rock / آخری چٹان) , a dramatized version of urdu novel written by Nasim Hijazi ..
AF 