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The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India is a book by the historian K.S. Lal published in 1992. (ISBN 81-85689-03-2). The book not only assesses the legacy of Muslim rule in India, but also describes its history.
Lal claims to give a balanced appraisal of the legacy of medieval India: "...the history of Muslim rule in India is seen through many coloured glasses. It is necessary, therefore, to take a look at the “schools” or “groups” of modern historians writing on the history of medieval India so that a balanced appraisal of the legacy of Muslim rule in India may be made."
The astronomical sciences were respected by the Muslims. The Buddhist Halaku Kahn founded the Margha observatory at Szebaijain, and Ulugh Beg built one at Samarquand. Sawai Jai Singh II of Jaipur built observatories in Delhi, Jaipur, Ujjain, Mathura and Benares.
The book also describes the achievements in music, architecture, painting, and many other areas. About the achievements in music, he writes: "It is in the domain of music in particular that the contribution of Muslims is the greatest. It is, however, difficult to claim that it is really Muslim..."
On the education system in medieval India, Lal writes: "No universities were established by Muslims in medieval India. They only destroyed the existing ones at Sarnath, Vaishali, Odantapuri, Nalanda, Vikramshila etc..."
Criticism
The book was criticized by Peter Jackson in the Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain, Third Series, Vol. 4, Part 3, November 1994, pp. 421-23. K.S. Lal wrote a rebuttal to Jackson's criticism in his book "Theory and Practice of Muslim State in India".
References
- K.S. Lal. The Legacy of Muslim Rule in India
- K.S. Lal. Theory and Practice of Muslim Rule in India