The Muslim period (800-1800AD) was the golden period for the natives Dalits when India again witnessed all-round development. They were no longer under the control of the parasitic Brahminical class.
Several reform movements led by many Dalit gurus did spring up to get rid of the Brahminical exploitation and fraud. So it was really a “Mukti movement-not “Bhakti movement as Manu Vadi historians describe. All the revolutionary gurus like Kabir, Nanak, Ravidas, Namdev, Jai Dev raised the consciousness of people about their self-respect as against perpetual and psychic slavery.
The sole aim of this movement was to fight the anti-human, repressive caste system. All the gurus denied the authority of Sanskrit language and preached in simple mother tongue and launched the golden age of vernacular literature. In fact, it was a mass movement after the decline of Budhism. The all-round development among native Dalits was possible for the following reasons
(1) Entry of Sudras and Dalits into Muslim armed forces: The founder of Turkish empire in India, Muhammad of Ghur, recruited lakhs of Sudras-Dalits into his army, got them trained and defeated the Kshatriya kings supported by Brahmins. Up to 90% of the Muslim army comprised Dalits and Sudras. With their help, the Muslim rulers conquered a vast empire and established their dominance for centuries. Because of this powerful army, Muslim emperors who were slaves, semi-cracks and being lame (polio) could rule this country without any problem
(2) Big job opportunities: Lakhs of natives got jobs in Muslim palaces, gardens, farms and village offices. Some of them were elevated to powerful posts. Dalits felt proud when the Sultans treated them equally and embraced them. This brotherly treatment touched the heart of Dalits. Finally they quit their stinking village, where the nasty Brahminism treated them worse than Piga, and migrated to towns.
(3) Embraced Islam: Brahminism re-established itself by launching a counter-revolution against Budhism. They got back their lost dominant power. The king became nominal ruler or a puppet in the hands of Brahmin ministers or priests. The audras-Dalits became the permanent slaves of the temples. Brahmins enforced the caste system in the extreme
form. The natives became restless. To get rid of the caste oppression Dalits and Shudras embraced Islam which liberated them once for all. For them the Muslims became the new gods
The Sultans never tried forcible conversions. Conversions to Islam boosted their economic progress and social status. Islamic law and justice helped them.
(4) Economic development: Due to conversion and migration, the Dalits and Sudras became better off. Economic activities and trade emphasized their economic condition Strict policy of controlling the market price, scientific revenue policy became a blessing to the natives as they were not cheated by the traders and money-lenders. The introduction of currency, water canals for irrigation caused considerable development of both trading and farming which boosted the economic growth of Dalits and Sudras.
These are some of the reasons that empowered the Dalits-Shudras to fight Brahminical tyranny. During this period Brahmins meekly submitted and fell flat before the Muslim rulers.
Their divine power”, Veda mantras, yagna powers. powers of god proved to be false before the Dalits Brahmins bid goodbye to Kshatriyas and joined hands with the Vysya’s, the trading caste
The champions of “Mukti movement were great revolutionizes who fought Brahminism but the facts are suppressed. We should pay our homage to these great ancestors who led the “Mukti movement in medieval period
