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The Madurai Sultanate: A Concise History
A brief history of the Madurai Sultanate that existed in South India in the early-to-middle part of the 14th Century. The book explores the political and military conditions that existed in both North and South India and provides a compelling narrative of the circumstances that led to the establishment of the Madurai Sultanate. It also traces the vacillating fortunes and the eventual demise of the Madurai Sultanate. Written by the author of the bestselling, "Tipu The Tyrant of Mysore," this is his second book in the popular history genre.
- GenresHistoryNonfictionIndia
51 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 29, 2016
43 people are currently reading
392 people want to read
About the author
Sandeep Balakrishna
21 books78 followersSandeep Balakrishna is a veteran writer, author, editor, speaker and independent researcher with about 20 years of writing on Indian history, culture, literature and temples. During this period, he has authored over 900 articles, essays, critiques, academic papers and delivered lectures on numerous topics related to these themes at institutions like the Indian Council of Philosophical Research, IIM Bangalore, Sri Aurobindo Society, Shree Somanath Sanskrit University, Bangalore University and Amrita University, to name a few. He writes in both English and Kannada. His articles, columns and research papers have appeared in prestigious journals, newspapers and magazines in both print and digital format. Sandeep is the author of the bestselling books Tipu Sultan: The Tyrant of Mysore, which has been widely referenced and quoted in mainstream publications and television programmes, and Madurai Sultanate: A Concise History. He is also the author of the critically acclaimed work, 70 Years of Secularism: Unpopular Essays on the Unofficial Political Religion of India. He has also translated the legendary Kannada novelist Dr S.L. Bhyrappa’s critically acclaimed work Aavarana into English, as Aavarana: The Veil, which is now in its twelfth reprint. Sandeep is the founder and editor of The Dharma Dispatch, an online journal dedicated to Indian civilisation, culture and history, and a contributing editor at Prekshaa Journal.
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
December 8, 2018
Another lovely book by Sandeep Balakrishna. He told us some unknown history of the rule of Islamic invaders for a brief period of around 4.5 decades well researched. He also mentioned North India and south India story parallelly. Although the rule of Sultanate in Madurai was brief, it brought its own share of doom & change in ethos in Madurai which is well documented by the author here. Not to be missed out by anyone interested in history. He is doing a great service to Indian history by bringing to light such forgotten facts which should have been taught in school and college but again our history are distorted one. Hope some so called eminent historian reads it and include it in NCERT text. Last year i even went to Madurai. Saw beautiful mandir and palace. Its a lovely city.
October 6, 2023
If there is anything we (Hindus)ought to learn from History is that there is no Pacts between Dharma and Adharma( Abrahamic conquests ).
This is a short story of not so worthless marauders. who could have been subdued if there was an ample amount of moral of integrity among Dumb Hindu kings. Constant quarrels between their own people lead to disastrous consequences which came in the form of islamic invasions.
At the end of the chapter author says
“ There is nothing in the history of this kingdom that qualifies it for the title of a sultanate. If anything, the sultanate is simply a record of ceaseless murders, plunder, succession battles, struggle for survival and eventual annihilation”
Same goes to tyrants like tipu and his father. No contribution worthwhile apart from tyranny.
Sandeep Balakrishna when it comes to history writes in such a way even a not so great history enthusiast will start loving it.
This is my third book I’m reading of his this year. He should write more books than small blogs.
This is a short story of not so worthless marauders. who could have been subdued if there was an ample amount of moral of integrity among Dumb Hindu kings. Constant quarrels between their own people lead to disastrous consequences which came in the form of islamic invasions.
At the end of the chapter author says
“ There is nothing in the history of this kingdom that qualifies it for the title of a sultanate. If anything, the sultanate is simply a record of ceaseless murders, plunder, succession battles, struggle for survival and eventual annihilation”
Same goes to tyrants like tipu and his father. No contribution worthwhile apart from tyranny.
Sandeep Balakrishna when it comes to history writes in such a way even a not so great history enthusiast will start loving it.
This is my third book I’m reading of his this year. He should write more books than small blogs.
April 5, 2016
Let me cite what made me give five stars to this.
1. The topic deals with a region often ignored in the mainstream history. The importance of studying Madurai Sultanate is not about how long the empire survived. As the author rightly opines, the negligible run the Sultanate got was ridden with palace conspiracies, fratricides and continuous rebellions from all sides of the borders. But the topic's significance has more to do with continuous resurgence offered by the Hindu Kingdoms, a point that historians have consistently failed to highlight.
2. Detail covered. As a history enthusiast, I do start any history text with some amount of back reading. I was agile about any detail being left out by the author in packing so much information. Trust me, he impresses. The only detail he left out was probably the names of Telugu resurgets like Kapayya Nayaka and Vema Reddi when the narrative touches the come back by Warangal after Prataparudra's death.
3. Research. The author takes care to quote from a lot of accounts right from the records of ancient travellers like Ibn Batuta and Ferishta to the modern historians like RC Majumdar and Nilakantha Sastri. The quotations are diligently placed making the historian in the reader more and more thirsty for further research and reading
4. Flow and language. Pages keep turning effortlessly and a quick reader can finish the book in about an hour or two but is very much enriched. I got to know the names of so many kings about whom I have never heard. I could see the myriad problems faced by the Delhi Sultanate even as it tried to expand its course. It is really hard to believe that so much is stored in a 43 page short read. Any main stream historian could have written the same information in two volumes in flowery language that takes a reader days weeks to complete.
5. Tone of the narrative. Let us face it. The author's dealing with the gory details of various invasions were dealth with an admirable amount of dispassion. The reader does not get to hear the voice of author till the final section where the author gives his take-aways from the account. Even there, not much is there to disagree with him.
Madurai Sultanate is definitely one of the must-haves in the library of any India enthusiast.
1. The topic deals with a region often ignored in the mainstream history. The importance of studying Madurai Sultanate is not about how long the empire survived. As the author rightly opines, the negligible run the Sultanate got was ridden with palace conspiracies, fratricides and continuous rebellions from all sides of the borders. But the topic's significance has more to do with continuous resurgence offered by the Hindu Kingdoms, a point that historians have consistently failed to highlight.
2. Detail covered. As a history enthusiast, I do start any history text with some amount of back reading. I was agile about any detail being left out by the author in packing so much information. Trust me, he impresses. The only detail he left out was probably the names of Telugu resurgets like Kapayya Nayaka and Vema Reddi when the narrative touches the come back by Warangal after Prataparudra's death.
3. Research. The author takes care to quote from a lot of accounts right from the records of ancient travellers like Ibn Batuta and Ferishta to the modern historians like RC Majumdar and Nilakantha Sastri. The quotations are diligently placed making the historian in the reader more and more thirsty for further research and reading
4. Flow and language. Pages keep turning effortlessly and a quick reader can finish the book in about an hour or two but is very much enriched. I got to know the names of so many kings about whom I have never heard. I could see the myriad problems faced by the Delhi Sultanate even as it tried to expand its course. It is really hard to believe that so much is stored in a 43 page short read. Any main stream historian could have written the same information in two volumes in flowery language that takes a reader days weeks to complete.
5. Tone of the narrative. Let us face it. The author's dealing with the gory details of various invasions were dealth with an admirable amount of dispassion. The reader does not get to hear the voice of author till the final section where the author gives his take-aways from the account. Even there, not much is there to disagree with him.
Madurai Sultanate is definitely one of the must-haves in the library of any India enthusiast.
May 11, 2019
Just a small book. Interesting read though.
June 12, 2023
Brief, but extremely informative. Excellent narration for a historical non-fiction. A lot of lesser known events have been presented in this short book. Pretty sure it would have felt like an info dump if it were written by someone else. At least to the readers like me, who have a hard time reading historical non fiction.
I like how SB has written such concise and beginner friendly history books. His other one, 10 Lessons from Hindu History in 10 Episodes: Tales of Grit, Heroism and Valour is my absolute favorite.
I like how SB has written such concise and beginner friendly history books. His other one, 10 Lessons from Hindu History in 10 Episodes: Tales of Grit, Heroism and Valour is my absolute favorite.
November 29, 2021
Good one about the Madurai Sultanate, a less spoken history of Southern part of India
November 27, 2017
A brief and a quick read on the brief rule of Foreign invaders in Madurai
A least known (still unknown) history of the rule of Islamic invaders for a brief period of around 4.5 decades well researched & written by Sandeep Balakrishna. Although the rule of Sultanate in Madurai was brief, it brought its own share of doom & change in ethos in Madurai ehich is well documented by the author here. Not to be missed out by anyone interested in history
A least known (still unknown) history of the rule of Islamic invaders for a brief period of around 4.5 decades well researched & written by Sandeep Balakrishna. Although the rule of Sultanate in Madurai was brief, it brought its own share of doom & change in ethos in Madurai ehich is well documented by the author here. Not to be missed out by anyone interested in history
October 29, 2020
Informative, well-written book about a generally neglected part of Indian history about the offshoot of the Delhi Sultanate that established an independent state in Maduarai for a mere 50 years in the mid-1300s. The author seamlessly summarizes the simultaneous political shifts going in Northern and Southern India at the same time and gives a brief window into the barbarism the Madurai sultans inflicted on the locals.
November 10, 2019
Excellent book with evidence from primary sources. This book narrates a chapter that is deliberately hidden and not taught in schools. The chapter presents the story of the foundation principle upon which the Vijanagar Empire was built. A well written book that is a must read for all Indians.
Brings otherworldly reverence for the Nayakars who ruled the south India for 500 long years.
Brings otherworldly reverence for the Nayakars who ruled the south India for 500 long years.
December 17, 2016
Amazing account
Sandeep balakrishna is doing a great service to Indian history by bringing to light such forgotten facts which should have been taught in BA,MA History courses as well as in schools
Hope some so called eminent historian reads it and include it in NCERT text.
Sandeep balakrishna is doing a great service to Indian history by bringing to light such forgotten facts which should have been taught in BA,MA History courses as well as in schools
Hope some so called eminent historian reads it and include it in NCERT text.
March 16, 2019
As the title suggests, this book gives a birds-eye view of the events which led to the establishment of the Madurai "Sultanate" and its subsequent demise, all within 43 years during the 14th century.
This book is an extension to Sita Ram Goel's book - "Heroic Hindu Resistance to Muslim Invaders" as it continues from where he left off and tells us about the various raids of Muslim invaders in South India.
We get an overview of the political climate in the south, with the Pandya, Hoysala, Chalukya and Kakatiya dynasties busy trying to conquer each other's territories and failing to unite for a common cause to defeat the invading armies. This theme, of self-destruction, is repeated across various Hindu kingdoms throughout history, with notable exceptions, like the Vijayanagara empire, which in this case, put an end to the Madurai Sultanate.
The author makes a brief analysis at the end on the failure of the Hindu kingdoms to foresee threats, and also as to why this short period isn't an empire since it was a long succession of plunder, murder, brutality and fight for survival with no stable governance, nor any artistic or cultural influences.
It was interesting to read about the Hindu kings of this period and their spirited resistance, as it is not something we come across often in our history books. Overall the book serves as a good introduction to this era.
This book is an extension to Sita Ram Goel's book - "Heroic Hindu Resistance to Muslim Invaders" as it continues from where he left off and tells us about the various raids of Muslim invaders in South India.
We get an overview of the political climate in the south, with the Pandya, Hoysala, Chalukya and Kakatiya dynasties busy trying to conquer each other's territories and failing to unite for a common cause to defeat the invading armies. This theme, of self-destruction, is repeated across various Hindu kingdoms throughout history, with notable exceptions, like the Vijayanagara empire, which in this case, put an end to the Madurai Sultanate.
The author makes a brief analysis at the end on the failure of the Hindu kingdoms to foresee threats, and also as to why this short period isn't an empire since it was a long succession of plunder, murder, brutality and fight for survival with no stable governance, nor any artistic or cultural influences.
It was interesting to read about the Hindu kings of this period and their spirited resistance, as it is not something we come across often in our history books. Overall the book serves as a good introduction to this era.
May 16, 2021
A brief history of Madurai Sultanate. However, I think that it is same story with every native kingdom. We kept repeating same mistakes, we were busy infighting, we couldn't understand the character of Islam, couldn't not understand their treacherous and deceitful nature and in result suffered. Be it Prithviraj Chauhan, Bira Ballala of Hoyasala, Kampildeva of Kampili or Aliya Rama Ray, name is endless. We use to call Aurangzeb, a cruel and tyranical , but I must say that all were same and competed each other in cruelty. Thanks to the author for bringing to the notice of people, the new entrant in the list cruel sultans- Ghiyathudin Dhamghani( the Sultan of Madurai).
December 19, 2020
When Hindus learn lessons and unite?
Another example of infighting among Hindus and lack of unity paved the way for Muslim sultanate in south india. The seeds of present state of disintegration of Hindu values can be clearly seen in this historical event. Every Hindu must read this book to learn the lessons from the mistakes of their past leaders so that they can unite to become a great civiliasation, once again.
Another example of infighting among Hindus and lack of unity paved the way for Muslim sultanate in south india. The seeds of present state of disintegration of Hindu values can be clearly seen in this historical event. Every Hindu must read this book to learn the lessons from the mistakes of their past leaders so that they can unite to become a great civiliasation, once again.
April 21, 2021
A descent read.
As the name suggests its 'concise history of the lesser know Madurai Sultanate that ruled for a short span of about 40+ years, yet left a lasting impact in the region.
The author uses simple language and an interesting read. However, one problem I had was, the author makes his bias a bit too explicit. For example, he writes in the Preface section the .. ..."this was a Muslim majority village, which could only mean...a destructive Muslim invasion..". I don't mean to say he needs to be politically correct, but just that I would rather prefer his writing to tell the tale than through such explicit comments, seemed forced.
This is meant to be a short and easy read, covering the major events surrounding the establishment of the Madurai Sultanate. Was a good read, it certainly did raise my interest in exploring more about the history of the Madurai Sultanate.
As the name suggests its 'concise history of the lesser know Madurai Sultanate that ruled for a short span of about 40+ years, yet left a lasting impact in the region.
The author uses simple language and an interesting read. However, one problem I had was, the author makes his bias a bit too explicit. For example, he writes in the Preface section the .. ..."this was a Muslim majority village, which could only mean...a destructive Muslim invasion..". I don't mean to say he needs to be politically correct, but just that I would rather prefer his writing to tell the tale than through such explicit comments, seemed forced.
This is meant to be a short and easy read, covering the major events surrounding the establishment of the Madurai Sultanate. Was a good read, it certainly did raise my interest in exploring more about the history of the Madurai Sultanate.
June 4, 2021
Concise history of the short lived Islamic rule on southern Bharat , known as Madurai Sultanate.
While reading the book , we didn't get the feel of stretch. Sandeep ji written in simple and informative manner.
The accounts of atrocities committed by Sultans on the Hindu people and destruction of their temples is given in short manner.
While author didn't gave more information about the campaign of Kumara Kampana is the only weak point of book.....
While reading the book , we didn't get the feel of stretch. Sandeep ji written in simple and informative manner.
The accounts of atrocities committed by Sultans on the Hindu people and destruction of their temples is given in short manner.
While author didn't gave more information about the campaign of Kumara Kampana is the only weak point of book.....
September 22, 2022
Much awaited summary of events
This book is good lesson for future generations of civilization. Lessons were well learned by Harihara and Bukkaraya at the feets of great guru Vidhyaranya.
This book is good lesson for future generations of civilization. Lessons were well learned by Harihara and Bukkaraya at the feets of great guru Vidhyaranya.
January 31, 2018
Not much is known about the "Sultanate" in the south which this book explores. In fact, the author himself doubts whether it could be called a Sultanate. Yet, it is an interesting read
July 24, 2021
What a great description about our great South Indian Kingdoms! Also a very true account of how invaders had ravaged the beautiful South Country of India.. Must read for a history Buff.
February 2, 2023
An account of what southern India went through during the times of the Delhi Sultanate. Enganging narrative style per the author's typical style. Many good primary sources are drawn upon.
June 6, 2022
A concise history of a period of history that many often don't know about, the short lives Sultanate in the south changed so many aspects of lives of the local population but the rulers themselves mostly met with grizzly deaths.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews