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Alexander, The Ordinary

http://sify.com/itihaas/fullstory.php?id=13225593October 8th, 2010Alexander, The Ordinary

Prof. Dinesh AgrawalAddress: 156 Aberdeen lane, State College, PA 16801 USATel: (814)-234-3558 (Home), (814)-863-8034 (Office)The facts narrated below will expose the popular myth about the so-called world-conquerer "Alexander, The Great(?)". I am sure your readers will be interested to learnthe truth about the mis-adventures of Alexander in India.

Alexander did not win any war on the Indian soil, he in fact lost to Porus, the king ofPunjab, and had to sign a treaty with Porus in order to save his diminishing band ofsoldiers who were grief-stricken at the loss of their compatriots at the hands of Porus`sarmy, and expressed their strong desire to surrender.

Alexander after winning many battles and defeating the Persian king, invaded India andcrossed Indus. Here he was joined by Ambhi, the king of Taxila. Ambhi surrenderedhimself to Alexander. He was enemy of Porus and wished to defeat Porus with the helpof Alexander.

The facts of Alexander`s miserable defeat and his shattered dream at Indian soil havebeen avoided consistently by Greek historians and the same was perpetuated duringBritish regime. But the truth which is documented in many narratives of the Europeansthemselves presents a totally different picture. The depictions by Curtius, Justin,

Diodorus, Arrian and Plutarch are quite consistent and reliable in concluding thatAlexander was defeated by Porus and had to make a treaty with him to save his and hissoldiers` lives. He was a broken man at his return from his mis-adventures in India.

In the Ethiopic texts, Mr E.A.W. Badge has included an account of "The Life and Exploitsof Alexander" where he writes inter alia the following:

"In the battle of Jhelum a large majority of Alexander`s cavalry was killed. Alexanderrealized that if he were to continue fighting he would be completely ruined. Herequested Porus to stop fighting. Porus was true to Indian traditions and did not kill thesurrendered enemy. After this both signed treaty, Alexander then helped him in

annexing other territories to his kingdom".

Mr Badge further writes that the soldiers of Alexander were grief- stricken and theybegan to bewail the loss of their compatriots. They threw off their weapons. Theyexpressed their strong desire to surrender. They had no desire to fight. Alexanderasked them to give up fighting and himself said, "Porus, please pardon me. I haverealized your bravery and strength. Now I cannot bear these agonies. WIth a sad heartI am planning to put an end to my life. I do not desire that my soldiers should also beruined like me. I am that culprit who has thrust them into the jaw of death. It does notbecome a king to thrust his soldiers into the jaws of death."

These expressions of `Alexander, The Great! do not indicate from any stretch ofimagination his victory over Porus? Can such words be uttered by a `WorldConquerer"?

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I am sure many readers will find in the history texts, an account of Alexander`s exploitsand conquests which totally contradict what is quoted above. And most of us havebeen taught in the school that Alexander defeated Porus and he wept because he hadno more worlds to conquer, and that is what made him `Alexander, The Great`. Thesemyths and beliefs will receive a rude shock by these facts which show that Alexanderwas not that great after all, but in fact he was `Alexander, The Ordinary`.

Another myth is propagated by the Western historians that Alexander was noble and

kind king, he had great respects for brave and courageous men, and so on. The truthis other-wise. He was neither a noble man nor did he have a heart of gold. He hadmeted out very cruel and harsh treatment to his earlier enemies. Basus of Bactriafought tooth and nail with Alexander to defend the freedom of his motherland. Whenhe was brought before Alexander as a prisoner, Alexander ordered his servants towhip him and then cut off his nose and ears. He then killed him. Many Persian generalswere killed by him.

The murder of Kalasthenese, nephew of Aristotle, was committed by Alexanderbecause he criticised Alexander for foolishly imitating the Persian emperors. Alexander

also murdered his friend Clytus in anger. His father`s trusted lieutenant Parmenian wasalso murdered by Alexander. The Indian soldiers who were returning from Masangawere most atrociously murdered by Alexander in the dead of night. These exploits donot prove Alexander`s kindness and greatness, but only an ordinary emperor driven bythe zeal of expanding his empire.

Courtesy --- karthik.N