19 Facts About Zain-ul-Abidin

Ghiyas-ud-Din Zain-ul-Abidin was the eighth sultan of the Shah Mir dynasty of Kashmir.

Zain-ul-Abidin was known by his subjects as Bud Shah.

Zain-ul-Abidin abandoned his pilgrimage when he arrived at the court of his father-in-law, the king of Jammu, and raised an army consisting of soldiers from Jammu and Rajauri in order to regain his throne.

The ancient texts vary regarding why it was that Zain-ul-Abidin relinquished his recently acquired status without a fight but there is no disagreement that this is in fact what happened.

Zain-ul-Abidin was then able to return to the capital city of Srinagar, where he was welcomed by his subjects.

Zain-ul-Abidin raised and led an army to stabilise the fractious areas of Ladakh and Baltistan which had originally been conquered by his grandfather, Shihabu'd-Din, and then had become independent on his death until Sikander reasserted control.

Zain-ul-Abidin was on friendly terms with regard to the rulers of territories over which he inherited no historic control.

Many of the gifts demonstrated the cultured nature of Zain-ul-Abidin; they included works about music, manuscripts and people who were scholars, the latter being sent to him when he commented that an original gift of precious stones was of less interest to him than a gift of a learned nature would have been.

Zain-ul-Abidin was succeeded by his son Haji Khan, who took the title of Haidar Khan.

Zain-ul-Abidin enforced the system of responsibility of the village communities for local crimes.

Zain-ul-Abidin stabilized the currency which had been debased during the reign of his predecessors.

Zain-ul-Abidin was responsible for a large number of public works.

Zain-ul-Abidin founded several new cities, built many bridges and dug many irrigation canals.

Zain-ul-Abidin prevented the local governors from exacting illegal taxes and gave the peasants much needed tax relief.

Zain-ul-Abidin earned a name for himself for his policy of religious toleration and public welfare activities.

Zain-ul-Abidin called back the Hindus who left Kashmir during his father's reign.

Zain-ul-Abidin allowed the Hindus to build their temples and follow the personal law according to the Dharmashastras.

Zain-ul-Abidin stopped the killing of cows by means of poison and passed some regulations about eating beef.

Zain-ul-Abidin re-introduced the grant of stipends to the learned Brahmans.