Coordinates	39°08′51″N127°26′46″N
name	Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya
birth date	1501
birth place	Alwar, Rajasthan
death date	1556
death place	Panipat, Haryana
religion	Hindu
occupation	Emperor of India
parents	Rai Puran Das
children	None }}

Samrat Hem Chandra Vikramaditya, Hemu Vikramaditya or simply Hemu () (1501–1556) was a Hindu Emperor of India during the 16th century, in medieval times. This was one of the crucial periods in Indian history, when the Mughals and Afghans were desperately vying for power.

The son of a Hindu priest, who later became a food seller, and himself a vendor of saltpetre at Rewari, he rose to become Chief of Army and Prime Minister of Adil Shah Suri of the Suri Dynasty. He fought Afghan rebels across North India from the Punjab to Bengal and the Mughal forces of Akbar and Humayun in Agra and Delhi, winning 22 battles continuously, without a single setback.

Hem Chandra acceded to the throne of Delhi on October 7, 1556, assuming the title of "Vikramaditya", which was earlier adopted by many Hindu kings since the Vedic times. His ''Rajyabhishek'' or coronation as Samrat was held at Purana Quila in Delhi. Hemu re-established the Hindu rule (albeit for a short duration) in North India, after over 350 years of Muslim rule. Some historians say, that this rule was on the pattern of a strong Hindu state prevailing in South India for more than three centuries, known as 'Vijaynagar Empire'. Hemu struck coins bearing his title.

Early life

Hem Chandra was born at Deviti-Machheri village of Alwar District in Rajasthan in the year 1501. His father Rai Puran Das, a Brahmin, was engaged in ''Purohiti'', the performing of Hindu religious ceremonies as a profession. However, due to persecution of Hindus, who performed religious ceremonies, by Mughals, Rai Puran Das could not make both ends meet as a ''Purohit'', therefore he gave up ''Purohiti'' and moved to Qutabpur village near Rewari. Hemu's father started trading in various types of salts in Qutabpur, and Hemu was brought up and educated there.

Apart from learning Sanskrit and Hindi, he was educated in Persian, Arabic and Arithmetic. During his childhood, he was fond of exercise and ''Kushti'' (wrestling) and while crushing salt in an ''Imam Dasta'' (an iron pot and hammer), he would monitor his strength. He trained in horse-riding at his friend Sehdev's village. His friend Sehdev was a Rajput and he participated in all the battles which Hemu fought later, except the Second Battle of Panipat. Hemu was brought up in a religious environment; his father was a member of ''Vallabh Sampradai'' of ''Vrindavan'' and visited various ''Teerth'' (religious sites) as far as Sindh in present day Pakistan, where he converted the then Governor of Sind, Parmanand in to ''Vallabh Sampradai''.

Family

Hem Chandra was born to saint Purandas, formerly Rai Puranmal and belonged to Dhusar Bhargava community, on Ashwin Shukla Vijaidashmi, 1558 V.S. or 1501 A.D.

Hemu's sister was married in to a clan of ''Rajpurohits'', to Gun Chandra Bhargava. Gun Chandra, and his ancestors had lived at Qutabpur, Rewari, in present day Haryana and his children were: Ram Chandra (known as 'General Rammaiya' in Panipat war), Shyam Chandra, Krishna Chandra, Mohan Chandra, Hanu Chandra and Ravi Chandra - most of whom died in the Second Battle of Panipat in the year 1556 .

Gun Chandra was a descendant of Sri Chandra (grandson of Indra Chandra), who was Rajpurohit (Chief Priest) for Tomara King Kumarpala in 970 A.D., Sri Chandra's descendants continued to be the ''Rajpurhohits'' of the state of Indraprastha (Delhi) - Budh Chandra, Mahi Chandra, Arvind Chandra, Dheen Chandra all were ''Rajpurohits'' till the times of Prithviraj Chauhan, and the year 1192 A.D.. Because of this influential family, Hemu's family migrated to Qutabpur in Rewari.

Social environment

The social and political environment in India (North India especially) in early sixteenth century was very unstable. In North India, Mughals and Afghans were vying for power, though South India had a comparatively stable Hindu kingdom known as the 'Vijayanagar Empire', ruled at that time by Krishnadevaraya. The Mughals were then, still considered a foreign force. Babur's barbaric invasion of North India in 1526, resulted in the destruction, looting and demolition of most important Hindu temples in North India, like the 'Ram Temple' at Ayodhya, the Krishna Temple at Mathura and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple at Benares. Not only were these revered Hindu temples destroyed by the invaders, but mosques (the Babri Masjid at Ayodhya, the Jama Masjid at Mathura and the Gyanvapi Mosque at Benares) constructed over the ruins leading to widespread disaffection among local people. For instance, Guru Nanak, a contemporary and an eye witness to Babur's invasion in the Punjab has given vivid accounts of Babur's vandalism terming him a butcher.

Growing up in a devout family of Hindu priests in such an atmosphere, Hem Chandra yearned to annihilate the foreigners. He got his first opportunity to crush the ruling invaders of that time and rule North India from Delhi after victory over Akbar's forces, in the Battle for Delhi in October 1556.

Rise to fame

Hem Chandra was based at Rewari, an important stopover in mediaeval times for traders from Iran and Iraq on the way to Delhi. He started his career as a supplier of cereals to Sher Shah Suri's army, moving on to more critical supplies like saltpetre (for gunpowder) later. Sher Shah had defeated Humayun in the year 1540 and had forced him to withdraw to Kabul. He also developed a cannon foundry in Rewari, laying the foundation of an industry in brass, copper sheets and utensils manufacture. Hemu obtained technical assistance for casting cannons, and for producing saltpetre, from the Portuguese in Goa, who were also helping the Hindu Vijayanagar Empire against the Deccan Sultanates in South India, by supplying cannons, gun-powder and Arabian horses.

After Sher Shah Suri's death in 1545, his son Islam Shah became ruler of North India. Islam Shah recognised the calibre, and administrative skills of Hem Chandra and made him his personal adviser. He consulted Hem Chandra in matters relating not only to trade and commerce, but also pertaining to statesmanship, diplomacy and general politics. Islam Shah initially appointed Hem Chandra ''Shahang-i-Bazar'', meaning 'Market superintendent' in Persian, to manage commerce throughout the empire. This post gave Hem Chandra the opportunity to frequently interact with the king, having to apprise him of the trade and commercial situation of the kingdom. Abul Fazal says that Islam Shah held Hemu in great esteem. In 1550, Hemu accompanied Islam Shah to the Punjab where he was deputed along with other high officers to receive Mirza Kamran in the fort of Rohtas. Islam Shah consulted Hemu on a variety of matters. After serving as ''Shahang-i-Bazar'',for some time, Hemu rose to become Chief of Intelligence or ''Daroga-i-Chowki'' (Superintendent of Post). Islam Shah's health deteriorated in 1552 and he shifted his base from Delhi to Gwalior, which was considered safer. Hem Chandra was deputed as Governor to the Punjab to safeguard the region against a Mughal invasion. Hem Chandra held this position till October 30, 1553, when Islam Shah died.

Islam Shah was succeeded by his 12 year old son Firoz Khan who was killed within 3 days by Adil Shah Suri. The new king Adil was an indolent pleasure-seeker and a drunkard who faced revolts all around. Adil Shah took Hem Chandra as his Chief Advisor and entrusted all his work to him. appointing him the prime minister and chief of his army. After some time, Adil Shah went mad and Hem Chandra became the ''de facto'' king.

Many Afghan governors rebelled against the weak King Adil Shah and refused to pay the taxes, but Hem Chandra quelled them. Ibrahim Khan, Sultan Muhhamad Khan, Taj Karrani, Rukh Khan Nurani and several other Afghan rebels were defeated and killed. At the battle of Chhapparghatta in December 1555, Hemu routed the Bengal forces under Muhammad Shah, who was killed in the battle.

At the time the Afghans considered themselves natives of the country (and were considered as such by the Hindus), while the Mughals, writes Vincent Arthur Smith, were considered foreigners. Writer K.K.Bhardwaj in his book "Hemu-Napoleon of medieval India" claimed that Hemu was a native ruler leading a native Afghan army to victory, in battle after battle. Thus, Hem Chandra became popular among the Hindus as well as Afghans. Another writer, K.R.Qanungo, writes that, this indicates that the rule which Hemu established, commanding Afghan army was secular and nationalistic.

Victories against the Mughals

After the victory of the Mughal ruler Humayun over Adil Shah's brother Sikander Suri, on July 23, 1555 the Mughals regained the Punjab, Delhi and Agra after a gap of 15 years. Hemu was in Bengal when Humayun died on January 26, 1556. Humayun's death gave Hemu an ideal opportunity to defeat the Mughals. He started a rapid march from Bengal through present day Bihar, Eastern UP and Madhya Pradesh. The Mughal ''fauzdars'' abandoned their positions and fled in panic before him. In Agra, an important Mughal stronghold, the commander of Mughal forces Iskander Khan Uzbeg fled after hearing about Hemu's invasion, without a fight. Etawah, Kalpi and Bayana all in present day central and western UP, fell to Hemu.

In the words of K.K.Bhardwaj, "His triumphant march from Bihar to Dilli (Delhi) can be equated to the Italian campaign of Napoleon: "He came, he saw, he conquered"." Hemu never saw defeat in battle and went from victory to victory throughout his life (he died in the only battle he lost). Hemu won the loyalty of his soldiers by his ready distribution of the spoils of war among his soldiers.

After winning Agra, Hemu moved for the final assault on Delhi. Tardi Beg Khan, who was Governor of Delhi, for Akbar, wrote to Akbar and, his regent, Bairam Khan that Hemu had captured Agra and intended to attack the capital Delhi, which could not be defended without reinforcements. Bairam Khan realising the gravity of the situation, sent his ablest lieutenant Pir Muhammad Sharwani to Tardi Beg. Tardi Beg Khan summoned all the Mughal commanders in the vicinity to a war council for the defence of Delhi. It was decided to stand and fight Hemu and plans were made accordingly.

Sir Jadunath Sarkar writes in detail about the "Battle for Delhi" at Tughlaqabad:

"The Mughal army was thus drawn up. Abdullah Uzbeg commanded the Van, Haider Muhammad the right wing, Iskander Beg the left and Tardi Beg himself the centre. The choice Turki Cavalry in the van and left wing attacked and drove back the enemy forces before them and followed far in pursuit. In this assault the victors captured 400 elephants and slew 3000 men of the Afghan army. Imagining victory already gained, many of Tardi Beg followers dispersed to plunder the enemy camp and he was left in the field thinly guarded. All this time Hemu had been holding 300 choice elephants and a force of select horsemen as a reserve in the centre. He promptly seized the opportunity and made a sudden charge upon Tardi Beg with this reserve."

Confusion ensued resulting in a defeat for the Mughals. Hemu was helped by reinforcements from Alwar with a contingent commanded by Hazi Khan. The desertion of various Mughal commanders with Pir Muhhammad Khan who fled the battle field, to Tardi Beg chagrin and surprise, forced the Mughal commander to withdraw.

Hem Chandra won Delhi after a day's battle on October 6, 1556. Some 3000 soldiers died in this battle. However, Mughal forces led by Tardi Beg Khan vacated Delhi after a day's fight and Hem Chandra entered Delhi victorious under a royal canopy.

Hemu's Coronation

Sir Wolsey Haig writes, "Hemu was so elated by the capture of Delhi as to believe that he had already reached the goal of his ambition."

Vincent A. Smith who names Hem Chandra the third claimant to the sovereignty of Hindustan at the time, the other two being the Suris and Akbar, affirms that Hemu after his occupation of Delhi came to the conclusion that he had a better claim to the throne for himself rather than on behalf of Adil Shah and ventured to assume the royal state under the style of Raja Vikramaditya or Vikramaditya, a title borne by several renowned Hindu Kings in ancient times. Hemu assumed the royal robes and declared himself the Emperor of India under the title of Vikramaditya.

His Afghan officers were reconciled to the ascendancy of an infidel by a liberal distribution of plunder, and probably also by the fact that Hem Chandra had proved to be a successful general.

Hem Chandra had his formal ''Rajyabhishek'' or coronation following all Hindu religious ceremonies in Delhi and became the ruler under the title 'Raja Vikramaditya'. Hem Chandra was crowned at Purana Qila, on 7 October 1556, in the presence of all the Afghan Sardars and Hindu Senapatis (military commanders). The picture above shows a painting of the occasion of Hem Chandra's coronation, where he is flanked by his Afghan and Hindu military commanders. K.K.Bhardwaj writes, thousands of guests were invited, along with various Rajput chiefs and Afghan governors and numerous scholars and Pandits. The festivities continued for three or four days. "Essential parts of a Hindu King's coronation are" writes, Sir Jadunath Sarkar, "washing him (''abbhishake'') and holding the royal umbrella over his head (''Chhatra-Dharam'')" and Hem Chandra must have followed these ancient traditions, accompanied by costly gifts and robes to priests. He made various appointments on the occasion, appointing his brother Jujharu Rai, governor of Ajmer and his nephew Rammayya, a general in his army. He also appointed his various supporters as ''Chhaudhuris'' and ''Muqqudams'' based on their merit so that they continued to maintain their respective positions in the reign of Akbar.

Thus Hem Chandra became the last Hindu Emperor of North India, after over three centuries of rule by various Islamic invaders and rulers. According to Abul Fazl, in the ''Akbarnama'', Hem Chandra after winning Delhi planned to attack and win Kabul. He made several changes in his Army, including the recruitment of many Hindus, but without the dismissal of any Afghan.

Second Battle of Panipat

On hearing of Hem Chandra's serial victories and the fall of large territories like Agra and Delhi, the Mughal army at Kalanaur lost heart and many commanders refused to fight Hemu. Most of his commanders advised Akbar to retreat to Kabul which would serve better as a strong-hold. However, Bairam Khan, Akbar's guardian and chief strategist, insisted on fighting Hemu in an effort to gain control of Delhi.

On November 5, 1556, the Mughal army met Hem Chandra's army at the historic battle field of Panipat. Bairam Khan exhorted his army in a speech with religious overtones and ordered them into battle. Akbar and Bairam Khan stayed in the rear, eight miles from the battle ground, while Hemu led his army himself into battle, atop an elephant. He was on the cusp of victory, when he was wounded in the eye by an arrow, and collapsed unconscious. This led to confusion amongst the soldiers, with no supreme commander to coordinate decisions.

Unconscious and at death's door, Hemu was captured by Shah Qulin Khan and carried to the Mughal camp for execution. He was first struck by Akbar himself, so that Akbar could earn the title of "Ghazi" (holy warrior). He was then beheaded by Bairam Khan. His head was sent to Kabul, where it was hanged outside the Delhi Darwaza, while his body was placed in a gibbet outside Purana Quila in Delhi.

After Hemu's death, a massacre was ordered by Bairam Khan of Hemu's followers. Thousands were executed and towers of skulls built with their heads, to instil terror among the Hindus. At least one painting of such minarets is displayed in the "Panipat Wars Museum" at Panipat in Haryana. These towers were still in existence about 60 years later as described by Peter Mundy, a British traveler who visited India during the time of Jahangir.

Administration under Hemu

Although he did not have much time to rule, Hem Chandra revitalised the administrative set-up which had flagged after the demise of Sher Shah Suri. With his knowledge of trade and commerce he gave fresh impetus to commerce throughout the country. He spared none indulging in black-marketing, hoarding, overcharging and under-weighing of goods. After his conquest of Agra and Delhi, he replaced all corrupt officers. He also introduced coinage bearing his image.

References

See also

Alwar

Rajasthan

Dhusar

Dhosi

Rewari

Gwalior

Brahmin

Agra

Delhi

Haryana

Medieval History of India

Gwalior Fort

Chunar

History of Punjab

List of Indian warriors

Battle of Panipat (1556)

History of Medieval india

History of Bengal

Battle for Delhi

Purana Quila

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Category:1501 births Category:1556 deaths Category:Indian military leaders Category:Suri dynasty Category:People executed by decapitation Category:Hindu monarchs Category:People from Alwar Category:People from Rewari Category:Executed Indian people Category:People executed by the Mughal Empire Category:16th-century executions

hi:हेमचन्द्र विक्रमादित्य mr:हेमचंद्र विक्रमादित्य uk:Хему Вікрамадітья

Coordinates	39°08′51″N127°26′46″N
name	Jhaverchand Meghani
birth date	August 28, 1896
birth place	Chotila, Gujarat
death date	March 09, 1947
death place	Botad, Gujarat
occupation	poet, playwright, editor, folk-lorist
period	Pre-Independence Gujarat
awards	}}

Jhaverchand Meghani (Gujarati: ઝવેરચંદ મેઘાણી; August 28, 1896 – March 09, 1947) was noted poet, litterateur, social reformer and freedom fighter from Gujarat.He is well known name in the field of Gujarati literature. He was born in Chotila. Mahatma Gandhi spontaneously gave him the title of ''Raashtreeya Shaayar'' (National Poet). Besides this he received many awards like Ranjitram Suvaranachandrak and Mahida Paaritoshik in literature. He authored more than 100 books. His first book was a translation work of Rabindranath Tagore's ballad ''Kathaa-u-Kaahinee'' titled ''Kurbani Ni Katha'' (Stories of martyrdom) which was first published in 1922. He was attached to Gujarati folk literature. He went village-to-village in search of folk-lores and published them in various volumes of ''Saurashtra Ni Rasdhar''. Other Gujarati authors like Harilal Upadhyay have also shown respect to the writing skills of Shri Meghani. He was also the Editor of Phoolchhab Newspaper of Janmabhoomi group (which is being published till date from Rajkot).

A sample of his collection of folk tales from Saurashtra has recently been published in an English, with the translation done by his son Vinod Meghani. The three volumes published so far are titled A Noble Heritage, A Shade Crimson and The Ruby Shattered.

References and notes

Books

Samrangan

Saurashtrani Rasdhar

Vevishal

Tulasi Kyaro

Sorath Tara Vaheta Pani

Sorathi Baharavatiya

Sorathi Santo

Satyani Shodhma

Poems

Yug Vandana

Sindhudo

External links

www.jhaverchandmeghani.org - Official Web-site of Shri Jhaverchand Meghani by Pinaki Meghani

Category:People from Gujarat Category:Indian writers Category:1896 births Category:1947 deaths Category:Gujarati writers Category:Gujarati literature Category:Gujarati poets

gu:ઝવેરચંદ મેઘાણી

Hemu Kalani () was a Hindu Indian revolutionary and freedom fighter.

Early life

Hemu Kalani was born at mir-ki-street old Sukkur in Sindh (now in Pakistan) on 23 March 1923. He was the son of Pesumal Kalani and Jethi Bai. As a child and young man he campaigned with his friends for boycotts of foreign goods and tried to persuade people to use Swadeshi goods. He was drawn to revolutionary activities and started participating in acts of terrorism with the aim of driving out the British. He was involved in raids and in the burning of vehicles belonging to the Raj.

Freedom struggle

Hemu Kalani joined Mahatma Gandhi's Quit India movement when it was started in 1942. Support for the movement in the Sindh province was such that the British rulers had to send special troops consisting of European battalions. Hemu Kalani found out that a railway train of these troops and their supplies would be passing through his local town and decided to derail it by removing the fishplates from the railway track. This despite the fact that neither he nor his colleagues had the necessary tools and so had to use rope as a means to loosen the fixings.

They were seen by the British troops before being able to complete the sabotage. Hemu was caught, imprisoned and tortured in an attempt to get him to reveal the names of his co-conspirators. He refused to divulge any information, was put on trial and sentenced to death. The people of Sindh petitioned The Viceroy for mercy but the condition of granting it was that the authorities must be told the identity of his co-conspirators. He again refused to pass on the information and he was hanged on 21 January 1943.

Legacy

Indore city has named a road intersection after Hemu Kalani and placed his statue at the centre of the intersection.

A statue of Hemu Kalani is located in the Parliament complex in front of the Deputy Speaker's office.

Chembur, a suburb of Mumbai with a large Sindhi population, has Hemu Kalani Marg named after the famous freedom fighter.

Ulhasnagar, also known as Sindhunagar has erected Statue of Shaheed Hemu Kalani at the crossing of the road (chowk).

Jodhpur City (Rajasthan) has named a road intersection after Hemu Kalani and placed his statue at the centre of the intersection.

Ajmer City (Rajasthan) has erected Statue of Shaheed Hemu Kalani at the Diggi Bazar Chowk.

Ajmer City (Rajasthan) has a locality in Lakhan Kothri called Hemu Kalani Mohalla.

Delhi City (Lajpat Nagar), located a senior secondary school named Shaheed Hemu Kalani Sarvodaya Bal Vidyalaya.

Kanpur City, has a park named Hemu Kalani park located in the Sindhi Colony area named after Shaheed Hemu Kalani.

References

Category:Sindhi people Category:Indian revolutionaries Category:People executed by hanging Category:Executed Indian people Category:People executed by British India

hi:हेमू कालाणी

Coordinates	39°08′51″N127°26′46″N
name	Susan Blond
birth place	New York, New York
occupation	Founder and President of Susan Blond, Inc.
field	Public Relations
spouse	Barry Bloom
website	http://www.susanblondinc.com
children	Jack Erickson }}

Susan Blond, is a New York publicist and the owner of entertainment and lifestyle publicity agency Susan Blond, Inc.

Growing up in New York City, Blond attended the High School of Music and Art (now known as Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts) where she studied painting. She was given a one-person show at Harvard University (1971) while she attended school in Boston. She was later chosen to participate in the Whitney Museum's Independent Study Program in New York.

Blond returned home after college and was immediately drawn into the New York art world and Andy Warhol’s Factory. She and Warhol developed a strong friendship, with Warhol proclaiming that he would make her a star. Blond indeed went on to star in a number of Warhol's movies (including an infamous scene in “Bad” where she drops a baby out of a high-rise window) as well as “Madam Wangs,” directed by filmmaker Paul Morrissey.

Soon after Warhol launched Interview magazine, he saw that he had tapped into a growing publishing niche under the editorial direction of writer Glenn O’Brien. Warhol appointed Blond to launch Interview’s advertising arm.

Blond’s first job in PR was with United Artists, where she represented artists such Electric Light Orchestra and Shirley Bassey, soundtracks for Blaxploitation films such as Shaft, and film scores by Ennio Morricone for the spaghetti westerns directed by Sergio Leone.

Soon thereafter, Blond moved on to Epic Records, which was owned by CBS at the time. Blond became Vice President of Media Relations, and worked on the press campaigns of popular artists including first albums from Ozzy Osbourne, Culture Club, Cyndi Lauper, Sade, Meat Loaf and Boston. Tina Turner, Luther Vandross and The Clash (during their seminal London Calling album) also released albums on the label under her watch. She also worked with Michael Jackson during his Bad and Thriller years.

After 13 years at Epic, Blond formed her own company, Susan Blond, Inc. in late 1986, where some of her first clients included the Tunnel nightclub in New York, music industry figures such as Charles Koppelman and musicians such as Julio Iglesias and George Jones.

Susan Blond has been involved with a number of cause-related organizations, including DIFFA (where she serves as board secretary), and is a frequent speaker at many Jewish cultural events.

References

Category:Living people Category:American public relations people Category:People from New York City Category:Year of birth missing (living people)