030. Tomb of Sultan Shahab ud Din Mohammad Ghauri and the grave of Major General Nawabzada Muhammad Sher Ali Khan Pataudi

Sultan Shahabuddin Muhammad Ghauri is a well-known figure in South Asian history. While Muhammad bin Qasim and, three centuries later, Sultan Mahmud of Ghazni had opened the gates of India to Muslim conquests, their campaigns did not extend permanent rule beyond present-day Pakistan. The task of firmly establishing Muslim power in northern India ultimately fell to Muhammad Ghauri.

He was born in 1149 AD in the Ghor region of Afghanistan, a rugged mountainous area located between Ghazni and Herat. His brother, Ghiyath al-Din Muhammad, was the ruler of the region, and together they expanded their domain at the expense of the declining Ghaznavid Empire.

Muhammad Ghauri first invaded India in 1175, capturing Multan, and in 1178, he attempted to invade Gujarat but faced a severe defeat. However, in 1181 AD, he successfully captured Lahore, the last stronghold of the Ghaznavids, effectively opening the path to deeper incursions into northern India.

In 1191 AD, he launched an invasion into the heart of India, where he was met by Prithvi Raj Chauhan, the ruler of Ajmer and Delhi, at the First Battle of Tarain near the modern-day town of Taraori (29°48'08" N, 76°55'53" E) in Haryana. Ghauri was defeated in that battle but returned with renewed force the following year. In 1192, at the Second Battle of Tarain, he inflicted a decisive defeat on Prithvi Raj, captured Delhi, and appointed Qutb ud-Din Aibak as the governor. This victory laid the foundation of the Delhi Sultanate, a Muslim rule that would shape Indian history for centuries. Within a few years, his generals extended control as far east as Bengal.

A few years later, while returning from India to Ghazni, Muhammad Ghauri was assassinated by unknown assailants. Historians still debate the identity of his killers—possibilities include the Gakhars, Khokhars, or Ismailis. The assassination occurred at Damiak, a small village in Tehsil Sohawa, District Jhelum, located at 33°11'40.60" N, 73°29'28.10" E.

In 1994–95, Dr. Abdul Qadeer Khan, the renowned Pakistani nuclear scientist, took a personal interest in preserving this historical site. Under his patronage, a beautiful and grand tomb was constructed over the grave of Sultan Ghauri. The white marble structure, situated in the open green fields of Potohar, stands today as a fitting tribute to a man who altered the course of the subcontinent’s history.

The entrance of the tomb of Sultan Shahab ud Din Ghauri. (30.03.2014.)

A beautiful view of the tomb from the southeast. (30.03.2014.)

Wonderful setting of the tomb in a very beautiful garden. (30.03.2014.)

View from the northwestern side. (30.03.2014.)

View from a distance. (30.03.2014.)

View from the northern side. After entering the main gate. (30.03.2014.)

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Nasir Mahmood and Tariq Amir. (30.03.2014.)

Tombstone of the grave. (30.03.2014.)

 "Martyrdom of the king of land and sea, since the inception of the world, there has been no king like him. He got martyred on 3rd of Sha'ban 602 AH, at Damiak on his way to Ghazni." 

The Persian lines are by Minhaj Siraj. I translated the Urdu translation given below the Persian. 

Grave of the Sultan. (30.03.2014.)

Inner view of the dome. (30.03.2014.)

Another view of the grave. (30.03.2014.)

A brief history of the Sultan in Urdu. (30.03.2014.)

A brief history of the Sultan in English. (30.03.2014.)

These are the graves of three bodyguards of the Sultan, who died along with him. (30.03.2014.)

One surprising discovery a visitor makes when visiting this mausoleum is the grave of Major General Nawabzada Muhammad Sher Ali Khan Pataudi, which lies within the compound of Sultan Ghauri’s tomb. He was the second son of Nawab Ibrahim Ali Khan Pataudi and was born on 13 May 1913 in Pataudi, Haryana (28°19'11.10" N, 76°46'57.80" E). He passed away on 29 May 2002 in Lahore.

Interestingly, he was the uncle of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, the former Indian cricket captain, and thus the great-uncle of Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan.

It remains unclear why Major General Sher Ali Khan was buried at this site. Perhaps he was drawn to the historic significance, serene atmosphere, and beautiful landscape surrounding the tomb of Sultan Ghauri. Whatever the reason, his resting place adds another layer of historical intrigue to this already remarkable location.

Grave of Major General Nawabzada Sher Ali Khan Pataudi. (30.03.2014.)

Major General Nawabzada Sher Ali Khan Pataudi, Hilal-e-Jurrat

Son of

Nawab Muhammad Ibrahim Ali Khan 

Ruler of the State of Paraudi

 Respectable Mother

Begum Shehr Bano

13 May, 1913 AD.     -      5 Jamadi Al Thani, 1331 AH.

29 May, 2002 AD.     -     16 Rabi Al Awwal, 1423 AH.

                                Below is the Ayat Al Kursi, a verse from the Holy Quran.                                  

Grave of Nawabzada Sher Ali Khan in peaceful surroundings. (30.03.2014.)

Another view of the grave. (30.03.2014.)

Damiak is quite easy to reach. From the Zero Point in Islamabad, travel on the Grand Trunk (GT) Road towards Sohawa, which is approximately 73 kilometers away. Just before entering Sohawa town, take a left turn and continue for another 13 kilometers. You can use Google Maps for navigation or simply ask the locals for directions.

Tariq Amir

17 June, 2014.

Doha - Qatar. 

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