Forgotten Warrior King Prithu who resisted Bakhtiyar Khilji

Forgotten Warrior King Prithu who resisted Bakhtiyar Khilji

Why in News? 

Recently the Assam government decided to name Guwahati’s GNB Flyover as Maharaj Prithu Flyover, which had resisted Bakhtiyar Khilji’s advance. The move highlights his courage and reminds people of his role in history.

The Forgotten Warrior King of Kamrupa: Maharaj Prithu

• About: History often highlights rulers who expanded empires, yet some leaders are remembered for their courage in resistance. Maharaj Prithu, the medieval king of Kamrupa, belongs to this second group. His name appears in narratives of the 13th century when he stood against Bakhtiyar Khilji, the Turkic commander who had devastated Nalanda and marched towards the northeast. 

• Background: Kamrupa was an ancient kingdom situated in present-day Assam and parts of North Bengal. It was culturally rich and politically independent for centuries. The region acted as a natural frontier for the eastern part of the subcontinent. Local rulers guarded their territory against repeated attempts of outside powers to enter. By the end of the 12th century, Kamrupa was ruled by Maharaj Prithu who inherited both political authority and the responsibility of defending the land from foreign invasions.

• Threat from Khilji: Ikhtiyar al-Din Muhammad Bakhtiyar Khilji was a military general of the Delhi Sultanate. After defeating local rulers in Bihar and Bengal, he attacked Nalanda University in 1193 which was one of the greatest centers of learning in Asia. His campaigns spread fear as he destroyed monasteries and temples. By the early 1200s, Khilji turned his attention towards Kamrupa. 

• Battle with Khilji: The clash between Prithu and Khilji occurred around 1206 CE. Historical sources such as the Tabaqat-i-Nasiri mention Khilji’s advance into Kamrupa but record his disastrous defeat. The invading army faced difficult terrain, shortage of supplies, and continuous attacks from local fighters. Prithu’s forces cut off their routes and forced the invaders into retreat. 

• Bakhtiyar Khilji himself was badly wounded in the campaign and never recovered. His defeat at Kamrupa is seen as one of the rare moments when a regional power successfully resisted the aggressive expansion of the Delhi Sultanate in the east.

• Aftermath: The defeat of Khilji in Kamrupa had wide consequences. It stopped the expansion of the Sultanate into the northeast for several centuries. Kamrupa continued to remain independent and preserved its cultural identity. This success also gave hope to other local kingdoms that resistance was possible even against powerful invaders. For Prithu, the victory became his legacy.