SSC
Mahmud of Ghazni attacked Gujarat and plundered the Somnath temple in the year:
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Answer: Option C — 1025 CE
Detailed Solution
Mahmud of Ghazni attacked and plundered the famous Somnath temple, on the coast of Saurashtra in Gujarat, in 1025 CE (the attack continued into January 1026).
About the attack on Somnath:
- Mahmud set out from Ghazni in late 1025 and marched across the desert of Rajasthan to Gujarat.
- The temple was rich with gold, jewels and offerings from pilgrims.
- He defeated the defenders, plundered the temple's treasure, and broke the idol (linga).
- The ruler of Gujarat at the time, Bhima I of the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty, fled.
- On his return, Mahmud's army suffered heavily while crossing the desert of Sindh, and was attacked by the Jats.
Mahmud's invasions:
- Mahmud ruled Ghazni (in Afghanistan) from 998 to 1030 CE.
- He invaded India about 17 times between 1000 and 1027 CE.
- His aim was mainly to plunder the wealth of Indian temples and cities, not to build an empire in India; only Punjab was annexed.
- His other targets included Nagarkot (Kangra), Thanesar, Mathura and Kannauj.
- He took the title "Yamin-ud-Daula" and was the first ruler to be called "Sultan".
Later history of the Somnath temple:
- The temple was rebuilt several times after being destroyed, including by the Chaulukya king Kumarapala.
- It was attacked again by the armies of Alauddin Khalji and later rulers.
- After Independence, the present temple was rebuilt on the initiative of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and the idol was installed in 1951 in the presence of President Rajendra Prasad.
- Somnath is the first of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Shiva.
Historians on the attack:
- NCERT notes that Mahmud raided Indian temples and cities, and used the wealth he collected to build a splendid capital at Ghazni.
- It also points out that he was interested in finding out more about the people he conquered, and entrusted a scholar with writing an account of the subcontinent.
Why not the other options?
- ✗1001 CE was an early campaign in the north-west.
- ✗1018 CE was the year of his raid on Mathura and Kannauj.
- ✗1030 CE was the year of his death.
Quick tip
Remember: Somnath raid = 1025 CE (Bhima I of Gujarat fled); Mahmud invaded India about 17 times (1000-1027); died 1030; present temple rebuilt after Independence (1951).
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Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms — Preparation
This question tests your understanding of Early Medieval India & South Indian Kingdoms, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.
This topic covers India from about the 7th to the 12th century: the Rajput dynasties, the tripartite struggle between the Palas, Pratiharas and Rashtrakutas, and the South Indian kingdoms of the Chalukyas, Pallavas, Cholas and Pandyas, along with the Sangam age and the temple architecture of the period. Questions often ask which dynasty built a temple (the Pallavas built the Shore Temple at Mahabalipuram, and Rajaraja Chola I built the Brihadeeswara Temple at Thanjavur), the capitals of dynasties, and the local self-government of the Cholas. Learning each dynasty with its capital, greatest ruler and one monument is the quickest way to answer these questions. Practise the early medieval India questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.