Study the picture and answer the following questions:

(a) Where is this temple located? Who invaded it?

(b) What did he loot from the temple?

(c) For which purpose did he use the wealth looted from India?

(d) What was the opinion of the Indians and his own countrymen about him?

(a) This temple is Somnath temple at Gujarat. It was invaded by Mahmud of Ghazni.

(b) Mahmud looted the treasures of the temples and gathered a huge booty of diamonds, rubies and pearls and took them to Ghazni.

(c) The wealth looted from India was used to maintain his large, well-equipped army. Besides that he also used it to create a splendid capital city at Ghazni. Mahmud built many buildings at Ghazni, the most famous of which was the 'Celestial Bride' — the great mosque surrounded by 3000 quarters for students and teachers. He also built libraries, a museum and a university.

(d) Mahmud of Ghazni was regarded by the Indians as an invader and plunderer. In his country, he was regarded as a just ruler.