Suheldev & the Battle of Bahraich (Indic Chronicles #1)

by Amish Tripathi

Infighting is our favourite pastime, which we stop only briefly when the enemy is at our doorstep.

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‘The Turks did not stop at Afghanistan and Balochistan. That was our land too, once. They did not stop at the holy Indus river. That was our river too, once. Even if they conquer the entire land of Mother India, they will not stop. They will not stop the humiliation. They will not stop the war. They will not stop the killing. The more we appease, the more they will demand. The more we surrender, the more they will attack. They will never, ever stop. The only way they will stop, is if some Indian dares to stand up and say: Enough is enough.’

2

‘Becoming a leader is not about being able to fight or argue or make speeches. It’s actually about realising what must be done for the greater good. And doing it, regardless of the personal costs …’

3

Darkness does not win because it is strong. It wins because the lamps stop fighting.

4

aim of fighting a battle is to win, not to become a martyr.’

5

He’s not a Muslim, he’s just a power-hungry man wanting to have absolute control. Religion is the garb under which he does it. It makes for a good marketing pitch to get a following among those Muslims who are naïve enough to get carried away.

6

The strength of the Islam of the Turks is that it is socially inclusive, but its weakness is that it is theologically intolerant. On the other hand, the Hinduism of us Indians is theologically inclusive and liberal, while socially we are intolerant.’

7

‘A land does not die because there are some who hate it. For has there ever been a time when hatred has not existed in the world? A motherland dies when her own children stop loving it! A nation is not built by those who hate it, it is built on the shoulders of those who love it!’

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