Yes they do. But they're in a state of Denial aren't they? After Mr. Muntazar's arrest, everyone in Iraq came out on the street to defend their "hero".
Point is, if the Muslims weren't considered the saviours, then where were the oppressed "Hindus" for 600 years? After all, they outnumbered the Muslims in every single way. Iraqi's are resisting the American occupation for "Peace and democracy" since the first day. And it's been 7 years now. Getting my point yet? Or should i elaborate?
Let's not act superior by pretending that I am not understanding what you are trying to say. I understand that perfectly. We are just debating and putting up our respective opinions!
If Americans are in a state of denial, so too are the Muslims about their motives for Invading India. About Mr. Muntazar I think you fail to see that Bush has taken it so sportingly and that is the reason the guy is still alive.
Do you know what would have happened to him and his khaandaan if he had dared to do a fraction of that during Saddam's time? Would all those people dare to come to the streets? Its good that today's Iraq allows such dissension, something new and unique in Arab history.
Large parts of India was under Muslim occupation the same way as they were under British occupation later. Some people may have considered the British saviours too.
And don't for a moment suppose there was no resistance to the alien foreign rule during the Muslim time. Do you know that much of what is now called Pakistan including the tribal areas were under the control of Sikhs by the time the British came to India? Do you know the gains made by Marathas and the Jats? The tide was turning fast, the Mughal rule was in it's last leg.
The British came at a time when the Muslim rule was about to get over by the indigenous groups in India.
Again how many British were there in India at any point of time? There were never more than 100,000 in India if that. The British simply could not send more and they managed to keep 300 million people in India (including 75 million muslims) under more firm control than the Muslims ever did. It is not about numbers always you see! That is not the proof that people liked the alien invaders.
A certain group of people Destroyed Saddam's statue (A monument) when the "Supposed" saviours showed up in Baghdad. Hindu's could have done the same when the Mughal empire ended. If my generations lived through 600 years of tyranny and oppression, i would MAKE sure i don't leave ANYTHING in my land made by those EVIL Muslims which could remind me of those "Barbaric" Times.
Getting my point yet?
Again don't cast aspersions on my understanding. Let's just discuss the issues if we can!
I think my answer above answers most of it. Regarding obliterating every sign of that alien rule, there are some people in India who may think like that, not all of us do so.
Good or bad (why pretend, it was mostly bad), it was a period of our history. We need to ensure we never let it happen to our people again and we never will allow that.