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Autobiography

The Story of my Life: Adventures and Experiences

on Prasiane, the lost Island of River Indus…

An Autobiography

By Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi

(Research Scholar, Social Activist & Freelance Journalist of District Kamber Shahdadkot, Sindh-Pakistan)

Volume: I

SAROHSAROHSAROHSAROH

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Story of my Life: Adventures and Experiences

on Prasiane, the lost Island of River Indus…

An Autobiography

By Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi

Volume: -I

1977-1987 AD

“If “If “If “If you would not be forgottenyou would not be forgottenyou would not be forgottenyou would not be forgotten

As soon as you are dead and rottenAs soon as you are dead and rottenAs soon as you are dead and rottenAs soon as you are dead and rotten Either write things worth readingEither write things worth readingEither write things worth readingEither write things worth reading

Or do things worth writing.”Or do things worth writing.”Or do things worth writing.”Or do things worth writing.”

-Benjamin Franklin

SAROH

Saroh Social Development Organization Shahdadkot

Saroh Office, Near Scientific Public School,

Railway Station Road, Shahdadkot,

District Kamber-Shahdadkot, Sindh, Pakistan- 77300

Ph: +92-74-4012896, Cell: +92-3337505896/03342015896

E-mail: org.saroh@gmail.com

2013 AD/ 1434 AH

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INTRODUCTORY NOTE…

“Author of this creative work Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi is one of my best friends cum class fellows who have

played indispensible role not ony as a social activist but also torch bearers for the contempories and

successors. I have always found him busy like a bee inspite of many socio economic and domestic problems.

He, with the power of his mighty pen have contributed matchless pieces of literature from 1992. He has

produced 22 ebooks which are available on www.scribd.com on variety of topics. He has also been succesful

in getting autobiographical notes from Mr. Abdul Sattar Bhatti, Professor K.S. Nagpal, Mr. Pir Bux Bhatti

and Comrade Wali Muhammad Manganhar.”

“The Book entitled “The Story of My Life; Adventures and Experiences on Prasiane, the lost Island of River

Indus” (Vol: I), an Autobiography of Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi is an effort to compile life’s learnings at a very

young age. The book presents a series of events of 10 years stretching from 1977 to 1987 AD. I also find some

glimpses of my early life by reading his autobiograohy which is so vivid and graphic. Some of the events and

incidents like “The fall of American Skylab on earth”, “ Harrasment on the murder of Silra brothers in

Shahdadkot-1982”, “ MRD Movement September 1983”, “Celebrations of Latif Day in Shahdadkot Textile

Mills”, “Problem of Paroo Chandio” and “Nizamia Night School” are written for the first time in the history

of Shahdadkot. I have gone through this type of socio historical personal account of a person for the first

time in my life. The book can also be used as a source material on the socio, economic, political and literay

history of Shahdadkot. The students of colleges and universities conducting Research on District Kamber

Shahdadkot are suggested to go through this invaluable work”.

“I wish him all the best for the remaining volumes of his autobiography and pray that he might be crowned

with success in every step of his life”.

Khalid Hussain Channa

Lecturer to English

Government Boys Degree College Shahdadkot

District Kamber Shahdadkot, Sindh-Pakistan

khalidchanno@yahoo.com

+923337501969

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PROLOGUE

I’m Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi. I was born on 18th January 1977. The names of my parents are Sikander Ali Khan: a labourer

and Ghulam Zuhra Sheikh, a housewife. I’m 36 years old by now. I live in Shahdadkot, the most thickly populated city of

District Kamber Shahdadkot, Sindh Pakistan. It is situated 51 Km in the north west of Larkana on Sindh Balochistan

border. I have got Masters Degrees in Sociology and Sindhi Literature from Shah Abdul Latif University (SALU) Khaipur

Mirs Sindh-Pakistan. I’m also registered as Research Scholar in M.Phil Studies at University of Sindh Jamshoro Sindh

Pakistan. I’m a Research Scholar, Social Activist, Freelance Journalist, Photographer & Master Trainer. I started my

career as a Private School Teacher from my hometown. My favourite subjects are History, Anthropology, Geography,

Archeology, and Sindhi Literature.

Since 2006 I have been Associated in Development Sector and I have worked with local Partners of Action Aid Pakistan,

UNICEF, Austcare, UCBPRP Government of Sindh, World Food Programme, DFID UKAID, USAID, UNDP & Sightsavers

International. During this period, I widely travelled through every nook and corner of Pakistan. I’m Capricorn. My height

is 5 feet and 6 inches. I weigh 70 Kgs. I have a lot of friends and followers round the globe. I’m married to Sartaj Sheikh-

my cousin and I have 4 sons namely Sarang, Daniyal, Sheheryar and Muhammad Daud and 4 daughters namely Kainat,

Almas, Sabreen and Faryal. I can speak several languages like Sindhi, Urdu, English & Siraiki. I have 22 e-books on my

credit which are available on www.scribd.com. I have more than 13,119 Reads by now across Pakistan, India, Iran, Saudi

Arabia, Spain and other countries.

Yes, I still remember it was a day of summer 2012, when I got fever and went to the local hospital for treatment. I fainted

there all of sudden and lost myself for the time being. After almost half an hour, when my eyes opened and I recovered

myself. I saw my dress as well as the floor full of vomiting. I thought a while that there is no difference between Fainting

and death. This incident is the dominant factor which made me realize to pen down my life story before I suddenly die. I

am deeply grateful to Professor Khalid Hussain Channa who collaborated with me in the creation of this book, providing

invaluable assistance in editing and revising the first volume. I want to live an immortal life by writing this piece of

Autobiography for my family, friends, citizens and followers. So here is my life story…

Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi

Shahadadkot Shahadadkot Shahadadkot Shahadadkot Monday Monday Monday Monday 29292929thththth,,,, July 2013July 2013July 2013July 2013

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The Prasiane Island of River Indus in Sindh…

Megasthenes (350 – 290 BCE) was a Greek ethnographer in the Hellenistic period, author of the work Indica. He was born in Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and became an ambassador of Seleucus I of Syria possibly to Chandragupta Maurya in Pataliputra, India. However the exact date of his embassy is uncertain. Scholars place it before 298 BC, the date of Chandragupta's death. Arrian explains that Megasthenes lived in Arachosia, with the satrap Sibyrtius, from where he visited India. Giving description of Prasiane Island Megasthenes says, “The Indus Called by the inhabitants Sindus, rising on that spur of Mount Caucasus which is called Paropamisus, from sources fronting the sunrise, receives also itself nineteen rivers, of which the most famous are the Hydaspes, which has four tributaries; the Cantabra, which has three; the Acesines and the Hypasis, which are both navigable; but nevertheless, having no very great supply of water, it is nowhere broader than fifty stadia, or deeper than fifteen paces. It forms an extremely large island, which is called Prasiane, and a smaller one, called Patale. Its stream, which is navigable, by the lowest estimates, for, 1,240 miles, turns westward as if following more or less closely the course of the sun, and then falls into the ocean.” Fragments from Megasthenes: Indika ("From: Ancient India as Described by Megasthenes and Arrian. Translated and edited by J. W. McCrindle. Calcutta and Bombay: Thacker, Spink, 1877, 30-174.")

The Island of Prasiane was also called as Oxykanos or Oxycanus by the historians. According to Arrian of

Nicomedia (86 BCE-160 A.D), a Roman (Greek) historian, public servant, military commander and philosopher of the 2nd-century Alexander the Great started campaign against Oxykanos. He writes in Chapter XVI-under the Title of Campaign against Oxykanos and Sambus; “then he took the archers and the Agrianians and the cavalry which was sailing with him, and marched against the governor of a district in that part of the country whose name was Oxykanos, because he neither came himself nor sent envoys to offer the surrender of himself and his country.” Quintus Curtius Rufus in his History of the Alexander the Great says; “Having thereafter the reduced the Musicani, Alexander put a garrison into their capital, and marched thence into the country of Praesti, another Indian tribe. Their king was Porticanus, and he with a great body of his countrymen had shut himself up within a strongly-fortified city. Alexander, however, took it after a three days siege. Porticanus, who had taken refuge within the citadel after the capture of the city, sent deputies to the king to arrange about terms of capitulation. Before they reached him, however two towers had fallen down with a dreadful crash, and the Macedonians having Made their way through the ruins into the citadel, captured it and slew Porticanus , who with a few others had offered resistance. Having demolished the citadel and sold all the prisoners, he marched into the territories of Sambus, where he received the submission of numerous towns”.

Curtius calls the subject of Oxykanos the Praesti, a name which would indicate that they inhabited a level

country, since the Sanskrit word of which their name is transcript-prastha-denotes a tableland or a level expense. The name, Saint Martin thinks, is in Justin altered to Praesidae; but Justin, it appears to me, means

the Praisioi thereby. Oxykanos is called both by the Strabo and Diodoros Portikano; representing perhaps

the Sanskrit Partha, “a prince”. It is not easy to determine where his domains lay. They were not on the Indus, for Alexander left that river to attack them. Cunningham places them to the west of the Indus River in the level country around Larkana , which though now close to the Indus, was in Alexander’s time about forty miles distant from it. Their capital he identifies with Mahorta/Mahota, a place about 10 miles north-west from Larkana, where there are remains of an ancient fortress on a huge mound, whence perhaps its name Maha-urddha,”very high”. (The Invasion of India by Alexander the Great: As described by Arrian, Quintus Curtius, Diodoros, Plutarch and Justin By J.W.M’Crindle 1896, Reprint 1992, Indus Publications Karachi Sindh Pages 158).

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The Old Courses The Old Courses The Old Courses The Old Courses of Riverof Riverof Riverof River Indus inIndus inIndus inIndus in Kandhkot, Jacobabad, Shahdadkot & WarahKandhkot, Jacobabad, Shahdadkot & WarahKandhkot, Jacobabad, Shahdadkot & WarahKandhkot, Jacobabad, Shahdadkot & Warah

Lous Flam (Ph D U Penn, 1981; Asst Prof) in his Research Paper; “Fluvial

Geomorphology of the Lower Indus Basin (Sindh Pakistan) and the Indus

Civilization” published in Himalaya to the Sea: Geology, Geomorphology, and

the Quaternary Compiled by John F. Shroder London: Routledge, (1993),

Says,” The Lower Indus Project (1965) and Holmes (1968) used the

comprehensive methodology to delineate 6 major Post- Pleistocene River

remnants in the northwest and north central plain of the Lower Indus Basin :

(1) Kandhkot Course; (2) Jacobabad Course; (3) Shahdadkot Course; (4) Warah

Course; (4) Khairpur Course; and (6) present day course of the Indus River. Of

the course remnants listed above, numbers 1-6 belong to former or recent

course of the Indus River. Following Butler (1950), Pels (1964) and Schum f bg

(1968) , the Jacobabad , Shahdadkot, Warah, Sanghar, and Samaro-Dhoro

Badahri course remnants can be considered the older or ‘prior stream’ course of

the present Indus River, and the Kandhkot, Khairpur, and Shahdadpur course

remnants can be considered younger or ancestral courses of the Indus River.

TheTheTheThe Jacobabad CourseJacobabad CourseJacobabad CourseJacobabad Course, marked by sub recent river terraces, is traceable as the most northwesterly and oldest of the

former river courses of the Lower Indus Basin. Traces of this course emerge from the present Indus River near

Kandhkot, and run in westerly direction toward Jacobabad where the course’s remnant deposits become mixed with

Kachhi Plain piedmont sediments and the course becomes untraceable any further west.

The Shahdadkot CourseThe Shahdadkot CourseThe Shahdadkot CourseThe Shahdadkot Course remnant is traceable as a zone of bars and channels from southwest of Jacobabad down to

Shahdadkot where it disappears (Holmes 1968). This course is perhaps the remnant of a distinct and independent river

course; i.e. separate from the Jacobabad course. Aerial photographs and maps of the prior river courses of the Lower

Indus Basin permit speculation that the Jacobabad and Shahdadkot Channels should have been two reaches of the same

river.

The Warah CourseThe Warah CourseThe Warah CourseThe Warah Course occurs as a distinctive broad zone of extensive high bar deposits and indicative of a major river

(Holmes 1968). Similar to the Jacobabad course, the Warah Course had its origin near Kandhkot. Unlike the Jacobabad

course, which ran due to west from Kandhkot, the Warah course turned toward the southeast a short distance west of

Kandhkot. Running southwest of Kandhkot, the Warah course is clearly traceable as it passes west of Sukkur and

Ratodero, through Warah, and west of Mehar towns. West of Mehar the Alluvial deposits of the Warah Course are

intermixed with and obscured by piedmont plain deposits of the Khirthar Mountains along the entire length of the

trough extending from Jacobabad to Manchhar Lake (Bull 1972 & Ansari 1973). Previously the Warah trough had been

thought to have been a major independent river course of the westernmost part of the Lower Indus Basin, but this is

not precisely the case. The trough was named Western Nara Channel by Pithawala (1936/1959), Fraser (1958) and

Memon (1969), but should not be confused with the seasonal spillway of a later time scalled the Western Nara (Holmes

1968). The trough was a major river course in that it was an extension and part of the Jacobabad and Warah courses.

Raverty (1895) called it the Sindh Hollow, and noted that it was also referred to locally as the Ran or Marsh, the Pat or

Desert, or the Dasht-i-Bedari. Sindh Hollow was the designation used by Panhwar (1969) and is used herein. According

to M.H.Panhwar, the Arab traveler Ibne Batuta (1304-1369), after crossing western branch of the Indus between

Kandhkot and Thul / Jacobabad and two days by boat or march along its embankment reached Junnani a large fine

town on the bank of the Western Branch (called Warah Course). Ibne Batuta might have entered Sindh by Suleman

Range into Lower Indus Valley. His original text (1333 A.D) reads as follows; “After crossing the river of Sind called

Banj Ab, we entered a forest of reeds, following the track which led through the midst of it, when we were confronted

by a rhinoceros. In appearance it is a black animal with a huge body and a disproportionately large head. For this

reason it has become the subject of a proverb, as the saying goes Al-karkaddan ras bila badan (rhinoceros, head and no

torso). It is smaller than an elephant but its head in many times larger than an elephant’s. It has a single horn between

its eyes, about three cubits in length and about a span in breadth. When it came out against us one of the horsemen got

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in its way; it struck the horse which he was riding with its horn, pierced his thigh and knocked him down, then went

back into thicket and we could not get at it. I saw a rhinoceros a second time on this road after the hour of afternoon

prayer. It was feeding on plants but when approached it, it ran away. I saw a rhinoceros yet another time when in the

company of the king of India we had entered a jungle of reeds. The sultan was mounted on an elephant and we too

were mounted on elephants along with him. The foot-soldiers and horsemen went in and beat it up, killed it and

conveyed its head to the camp.”

Ibne Batuta again gives description of a beautiful city called Junani which is situated in present Warah Taluka. He

writes, “ After two days’ march from (the crossing of) the river of Sind we reached the town of Janani, a large and fine

town on the bank of the river Sind. It has beautiful bazzars and has been inhabited from ancient times by a people

called the Samira, whose ancestors established themselves there on the conquest of Sind in the time of Al-Hajjaj [712

A.D], as the chroniclers of the conquest of Sind have noted.The Shaikh, the learned Imam, the ascetic doer of the law,

and devout Rukn-Al-Din , son c of, the Shaikh , the devout and ascetic Imam Baha-Al-Din Zakariya, the Qurashite( he

was one of the three whom the Shaikh and virtuous saint Burhan –Al-Din the lame told me in the city of Alexandria

that I should meet them, God be praised), told me that his earliest ancestor was called Muhammd Ibn Qasim the

Qurashite, and he took part in the conquest of Sind in the army which Al-Hajjaj Ibn Yusuf dispatched for that purpose

during his governorship in Al-Iraq and settled there and founded a numerous family.These people called Samira never

eat with anyone nor may marry anyone outside their clan, nor do they allow anyone to marry into it. They had at this

time an Amircalled Wunar whose history we shall relate in due course. From Janani we travelled to Siwasitan

(Sehwan), a large town, outside which is a sandy desert, treeless except for Acacias. Nothing is grown on the river here

expcept Pumpkins, and the food of the inhabitants consists of Sorghum and Peas, of which they make bread. There is a

plentiful supply of fish and buffalo milk, and they eat also a kind of small lizard stuffed with curcuma.” (Ibne Battuta:

Travels in Asia & Africa 1325-1354; first published 1929, Reprinted in Great Britain by Redwood Burn Ltd. 1983)

In 1955, M.H. Panhwar discovered the ruins of Ibne Batuta’s Janani settlement in Taluka Warah, Deh Junani at Junani

Inspection Bungalow, constructed by Sindh Public Works Department (PWD) in 19th century. Before advert of

automobile, this vast bungalow had stables for horses. It was built on a high mound of ruins and appears 3 to 4 feet high

from surrounding land, which had risen by 3 to 4 feet. From Junani, Ibne Batuta travelled down to Sehwan. He does

not mention if he travelled by road or by boat and whether he passed through Manchhar Lake. Currently, Junani is

known for its Islamic School, beautiful Mosque and old Library containing thousands of Arabic, Persian & Sindhi

manuscripts and rare books. Junani is situated 3 miles in the west of Warah on Warah-Hamal road. Another important

River Indus course was of SirwahSirwahSirwahSirwah. It started from Bolan River in the south of Sibi and finally reached Manchhar Lake

near Sehwan. Amini-ul-Mulk Nawab Mir Muhammad Masoom Bakhri, the Amir of Mughal Emperor Akber the Great

(1542-1605) has given details of this course in his Persian Account “Tareekh-e-Masoomi” in 1600 A.D. According to

Yousif Merak Bin Mir Abu-al-Qasim Namkeen the length of Sibi/ Bolan River was 50 Miles and later it joined Sirwah

on Sindh Border and finally its waters flowed down towards Manchhar Lake. (Tareekh-e-Mazhar Shah Jahani 1634

A.D). He also tells us about Mulla River, Cotton Plants grown in Sibi Area and the Poisonous Snakes found in that part

of country. Main Shahal Muhammad Kalhoro (1657A.D) is said to have dug Ghar Wah from River Indus near Larkana

to irrigate lands of this area.

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CONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTSCONTENTS

CHAPTERCHAPTERCHAPTERCHAPTER----IIII

SEEDSSEEDSSEEDSSEEDS

I HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD & BONES…I HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD & BONES…I HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD & BONES…I HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD & BONES…

MY BIRTH & PARENTAGEMY BIRTH & PARENTAGEMY BIRTH & PARENTAGEMY BIRTH & PARENTAGE

ORIGION & FAMILY BACKGROUND OF MY GRANDPARENTSORIGION & FAMILY BACKGROUND OF MY GRANDPARENTSORIGION & FAMILY BACKGROUND OF MY GRANDPARENTSORIGION & FAMILY BACKGROUND OF MY GRANDPARENTS

MY MY MY MY GRANDFATHER’S LIFE STORYGRANDFATHER’S LIFE STORYGRANDFATHER’S LIFE STORYGRANDFATHER’S LIFE STORY

MY PARENTS & THEIR NEIGHBOURS IN SHAHDADKOTMY PARENTS & THEIR NEIGHBOURS IN SHAHDADKOTMY PARENTS & THEIR NEIGHBOURS IN SHAHDADKOTMY PARENTS & THEIR NEIGHBOURS IN SHAHDADKOT

RESIDENCE AT KHUZDAR BALOCHISTAN…RESIDENCE AT KHUZDAR BALOCHISTAN…RESIDENCE AT KHUZDAR BALOCHISTAN…RESIDENCE AT KHUZDAR BALOCHISTAN…

THE ASSASINATION OF MR. ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTOTHE ASSASINATION OF MR. ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTOTHE ASSASINATION OF MR. ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTOTHE ASSASINATION OF MR. ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO

END OF MY GRANDFATHER’S LIFEEND OF MY GRANDFATHER’S LIFEEND OF MY GRANDFATHER’S LIFEEND OF MY GRANDFATHER’S LIFE

CHAPTERCHAPTERCHAPTERCHAPTER----IIIIIIII

MEMORIESMEMORIESMEMORIESMEMORIES

THE FALL OF AMERICAN SKYLAB ON EARTHTHE FALL OF AMERICAN SKYLAB ON EARTHTHE FALL OF AMERICAN SKYLAB ON EARTHTHE FALL OF AMERICAN SKYLAB ON EARTH

SHIFTING FROM OLD SHIFTING FROM OLD SHIFTING FROM OLD SHIFTING FROM OLD HOUSE TO PRESENT HOMEHOUSE TO PRESENT HOMEHOUSE TO PRESENT HOMEHOUSE TO PRESENT HOME

The LIFE, WORKS AND DESCENDENTS OFThe LIFE, WORKS AND DESCENDENTS OFThe LIFE, WORKS AND DESCENDENTS OFThe LIFE, WORKS AND DESCENDENTS OF RAIS WAJID ALI KHAN KHUHAWARRAIS WAJID ALI KHAN KHUHAWARRAIS WAJID ALI KHAN KHUHAWARRAIS WAJID ALI KHAN KHUHAWAR

HARRASMENT ON THE MURDER OF SILRA BROTHERS IN SHAHDADKOTHARRASMENT ON THE MURDER OF SILRA BROTHERS IN SHAHDADKOTHARRASMENT ON THE MURDER OF SILRA BROTHERS IN SHAHDADKOTHARRASMENT ON THE MURDER OF SILRA BROTHERS IN SHAHDADKOT----20202020thththth JANUARY 1982JANUARY 1982JANUARY 1982JANUARY 1982

THE OLD TREES & THE GHOSTSTHE OLD TREES & THE GHOSTSTHE OLD TREES & THE GHOSTSTHE OLD TREES & THE GHOSTS

ABOUT SYDES OF ROHRIABOUT SYDES OF ROHRIABOUT SYDES OF ROHRIABOUT SYDES OF ROHRI

SIDKLISIDKLISIDKLISIDKLI----A FAMILY MANA FAMILY MANA FAMILY MANA FAMILY MAN

THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, MUHARAM PROCESSIONS AND HOLY SHRINESMUHARAM PROCESSIONS AND HOLY SHRINESMUHARAM PROCESSIONS AND HOLY SHRINESMUHARAM PROCESSIONS AND HOLY SHRINES

MY UNCLE’S WEDDING AT VILLAGE RAUNTI NEAR KAMBERMY UNCLE’S WEDDING AT VILLAGE RAUNTI NEAR KAMBERMY UNCLE’S WEDDING AT VILLAGE RAUNTI NEAR KAMBERMY UNCLE’S WEDDING AT VILLAGE RAUNTI NEAR KAMBER

MY TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISON…MY TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISON…MY TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISON…MY TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISON…

CHAPTERCHAPTERCHAPTERCHAPTER----IIIIIIIIIIII

RAYS OF LIGHTRAYS OF LIGHTRAYS OF LIGHTRAYS OF LIGHT

HOW DID I START MY EDUCATION?HOW DID I START MY EDUCATION?HOW DID I START MY EDUCATION?HOW DID I START MY EDUCATION?

MRD MOVEMENTMRD MOVEMENTMRD MOVEMENTMRD MOVEMENT----SEPTEMBER 1983SEPTEMBER 1983SEPTEMBER 1983SEPTEMBER 1983

CELEBRATION OF LATIF DAY IN SHAHDADKOT CELEBRATION OF LATIF DAY IN SHAHDADKOT CELEBRATION OF LATIF DAY IN SHAHDADKOT CELEBRATION OF LATIF DAY IN SHAHDADKOT TEXTILE MILLSTEXTILE MILLSTEXTILE MILLSTEXTILE MILLS----1984198419841984

SCHOOL LEAVE ON THE ASSASINATION DAY OF INDIRA GANDHISCHOOL LEAVE ON THE ASSASINATION DAY OF INDIRA GANDHISCHOOL LEAVE ON THE ASSASINATION DAY OF INDIRA GANDHISCHOOL LEAVE ON THE ASSASINATION DAY OF INDIRA GANDHI

LEARNING HOLY QURANLEARNING HOLY QURANLEARNING HOLY QURANLEARNING HOLY QURAN

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT JAMIA QAIMRELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT JAMIA QAIMRELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT JAMIA QAIMRELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT JAMIA QAIM----EEEE----ALALALAL----EEEE----MUHAMMADMUHAMMADMUHAMMADMUHAMMAD

MY FATHER’S MISHAP IN A ROBBERY NEAR GOLO WAH, SHAHDADKOTMY FATHER’S MISHAP IN A ROBBERY NEAR GOLO WAH, SHAHDADKOTMY FATHER’S MISHAP IN A ROBBERY NEAR GOLO WAH, SHAHDADKOTMY FATHER’S MISHAP IN A ROBBERY NEAR GOLO WAH, SHAHDADKOT

PROBLEM OF PAROO CAHNDIOPROBLEM OF PAROO CAHNDIOPROBLEM OF PAROO CAHNDIOPROBLEM OF PAROO CAHNDIO

LOVE WITH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITLOVE WITH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITLOVE WITH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITLOVE WITH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES & NATURAL BEAUTYIES & NATURAL BEAUTYIES & NATURAL BEAUTYIES & NATURAL BEAUTY

ALLAHALLAHALLAHALLAH----OOOO----AKBER: WATCHING ISLAMIC DOCUMENTRY IN CINEMAAKBER: WATCHING ISLAMIC DOCUMENTRY IN CINEMAAKBER: WATCHING ISLAMIC DOCUMENTRY IN CINEMAAKBER: WATCHING ISLAMIC DOCUMENTRY IN CINEMA

THE GRAVEYARD OF SPARROWSTHE GRAVEYARD OF SPARROWSTHE GRAVEYARD OF SPARROWSTHE GRAVEYARD OF SPARROWS

MY MOTHERS SUDDEN DEATH ON EIDMY MOTHERS SUDDEN DEATH ON EIDMY MOTHERS SUDDEN DEATH ON EIDMY MOTHERS SUDDEN DEATH ON EID----RAMAZANRAMAZANRAMAZANRAMAZAN----1986198619861986

MRD MOVEMENTMRD MOVEMENTMRD MOVEMENTMRD MOVEMENT----AUGUST 1986AUGUST 1986AUGUST 1986AUGUST 1986

MY ELDER BROTHERS MARRIAGE AT MIRO KHANMY ELDER BROTHERS MARRIAGE AT MIRO KHANMY ELDER BROTHERS MARRIAGE AT MIRO KHANMY ELDER BROTHERS MARRIAGE AT MIRO KHAN

NIZAMIA NIGHT SCHOOLNIZAMIA NIGHT SCHOOLNIZAMIA NIGHT SCHOOLNIZAMIA NIGHT SCHOOL

OTHER STORIES FROM PRIMARYOTHER STORIES FROM PRIMARYOTHER STORIES FROM PRIMARYOTHER STORIES FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL DAYS…SCHOOL DAYS…SCHOOL DAYS…SCHOOL DAYS…

CUP OF TEA REWARD & TRIP TO GOLO WAH CUP OF TEA REWARD & TRIP TO GOLO WAH CUP OF TEA REWARD & TRIP TO GOLO WAH CUP OF TEA REWARD & TRIP TO GOLO WAH ----MARCH 1987MARCH 1987MARCH 1987MARCH 1987

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SEEDS

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I HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD & BONES…

River Indus is Pakistan’s longest river. The total length of the river is 3,180 km (1,980 mi). Its estimated annual flow stands at around

207 km3 (50 cu mi), making it the twenty-first largest river in the world in terms of annual flow. It has also courses through western Tibet (in

China) and Northern India. Originating in the Tibetan plateau in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar, the river runs a course through the Ladakh

region of Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit, Baltistan and flows through Pakistan in a southerly direction along the entire length of Pakistan to

merge into the Arabian Sea near the port city of Karachi in Sindh.

The Indus Valley Civilization (2600-1900 BCE) is one of the world's earliest urban civilizations, along with its contemporaries, Mesopotamia

and Ancient Egypt. At its peak, the Indus Civilization may have had a population of well over 5 million. Inhabitants of the ancient Indus River

valley developed new techniques in handicrafts and metallurgy. It extended west to the Makran coast of Balochistan, north to northeastern

Afghanistan and south to Daimabad in Maharashtra. The civilization was spread over some 1,260,000 km², making it the largest ancient

civilization. To date, more than 1,052 cities and settlements have been found, mainly in the general region of the Indus River and its

tributaries. Among the settlements were the major urban centers of Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Ganweriwala, Dholavira, and Rakhigarhi. Many

of the archaeologists opine that "flood" was the most probable reason for Indus fall.

Indus River Basin has many Indigenous tribes and communities living on its banks for last thousands of years. These Aboriginal or

Indigenous tribes have deep roots with Indus Valley Civilization. Some of the m are 1) Bhils 2) Kolhi 3) Menghwar 4) Gurgala 5) Shikari 6)

Wartia 7) Saniasi 8) Sami 9) Khati 10) Kochhara 11) Kumbher 12) Ravera 13) Kabotaria 14) Jogi 15) Burira 16) Gurara 17) Muhana 18) Bagari

19) Hadwar 20) Bhangi 21) Guaria 22) Baleshahi 23) Rebari 24) Charan 25) Sati 26) Oad 27) and 28) Lohar.

The “Kihals”, in some areas referred to as “Mors”, is also an Indigenous group of Indus Valley stretched from Chashma Barrage District Dera

Ismael Khan to Taunsa Barrage District Muzzafergarh, Punjab, on the banks of River Indus. As regards religion, this community is Muslim

converts and like many converts in the country they also introduce themselves as “Sheikh”. The Kihals are boat people who live in the upper

Indus region. They travel up and down the river, shifting their huts according to their needs and the time of year. They have distinct social

organization and cultural value system. According to some figures their population is estimated 40,000 to 45,000 families in above areas.

The territory and livelihoods of these Indigenous peoples lies within the 170 Kilometers long and 15 Kilometers wide strip of Indus River

Basin between Latitude 30-32’ E in Dera Ismael Khan, Layyah and Dera Ghazi Khan, Siraeki Waseb Pakistan. They speak Siraeki language

which is a dialect of Sindhi. The only historical references available on the community are the Colonial ones. Almost all Gazetteers of British

Government of India 1881, 1884, 1929 and 1931speak about this Riverine community but only to count.

“The Kihals and Mors are said to be one tribe. In the north of the district they are called Mor, eat crocodiles and tortoises, and no

Muhammadans will associate with them. In the south they do not eat these reptiles, and are considered good Muhammadans. Kihals and

Mors live by fishing, but some have taken to agriculture. They, as well as the Jhabels, are fond of cultivating Samuka. These tribes live

separately in villages near rivers. (The Punjab District Gazetteer, Volume XXXIV-A, Muzaffergarh District, 1929, P-77). According to some

other historians this is a nomad tribe of fishermen and boatmen, who ply their boats between Kalabagh and Sukkur on the Indus, rarely if

ever quitting the valley of that river. But Mallahs, described as Jhabel by caste and Kehal by Got are found in Ludhiana, and doubtless

elsewhere. The Kehals claim to be the earliest converts to Islam between Kalabagh and Karachi, but profess to follow Imam Shafi, and eat

unclean animals and fish found in the Indus in spite of the Quran. The Kihals are divided into 3 groups 1) Loria 2) Daphala and 3) Mora.

(Rose. H.A, 1911 AD).

Instead of fish, crocodiles, and Indus Dolphin, the Kihals also eat different birds like wild-duck, wild goose, and partridge as well. In early

summer, during April and May, Kihals, Mors and the Sheikh engage in harvesting in the Kachha (low lying Riverine area). This agriculture

labour was once so rewarding that in addition to instant wages landlords obliged them through vegetables, fruits and other such products

round the year. In late summer they harvest, clean and dry Kaanb, Kanh, Koondre and Sar (Sacchaarum Munja) from delta on both sides of

the river. They make tokris, cages, thatched roofs, and ropes from reeds and grass grown on the Indus River banks. This work is also done by

Kurutana, Kuratana or Kutana community. Possibly the Kutana of the Indus River are a distinct caste or people from the Chuhras , but they

return no large tribes and appear to be a caste formed from the debris of numerous tribes degraded by function. This occupation of Reed

Work (Patals) is still continued by Sheikh Community in Punjab, Sindh and Balochistan. So they are called Patrai Sheikh the Sheikh who

works in reeds.

13

According to Rose. H.A, (1867-1933) Book entitled “A Glossary of the Tribes and Castes of the Punjab and North-West Frontier Province

(1911A.D), Reprinted New Delhi India 1997, Vol: III, “Sheikh is an Arabic word meaning an elder or a chief, and probably corresponds very

closely among the tribes of Arabia with Chaudhri among those of the Punjab. Thus the title should probably be confined to, and is very

generally assumed by, tribes of true Arab descent. But it has been degraded to a much more vulgar use. If a Rajput or Jat, turn Muhammadan

he retains his caste name, and is still a Rajput or Jat, Sir Danzil Ibbetson had known Musalman Rajputs who had fallen in life and taken to

weaving call themselves Shaikhs, though still recognized as relations by their brethren of the village whence they came.” (Page 399) “So if an

outcaste man of impure calling becomes Musalman and retains his occupation, or at least substitutes for it another only slightly less

degrading, he also retains his caste name or is known by an entirely new one, such as Dindar or Musalli. But the class which lies between

these two extremes, and are neither so proud of their origin as to wish, nor so degraded by their occupation as to be compelled , to retain their

original caste name , very generally abandon that name on their conversion to Islam and adopt the title of Sheikh. There is a Persian proverb;

“The first year I was a weaver (Julaha), the next year a Shaikh. This year if prices rise, I

shall be a Sayed. More over many of the inferior agricultural Musalman tribes of Indian

descent have, especially in the west of Province, set up a claim to Arab origin, and

though they are still known by their tribal name, probably or almost certainly return

themselves as Sheikhs in a census.” (Page 399)

He writes again, “Shaikhs do not bear the best characters in some parts. In Rohtak they

are said to, “Supply recruits to our armies and jails with praiseworthy indifference”, and

in Dera Isamel Khan the Nau Muslim Shaikhs are described as, “a lazy thriftless set of

cultivators.” The Shaikhs thus described are of course to be sharply distinguished from

the true Quraish of the south-west Punjab. According to Monkton the term Shaikh is

applied loosely to an extraordinary number of Musalman artisans and others of similar

status in Gujarat.” According to Rose. H.A, Shaikh is also a title among Tarkhans in

Dera Ghazi Khan. He also describes Shaikh Bhangi or Shaikhra, a class of Muhammadan Chuhra’s found in Delhi who say that they

accompanied the Muslim invaders from Arabia. Sometimes they are also called as Lalbegi. In the same book he describes Shaikh Khel; a non

Pathan sept found, with the Mandezai, Senzai and Khwazazai in Jandol (Bajaur), said to be of Kafir descent, but now reckoned as Pathans.

Regarding Shaikh Simalani, he says it’s a Sayed clan (Agricultural) found in Montgomery area.

14

MY BIRTH & PARENTAGE

I was born on 18th January 1977 AD at a village called Kot Ghulam Shah, Taluka Kamber, District Larkana presently District Kamber

Shahdadkot, in the province of Sindh Pakistan. It was the place where Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro (1722-1772), the Ruler of Sindh once

constructed a mud fort to safeguard Larkana area from invaders of the north. My ancestors had also taken active part in the construction of

this royal fort by cutting dense jungles through their sharp sickles. They were settled beside the fort before the arrival of Magsi tribe in the

village. The remains of this historical fortress are situated 30 Kilometers in the north-west of Larkana in a dilapidated condition these days.

Like Kihals and Mors, the two aboriginal and indigenous tribes of Indus Valley Civilization; my forefathers were also associated with hunting

and cutting jungles which were grown on River Indus and its canals and watercourses .During summer they harvested, cleaned and dried

Kana/ SAR from both river banks. They were skilled in making baskets, cages, thatched roofs, and ropes from reeds and grass grown on the

water. Thatch is a historic roofing material still seen in some reconstructions and homes designed for a traditional appearance. Thatch roof

utilizes bundles of tightly packed long-stem plant material as the roof sheathing. The roof not only sheds water but also serves as insulation

for the building. As with all traditional building methods, there are materials that have been used for centuries. This occupation is still

continued in upper and lower Indus Valley by thousands of families. Due to making Patar/ Patal (thatched roofs Sheets) my grandparents

were called as Patrai Sheikhs. The Sheikh Community, I belong to, is totally different from Sanjogi Sheikhs due to its colour, language,

customs and traditions. Its socio-economic conditions are also weak as compared to others. The Patrai Sheikh Community lacks in Education

Their major sub clans of this coomunity are Teji, Mandhar, Rati, Gharoo, Allana etc. My grandparents used to speak Siraeki language which

shows their connection with southern Punjab.

Sometime after I had been weaned, my father came to take my mother from the house of Jaro Khan Sheikh, who was his father in law. He was

a tall man with fair complexion. His occupation was sowing rice seeds, harvesting crops and sometimes doing reeds work. He took Patals on

his head and went to sell them in Kamber which was much at the distance from his home. His wife –my paternal grandmother, Haliman

Sheikh was a housewife who took care of the house as well as children. My mother had a brother called Muhammad Ramzan who died in his

childhood. My maternal grandfather Jaro Khan Sheikh lived many years at village Kot Ghulam Shah. Later on he moved towards Larkana

where he used to work with Sindhi Sheikhs who sold different fruits and vegetables i.e. Lotus Roots called in Sindhi as Beh. He lived his life in

Manghoo, Kot Ghulam Shah, Larkana and finally in Shahdadkot.

My father, Sikander Ali Khan had neither formal education nor much wealth; despite these advantages, he possessed great innate acumen

and generosity of spirit. My parents couple was ideal for many of our relatives. I was only one year old when Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the first

elected prime minister of Pakistan was assassinated on April 4, 1979. My family members did not cook meals on that day due to severe grief

and attachment with Bhutto family. My grandfather died very soon after this incident. I crawled at that time so I don’t have any of my

grandfather’s memories.

The Royal Mud Fort of Kot Ghulam Shah near KamberThe Royal Mud Fort of Kot Ghulam Shah near KamberThe Royal Mud Fort of Kot Ghulam Shah near KamberThe Royal Mud Fort of Kot Ghulam Shah near Kamber

15

ORIGION & FAMILY BACKGROUND OF MY GRANDPARENTS

Due to unavailability of family written records, I can only trace father of my grandfather, Muhammad Saffar Sheikh, who lived in village

Dadu Hullio, Deh Hullia, Taluka Kamber District Larkana, Sindh. According to Din Muhammad Kalhoro the village was founded by Dadu

Khan Hullio in 1715 A.D. It is also called Hullian Ji Wandh in the area. There is tomb of a Sufi Saint named Ahmed Shah Bukhari in this

village which is said to be the disciple of Shah Nasiruddin (died 1900 A.D) of Naushehro Feroze, Sindh. The lands of this village were

irrigated by Koor Dato, a canal dug by Mian Dato Khuhawar during early 18th Century AD. He was a disciple, courtier and a general of Mian

Yar Muhammad Kalhoro and his son Mian Noor Muhammad Kalhoro, the rulers of Sindh.

My great grandfather, Muhammad Saffar Sheikh was a poor farmer. He used to cultivate lands of Hindus and prepare thatched roofs from

jungle reeds and grass. Umendan Khatoon, her wife was a skilled woman who would also work with him. Both the husband and wife were

living a happy life but they had no children. It is said that Muhammad Saffar Sheikh was a devotee of Ahmed Shah Bukhari, whose tomb

stood in his village. Ahmed Shah Bukhari was disciple of Shah Nasiruddin of Nausheroferoz. My greart grandfather used to visit and look

after the tomb of Ahmed Shah Bukhari. My great grandfather was highly inspired by Sufism and other Islamic teachings. He constructed a

little mosque for travelers and caravans on main Kamber-Miro Khan road which stands till today. The elderly people of the area call this

mosque after name of my great grandfather. due to poverty and lack of resources , my grandfather as well my father did not take care of the

mosque. The villagers of Dadu Hullio repair it annually with their donations.

After passing some years, one day he decided to migrate from his ancestral village Dadu Hullio to nearby village Mena in order to live with his

close relatives. He had no child for a long time which made him sad and despair. Someone told him to go inside the old graveyard to pay visit

to the graves of Syed Sisters locally called Hadeero for prayers at night for child blessing. It is said that he went to the old sandy graveyard for

three consecutive nights by carrying clay balls in his hands for rituals and prayers. While he was reciting the Holy Scriptures during 3rd night

he saw the ghost of above graves who gave him blessings for children’s birth. After this prophesies, he returned back to his home happily and

very soon his wife became pregnant and gave birth to a son (My grandfather Nehal Khan) and a daughter (Qaiman Khatoon).

Muhammad Saffar Sheikh became prosperous soon after. He bought a pair of Bullocks, cows, and some goats. He never built a house but

always lived in thatched huts. He was chief of his tribesmen. There were more than 100 households under his control and he dealt them with

respect, love and brotherhood. Nothing else is known about the life of my great grandfather. It is quite clear that he died before the partition

of Indo Pak subcontinent in 1947. When my great grandfather died his wife Umendan Khatoon was married to Faiz Muhammad Sheikh. He

was a laborer and lived in the same village. There, Umendan Khatoon gave birth to Toto Khan, Mai Syedan and Mai Bachul. Faiz Muhammad

Sheikh had many spirits and ghosts in his control which were transferred later to his daughter Mai Syedan Khatoon. It is therefore our family

still holds these spirits with high esteem.

Sindhi Bullock CartSindhi Bullock CartSindhi Bullock CartSindhi Bullock Cart

MY GRAN

In olden days

grandfather N

Village Mena

Kilometers in

population of

developed du

Hindu temple

belonged to M

area. Mostly t

shops were ve

Wadero Wadero Wadero Wadero Nehal Khan SheikhNehal Khan SheikhNehal Khan SheikhNehal Khan Sheikh

The main tribes and casts residing here are ; Mena, C

Ghanghera, Mashori, Manganhar, Mangi, Mirbahar,

Boohar, Memon, Jhinjh etc. A Government Primary

Madressahs. It has also 10 workplaces for leaf cigare

attack of dacoits and robbers.

One of the important figures of this village was Swam

Khan. He was so honest that Seth Basant Ram invite

Hindu Sadhus whose centre was at Raunti a few Kilo

organizer of Sufi gatherings in which mystic songs w

died due to measles. On this incident he renounced f

lived there for 13 years. Finally Diwan Wasan Ram to

back to village Mena and established a Spiritual Cen

Swami read poetry of Shah Inayat Sufi, Baba Bulha S

Dharmoon also composed Sindhi religious poetry. H

set out for a long journey and went up to Quetta and

near Gandhi Garden. He died on 4th December 1916

his disciples migrated from Sindh to India where the

poetry in the shape of a monthly magazine entitled

figures of this village were famous poet Azad Sufi an

Syed Din Muhammad Shah (1880-1973), Allah Dino

My grandfather was only 12 years old when 7.1 magn

took place on 31st May 1931. In 1932 Sukkur Barrage

was coined by Chaudhry Rehmat Ali Khan and was a

more 50,000 people in Quetta city. When my grandf

known about her life and nature but it is generally to

Later on he attached himself with spirituality and mu

village. Well-known Research Scholar Dr. Nabi Bux K

Chanesar, published by Sindhi Adabi Board Hyderab

fisherman. Nooral Mirbahar died during the reign of

mystics and started singing at different shrines of Su

folk singers.He frequently paid visits to the shrine of

MY GRANDFATHER’S LIFE STORY

olden days records of births and deaths were not kept in our family but I am

ndfather Nehal Khan Sheikh was probably born in 1919 A.D at village Mena

lage Mena is one of the historical, commercial and cultural villages of Taluk

ometers in the north from Kamber on Kamber-Miro Khan road. It has nearl

ulation of 10,000 souls. This village was founded by Rais Bhanbho Khan M

eloped during Talpur rule and caught fire during British Government of Ind

du temples inside the village. The headman of Hindus was Mukhi Moorand

onged to Moorand Mal, Awat Roy and Chetoo Mal who were businessmen a

a. Mostly the Hindus did trade in gold and grain. The gold bazzar, cloth baz

were very popular in the surroundings.

e ; Mena, Chandia, Syed, Lohar, Soomro, Khuhra, Machhi, Chaki, Malha, M

Mirbahar, Mugheri, Jat, Lashari, Daya, Khokhar, Kori, mangria, Mochi, See

t Primary School was established in village Mena in 1904. The village has 11

leaf cigarette workers whose number is more than 250. The village has alwa

was Swami Dhramdas alias Dharmoon (1804-1916), a Sufi saint. He came

Ram invited him to become his partner in business. During this he was spiri

i a few Kilometers in the west of this village on Kur Dato banks. In Raunti, D

tic songs were sung by Hindu and Muslim singers. In 1847, the elder brothe

enounced from the world and led a secluded life under an old jungle tree loc

san Ram took him to Syed Wasan Shah. He lived in his company for 6 mont

iritual Centre called Dharmoon Darbar. Atal Ram served him with great re

ba Bulha Shah, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and Sachal Sarmast, the well-know

s poetry. He knew Hindu Writing Script. He was also expert in Arabic langu

uetta and Bombay. Sufi Kheraj Mal advised him to live at Larkana where h

ber 1916 at Hyderabad. His disciples took his dead body back to Larkana f

they established Swami Dharamdas Trust. Sheva Mandli Rohri star

led Sangwas from January 1916. Dharmoon never married in his life.

ad Sufi and singer Ram Panjwani. While the well-known Muslim personalit

ino Mashori, Karim Bux Meno, and Dr. Syed Mehmood Shah, a Ph D

n 7.1 magnitude earthquakes destroyed present day Quetta city killing 40,0

ur Barrage was inaugurated by the Government of India. On 28th January 19

and was accepted by Indian Muslims as their new state. Another quake on

my grandfather Nehal Khan Sheikh reached at the age of 25 he fell in love w

enerally told by my elders that my grandfather left his house and vanished a

lity and music. He received his musical training from Nooral Mirbahar, who

Nabi Bux Khan Baloch (1917-2011) has given description of Nooral Mirbaha

yderabad, Sindh 1976. He took music lessons for 10 years from his mas

he reign of General Muhammad Ayoob Khan. Later on, my grandfather mov

rines of Sufi saints throughout the province. He grew long hair and adopted

e shrine of Muhamad Shah Kaheri on Indus banks on opposite side of Larka

16

ily but I am quite sure that my

llage Mena, Taluka Kamber.

s of Taluka Kamber, Sindh. It is 11

t has nearly 400 houses with a

ho Khan Meno during 1700s. It

ent of India. There were 2 large

i Moorand Mal. Three wells

nessmen and landlords of the

, cloth bazzar and sweetmeat

, Malha, Magsi, Gopang, Sheikh,

Mochi, Seendhur, Kunbhar,

llage has 11 mosques and 2 Islamic

always remained under the

He came here in 1827 from Miro

spiritually attached with

Raunti, Diwan Nebho Mal was

lder brother of Swami Dhramdas

gle tree located near his village. He

for 6 months and thence returned

great respects and care. The

known saints of Sindh.

abic language. In his last days he

a where he established a temple

Larkana for cremation. Many of

Rohri started publishing his

in his life. Other important Hindu

ersonalities of the village were

Ph D Scholar.

illing 40,000 dead. The incident

January 1933 the name Pakistan

quake on 31st May 1935 killed

ll in love with a girl. Nothing is

vanished away in the bushes.

bahar, who also lived in the same

Mirbahar in his book on Dodo

m his master Nooral, the

father moved into the company of

nd adopted the costumes of Sufi

de of Larkana.

17

British Viceroy of India Lord Mountbatten visited Pakistan on 3rd June 1947. Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was recommended as the

first Governor General of Pakistan by the then Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Mr. Clement Attlee. On 8th August Pakistan’s National

Flag was approved and finally Pakistan came into being on 14th August 1947. The partition of India in 1947 had brought about a complete

change in the population of village Mena. The Hindus started leaving Sindh and offered their fertile lands to my great grandfather

Muhammad Saffar Sheikh who was already working as a farmer to them. It was a piece of 7 Jarebs of land irrigated by K0or Dato Canal. The

land was later usurped by Sirai Khakan Guramani who was a friend of my grandfather. It is said that Hindus houses were empty for many

years. Some of my elders did not accept the lands of migrating Hindus. After the death of my great grandfather Muhammad Saffar Sheikh his

son Nehal Khan Sheikh became the head of the tribe. He and his other relatives were of this opinion that who would irrigate the lands and

will wait for crops ripe. And who will serve Tapadar and will accompany him with his pony towards Kamber. They used to earn their

livelihood by sowing rice seedlings and cutting reeds at Naurang, Ghari, Hatri, Larkana, Bagirji, Abdoo, Jehaniyan and old Sukkur. They lived

there for 15 to 30 days with their wives and children. In this way each of them earned 50/- to 100/- Rupees each season. From this amount

they bought food, clothes and utensils from Old and New Sukkur.

Due to severe poverty the women of the tribe washed clothes weekly and fortnightly. The women of the family used to grind flour early in the

morning with millstones placed in the houses. Their daily food was boiled rice with milk and other vegetables. They ate fish and beef on eids

and other religious days. They feared that their clothes would be torn if these would be washed again and again. They always lived in thatched

huts because they feared that the roofs of the houses would fall on them and they would be dead. They had sickles and axes for cutting reeds

from jungles. After preparing reed thatched roofs called Patals they would

place on their heads and sold them in Kamber on foot. Some of them had

Bullock carts to carry 30 to 40 Patals for selling these to Larkana instead of

Kamber which earned them much cost. They liked the route of Larkana

because arched bridges of Koor Dato and Noor Wah were difficult for

bullocks to cross from. Sometimes people hired their bullocks for carrying

grain towards different villages and towns. As they were herdsmen therefore

they had plenty of milk, butter and curds. They also dried different

vegetables like turnips for cooking in difficult days. They entertained their

children with sugarcane only. They had cots and mats for sleeping and

pitchers for drinking water.

The house of my grandfather Nehal Khan Sheikh as well as others was

treeless. Old graves, jungle bushes and sands surrounded them. Their

locality was locally known as Sheikhan Wari Buth in the area. It was

completely an unprotected area without fences. All of the village cattle stood

there and relaxed for hours. Edan Wah flowed from its northern side. Umendan Khatoon cut reeds from jungle and prepared Patals for his

household expenditures. His Patals were sold by Wadero Foto Khan Sheikh, Jaro Khan Sheikh and Rasool Bux Sheikh. It is said that

Umendan Khatoon buried the savings in the ground; it’s why she sometimes forgot where the money was hidden. During hot summers she

made grass brooms and sold them door to door. She could get flour in the return from the houses which was cooked by family members. She

was a tall woman with dark complexions. Her teeth had been broken in last of her days. Her house was situated in the north of Eidgah in

village Mena. Wadero Photo Khan and Khabar Khan were brothers to each other. They lived in Shahdadkot while some of their closed

relatives lived in village Bharmi near Shahdadkot. Khabar Khan Sheikh was married to Mai Muradan alias Chhuti Sheikh. They had five

daughters

• Mai Shanul Sheikh: she was previously married to Sabar Khan Sheikh but afterwards. She married Sirai Wajid Ali Khan

Khuhawar, a landlord and her husband’s master. She had two sons 1) Hidayatullah Khan Khuhawar and 2) Nazir Ahmed

Khuhawar.

• Mai Satbhirai Sheikh: She was married to Gul Hassan alias Jaro Khan Guramani in village Mena.

• Mai Ashraf Sheikh: She was married to Wadero Nehal Khan Sheikh who gave birth to 1) Sikander Ali Khan Sheikh 2) Roshan Ali

Sheikh and 3) Ayesha Khatoon Sheikh.

18

• Mai Moomal Sheikh: She was married to Punhal Khan Chandio of village Buthi near Baharam

• Mai Marvi Sheikh: She was earlier married to Lashkri Khan Magsi of village Usman Khokhar near Mena. There she gave birth to 1)

Hasina Magsi and 2) Sakina Magsi. After her husband’s death she was married to Muhammad Ali Guramani of village Mena. Here

she gave birth to 1) Shamshad Begum Guramani 2) Irshad Guramani 3) Asghar Ali Guramani and 4) Balqees Guramani.

My grandmother, Mai Ashraf Khatoon was a simple housewife. His first son was Himat Ali Sheikh who died within a few months after his

birth. Later on my father Sikander Ali Khan was born in 1948. Very soon she gave birth to twins Roshan Ali alias Majan Khan, my uncle and

Ayesha Khatoon, my mother in law. She died in 1960s in a very young age and was buried in Mena graveyard. My grandfather’s mother

Umendan Khatoon started caring little orphans. After her sudden death my grandfather engaged himself fully with music. He was a close

friend of Ustad Gulzar Ali Khan, Ustad Muhammad Juman Sakhirani, Mai Jeevni Gurglo, Allah Wasai Mallah, and Utstad Makhno Faqir

Wadho. Shamshad Sheikh alias Koyal, the wife of Makhno Faqir and mother of Master Manzoor also sang with him. Many times he was

advised to record his songs with Radio Pakistan Hyderabad but he refused to do so. He liked the company of Dadli Sheikh, one of the most

famous singers of Larkana. Haki and Bashi, another two famed Sheikh singers also accompanied him during his trips. He left his house for

many days even months and returned back after so much time. On returning to his house he would distribute his savings to household

members. My aunty Ayesha Sheikh said that his sweet voice was recorded in a reel but nothing is known about this reel or recording. Seeing

my grandfather, some of my father’s cousins Anwer Ali Sheikh and Anwer Khatoon Sheikh later known as Razda Parveen took interest in

singing. Razda Parveen joined Ustad Muhammad Juman and settled at Hyderabad. She has 40 Albums to her credit. She married Bashir

Ahmed Sheikh and gave birth to 1) Muhammad Aslam Sheikh 2) Mushtaque Ahmed Sheikh and 3) Baby Shabana Sheikh. Her daughter Baby

Shabana is famous singer of Hyderabad. While the family of Anwer Ali Sheikh also took singing as their source of livelihood. Both of the

families are connected to this profession till this date.

One year during his stay in the village Mena, Nehal Khan Sheikh went to live beside Sir Shahnawaz Khan Bhutto (1888-1957) Bungalow at

Larkana. Many houses of Sheikh Community lived and earned there. Mirbahars and Brohis were their neighbouers. Peeral Brohi along with

his wife Malkan and their daughter Fatima lived there. My grandfather’s shelter logs were spread on the walls of Al- Murtaza House. Sir

Shahnawaz Khan Bhutto was the father of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (1928-1977) and grandfather of Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto (1953-2007). My

father and his younger brother and sister sometimes climbed up the boundary walls of the bungalow for plucking flowers. Sometimes they

could succeed in plucking flowers while at some occasions they had to bear the scolding of gardeners. My father as well as my aunty tell that

they saw many times to Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Begum Nusrat Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Murtaza Bhutto, Sanam Bhutto and Shahnawaz

Bhutto in their garden.

MY PARENTS & THEIR NEIGHBOUR

On 20th December 1971 Pakistan president General Y

unpredictable and everyone wanted to settle somewh

who was well off at Shahdadkot. It was the time whe

parents to leave Larkana and settle down at Shahdad

My grandfather took all house belongings to Shahda

Road Shahdadkot. There was a small room and stabl

Khan Sheikh, Rasool Bux Sheikh, Rais Tooh Sheikh,

work and made Patals and Tooas. They had their ow

inside the house which were said to be haunted. The

trees beside the main entrance. All neighbouers and

roundabout 5000 feet. An Imambargah (Shia comm

watercourse flowed from Tanwary distry by passing

Finally it turned through Khuzdar Chowk and ran

is situated. It emptied in a lake in which Khanbaha

said that this lake came into existence on account of

Our neighboring houses belonged to Rawat Khan Ma

His hotel was famous where a Black & White TV ente

Khan Magsi left behind a son named Advocate Niaz

belonged to village Abad near Jacobabad. After the c

to village Nao Tharo Wadho and finally settled at Sh

Qamardin. His son Sadardin literary known as Sadar

of Sindhi Adabi Sangat Shahdadkot from many years

was our another neighbor named Muhammad Ilyas

School Shahdadkot.

One of our neighbors was Anwer Ali Chandio who

courtier of Nawab Sir Ghaibi Khan Chandio. Muham

Mashooque Ali Mirjat originally belonged to village

famous wrestler and head of watchmen in Shahdadk

popular in Larkana region. Syed Pir Hisamuddin Ra

home belonged to Muhammad Juman Brohi, who ha

EIGHBOURS IN SHAHDADKOT

My father Sikander Ali Khan was born in 1948 at village Mena.

cousin Ghulam Zuhra Sheikh in 1958. He was only 10 years old

wedding ceremony while my mother was 8 years little girl. The

Dari Muhalla Larkana with extreme simplicity. The guests were

cooked rice and cold water. In return Wadero Photo Khan gave

Khan’s brother called Rasool Bux Sheikh.

General Ayoob Khan was elected president of Pakistan twice in

May 1965 India Pakistan Border fights started which brought a

the countries. During 1965 Indo-Pak War my parents settled th

Murtaza House at Larkana which belonged to Mr. Zulfiqar Ali B

My father told me that one day during that time Naodero Railw

twice and whole of the area was in great fear. On 22nd Septembe

into effect. It was the time when Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto founde

Party (PPP) on 30th November 1967 and became its first chairm

16th December 1971 East Pakistan declared independence with

t General Yahiya Khan resigned as the president of Pakistan. The conditions

tle somewhere with his relatives. One of my father’s relatives was Rais Wajid

time when Hidayatullah Khuhawar, the eldest son of Rais Wajid Ali Khan

at Shahdadkot.

to Shahdadkot and dumped them into an old house near Rawat Magsi Hote

and stable inside the old building. Beside my grandfather’s house there we

oh Sheikh, Yar Muhammad Lashri, Rajab Ali Sheikh and Bashir Ahmed She

d their own donkey carts which were used for carrying reeds. There were

The trees gave a large quantity of red dates annually. A water supply

and our house members filled water from that water point. The total a

hia communal place) was situated beside the house which was named after

y passing through Ratodero chowk down to Mehmood Shah Imambargah b

and ran in front of our houses and finally ended at the place where now Hap

hanbahadur Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar- II would visit for hunting birds and f

account of fort built in defense of Shahdadkot. Its mud was used in the cons

t Khan Magsi, a local broker who belonged to village Sarangani, District Jh

ite TV entertained the people. His wife Sadori Magsi taught Holy Quran to t

Niaz Ali Magsi. Another neighbouer was Ustad Jamaldin Dayo, PST

After the creation of Pakistan he shifted towards village Mena near Kamber

at Shahdadkot. He left behind five sons namely Nizamdin, Imamdin, S

Sadar Jamal Dayo is a famous poet and writer of Shahdadkot. He is on

many years. He entered education department as Primary School teacher on

mad Ilyas Mir Jat who also became a teacher while I was learning at Govt:

who was a descendent of Moulvi Barkat Ali Chandio, a great Arabic and

Muhammad Alam Mir Jat and his sons Madad Ali Mirjat, a local well-

to village Kot Ali Nawaz Khuhawar. They were the descendents of Jamadar

Shahdadkot. The famed folk singer Haaj was his wife whose beauty and sw

uddin Rashdi has given her description in his book Hoo Dothi Hoo Deenh.

hi, who had three sons Intizar Hussain, Zakir Hussain and Mehar Hussain.

19

age Mena. He got married with his

years old at the time of his

The marriage took place at

uests were only served with

Khan gave his daughter to Jaro

n twice in 1960 and 1964. On 25th

brought a great destruction within

settled themselves near Al-

lfiqar Ali Bhutto and his family.

dero Railway Station was bombed

September 1965 a ceasefire went

tto founded Pakistan People’s

irst chairman. After a civil war on

ence with the name of Bangladesh.

conditions were quite

Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar

Ali Khan Khuhawar, urged my

agsi Hotel on Railway Station

there were the houses of Jaro

hmed Sheikh. All of them did reed

re were seven date palm trees

ter supply situated under the shady

The total area of our house was

med after Nooro Loro . A sweet

mbargah beside Railway line.

Happy Home High School

irds and fish through a boat. It is

in the construction of mud fort.

District Jhal Magsi Balochistan.

Quran to the children. Rawat

PST by profession originally

ar Kamber. Later on he moved on

mamdin, Sadardin, Badardin and

He is one of the active members

teacher on 17th August 1987. There

at Govt: (Prov :) Boys High

rabic and Persian scholar and

-known stage artist and

Jamadar Panjo Jat who was a

ty and sweet voice were so

oo Deenh. Another house near our

r Hussain.

Whereas Jaffar Mgasi our neighbouer had two sons

lady. Her husband’s name was Ghulam Rasool Mach

needle with her feet because she was armless. I myse

reddish and heavy. She was fond of Naswar and biri.

president of Pakistan. Comrade Wali Muhammad M

by Veena Shringi. Her son Sikander Ali Magsi was a

Hussain Soomro were also experts in this profession

It is said that there were a great number of huts of

Khuhawar which was famous for Pomegranates tree

Muhammad Haroon Brohi, Habibullah Chandamo, S

Jaffar Magsi were also some of the neighbouers. The

old Hindu Shopkeepers in his appearance. Beside

diehard of PPP in Shahdadkot. On the other hand in

Community. There was a garage of Ustad Lutuf Mast

Abdul Qadir Magsi. The houses of Kalhoros, Chandio

Larkana Bus Stand, Bengal Rice Mills and Railways

was a shed of Old Railway Station Shahdadkot which

water tank for donkey and horse carts. There was ho

from 1947 to 1958. The golden age of this industry w

Haque’s Islamization, Gandasa Culture & downfall p

films in the cinema like Chandoki, Mithra Shaal Mila

2002.

The Prince Cinema started working round about 198

bought this plot from her at meager amount. His anc

on the site but his son Lala Ghulam Muhammad Nia

succeeded in his desire. He himself labored during th

work. The cinema was very famous among the peopl

ticket was very cheap. The films of Muhammad Ali, Z

Abdul Razzak Joyo and his brother Muhammad Asla

employee. Lala left Shahdadkot and finally moved b

Sher Samad Niazi. Currently the owner of the cinem

Shahdadkot.

two sons called Mumtaz and Altaf. There was also house of Mai Phami Mag

Machhi who belonged to Larkana. She would eat meal, drink water, an

myself saw Mai Phami Magsi practically doing all these things. Her ey

r and biri. It is said that she went to perform Hajj on grant of General Zia

ammad Manganhar wrote an article on her life which was aired on All India

agsi was a donkey cart maker. Muhammad Azeem Magsi, Shoukat Hussain

profession.

huts of Nari Wal Chandama faqirs in olden days that lived beside the gard

trees. Bano Punjabi worked there who was murdered later. Imdad Ma

o, Sikander Magsi, Qasim Magsi, Rozi Faqir Sheikh, Durani Sheikh,

There was a shop of Punhal Sheikh whom I saw very old and weak. H

these houses there was house and Rice Mills of Khadim Hussain La

er hand in the opposite side of road there were Municipal shops and houses

Lutuf Mastoi who repaired vehicles of all kinds. At walking distance there

, Chandios and Chakis located in the neighborhood of Mirs bungalow. Nex

Railways Quarters. The other notable buildings were Godown locally know

which was considered to be the center of Rice and other crops supply.

ere was house of Goher Barijo on the present site of Prince Cinema. The gro

industry was under President Ayub Khan (1959-1969). The age of VCR was

downfall period stretch from 1979-1988. My parents and their relatives also

Shaal Milan, Pardesi aen Piyar and Jeejal Maa. The film industry collapsed

about 1980s. Its plot originally belonged to Mai Goher Barijo. Jahan Khan

His ancestral village lay in Mianwali District Punjab. His wish was to con

mmad Niazi was of this opinion that he would build a cinema on that plot

during the construction of the cinema. It is said that a labour was killed d

the people. It showed pictures three times in a day i.e. from 3:00 pm, 7:00

mad Ali, Zeba, Nadim and Shabnam were very popular. The cinema was fu

mmad Aslam Joyo were the cinema painters. Their father was Karim Bux Jo

ly moved back to Mianwali around 2008. He had three sons Sher Bahadur N

cinema property is Shahnawaz Khan Brohi who lives in village Machhi K

20

Phami Magsi, a Physical disabled

k water, and put thread into

Her eyes always seemed to be

Zia-ul-Haq, the then

n All India Radio Sindhi Service

t Hussain Soomro and Iqrar

e the garden of Sardar Ali

Imdad Magsi, Mai Goher Barijo,

ni Sheikh, Moula Bux Bhatti and

weak. He seemed to be model of

ussain Langah, a well-known

nd houses of Baleshahi Sweeping

ce there was a bungalow of Mir

Next to it were Kamber -

known as Diko. Actually it

s supply. There was a cemented

growth of cinema started

VCR was 1970 to 1977. Zia-ul-

also went to see Sindhi

collapsed in Pakistan from 1988-

han Khan Niazi, a rich Pathan

was to construct a grand mosque

that plot. Finally the latter

as killed during the construction

pm, 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Its

ma was functional up till 1990s.

rim Bux Joyo, a Railways

Bahadur Niazi, Sherdil Niazi and

hi Khan Khokhar near

21

In those days, Making Beedi or Leaf Cigarettes was a flourishing profession. A bidi or biri is a thin, Indian cigarette filled with tobacco flake

and wrapped in a tendu or possibly even Bauhinia Racemosa leaf tied with a string at one end. The name is derived from

the Marwari word beeda—a leaf wrapped in betel nuts, herbs, and condiments. The commercial Indian beedi industry saw rapid growth

during the 1930s probably driven by an expansion of tobacco cultivation at the time but also helped by Gandhi's support of Indian industry

and Indian products. My father learnt the profession of biri making from Ustad Punhal Sheikh who was one of his close relatives. After

becoming skilled in this work he earned his bread in Mena, Larkana, Shahdadkot, Ranipur, Sakrand, Khuzdar and Quetta. My father, my

uncles, my brothers and my cousins all were associated with this profession so almost every male of my family took to this profession

eventually I myself was a biri-worker from 1987-1994.

My mother Ghulam Zuhra Sheikh was a housewife. She was simple, house decorating and caring lady. Everyone honored and respected her

due to her loving behavior and attitude to others. She was matchless and exemplary lady even among our distant relatives. She loved my

father. She bore him five sons Ghulam Abbass, Akhter Ali, Javed Ali, Khalid Ali and Aijaz Ali and three daughters called Rozina, Mahtab and

Seema. Rozina and Aijaz died recently and untimely. She recited Holy Quran and told beads on regular basis. She loved my siblings especially

she was attached with me to the core. She passed away in 1986. After her death my father never married again. The couple was in fact an

apple of eye to all my relatives.

Sikander Ali Khan Sheikh=Sikander Ali Khan Sheikh=Sikander Ali Khan Sheikh=Sikander Ali Khan Sheikh=mymymymy fatherfatherfatherfather

22

RESIDENCE AT KHUZDAR BALOCHISTAN…

Khuzdar or Khozdar is a town located in Khuzdar District in Balochistan, Pakistan. Khuzdar is the capital of Khuzdar District, which was

created on 1 March 1974. Previously, Khuzdar was part of Kalat District. A large military complex is near completion near Khuzdar, which

would make it the second largest cantonment in Balochistan, after Quetta. Khuzdar was the capital of the Brahui kingdom of Makran. In the

early 17th century it was part of the Jhalawan kingdom, but it soon fell under the Kingdom of Kalat, where it remained until a series of revolts

during the reign of Khan Khudadad Khan (1857-1893). By 1896, after Khudadad’s death, the authority of Kalat was restored. Under a treaty

with Kalat, the British appointed a political agent at Khuzdar in 1903. British assistance continued until 1947, after which the area was

forcibly made part of Pakistan, and became part of the Baluchistan States Union. When the Baluchistan States Union became Kalat Division,

Khuzdar was established as the divisional headquarters. The divisional administration of Pakistan ended in 2000. Khuzdar was again

established as the Divisional headquarters in June 2009 by the Pakistan People’s Party Government.

It was 1970s when a young man named Wattar Khan Brohi came to my father while he was working at Larkana and asked him to teach him

how to make Biris. He belonged to Channal, a sub clan of Zehri tribe living at Khuzdar. His father Ghulam Rasool Zehri died 4 days before his

birth. When he became 3 years old his mother Ayesha Khatoon also died. After this, his uncle Ghulam Hyder Brohi took care of him. Wattar

Khan Brohi was an orphan with no future planning. At that time my father taught him how to make Biris. He remained one year with my

father like a household member. My father considered him as his brother.

After one year’s period he went back to Khuzdar and opened a shop in 1973. He invited my father for working together at the shop. As my

father had experience and vast friendship with Biri workers so he helped him collecting round about 150 Biri workers at Khuzdar. Most of

them belonged to various parts of Sindh i.e. Shahdadkot, Kamber, Gaji Khuhawar, Ghogharo, Larkana and Mehar areas. Each of them could

earn Rs. 6 on every 1000 pieces of Biri at that time. Presently this rate has reached to Rs. 330/= per 1000. My father in law- Rais Tooh Khan

Sheikh along with Rajab Ali Sheikh and Lal Muhammad Sheikh had also joined him. My father also took me there and my father reminds me

that Wattar Khan Brohi loved and cared me as his own son. Nowadays he has grown rich and owns a general store at Jinnah Road Khuzdar.

He has three sons 1) Aijaz Khan 2) Zuber Khan and 3) Elyas Khan and five daughters named 1) Nasrin 2) Samrin 3) Sumera 4) Afshan and 5)

Sadia. He focused his children and provided them good education. His eldest son Aijaz Ali Brohi holds a key post in Khuzdar Engineering

University. The family lives in Kathan near Khuzdar. Famous Baloch folk singer Akhter Channal is one of his relatives. I saw him in my

present home during his visit in 1980s.

23 Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi

24

THE ASSASINATION OF MR. ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was the first elected democratic prime minister of Pakistan. He had close relations with King Faisal (1906-1975) of

Saudi Arabia. A serious secessionist and rebellious conflict occurred in Balochistan province in 1973. In response, Bhutto ordered Pakistan

Armed Forces an armed action, which was quelled by the Pakistan Armed Forces successfully in 1978 and speeded up economic and political

reform in the region. Bhutto and his party won the parliamentary elections held in 1977. However, in a successful coup d'état led by General

Muhammad Zia-ul-Haque under codename Operation Fair Play; Mr. Bhutto was removed from the office and was held in Central Jail

Rawalpindi (CJR) as General Zia-ul-Haq proclaimed himself as Chief Martial Law Administrator of Pakistan. Mr. Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was

executed in 1979 after the Supreme Court of Pakistan controversially sentenced him to death for authorizing the murder of a political

opponent, in a move that many believe was done under the directives of General Zia

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged on 4th April 1979 at Rawalpindi. His dead body was taken to his ancestral village Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto

through a helicopter. Bhutto ‘children Murtaza and Benazir worked on rallying the international support to release of their father. In all, the

entire Muslim world was silenced on Bhutto's execution, and Libea‘s Gaddafi was in shock after his request was denied and publicly

sympathized Bhutto's family over the loss. Before being hung, Bhutto made a final speech and his last words were: "Oh Lord, help me for... I

am innocent". Many Pakistan's political scientists and historians and the leading U.S. experts such as Ramsey Clark believed that Bhutto's

removal and his execution was a single and most dramatic change in the world politics and a major setback for Soviet Union who failed to

realized the effects of Bhutto's executions, in which, will emerged on Soviet Union's future. Bhutto's death was a turning point of Cold war,

and critical and a breakthrough in world power alignment since World War II. After eight months passed since Bhutto's death, Soviet

Union intervened in Afghanistan that hampered the Soviet economy and led the dissolution of Soviet Union, and United States emerged

as single most powerful country in the world.

All wept and cried on his death because he promoted the poor and farmers. He gave them voice of freedom. It was awakening period hence

whole of the country went into grief and mourning. Our grandfather and his other relatives felt sorry for their beloved leader and went

without eating and drinking for a long time. All male and female Chuhras and Baleshahis (sweeping community) of Shahdadkot rushed

towards Garhi Khuda Bux Bhutto / Naudero to attend funeral prayers of their beloved supporter because many of the sweepers had been

appointed in Shahdadkot Municipality during his rule. The funeral of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was offered at Dargah Mian Ghulam Siddique

Mekan and Eidgah. Riaz Hussain Awan was arrested by Police on funeral prayers announcement openly through loudspeakers.

When I was a child I roamed with my brothers around Shahdadkot Railway Station. People pointed to a large piece of iron and said that it

was a remains of an aircraft in which Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was present. Later on when I grew I felt that it was a part of Railway Engine.

It was Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who built metelled roads, constructed bridges and brought electricity and Water supply to Shahdadkot. He

provided facilities to poor farmers. Donkey carts were introduced in his times and he asked all the people for collective labour. Saifullah

Magsi Branch was dug on his order for tail end farmers of Qubo Saeed Khan and Shahdadkot. In order to curb unemployment, Zulfiquar Ali

Bhutto established Textile Mill at Shahdadkot. Pakistan Army remained in Shahdadkot from 1979 to 1986. I found Bhutto as a hero for my

family and other citizens of Shahdadkot.

25

26

END OF MY GRANDFATHER’S LIFE

My grandfather Nehal Khan Sheikh was now in his 60s. He used to eat good food as he was invited by rich men in their weddings and joyous

occasions. He ate meat, fish and cooked rice with butter and milk. He was quite healthy but in the last of his days he became patient of

Asthma. He showed himself to Dr. Mandho Mal who gave him medicines. He also took herbs but could not recover. My father took him in his

arms to the doctor. He finally died after one year’s treatment. When he died, it was 7th day of holy Muharram and the night he breathed his

last, my father was marking Shia Flag in nearby Imambargah. His dead body was taken to Imambargah and laid into rest in Kurk or Misri

Shah Graveyard in the south of Shahdadkot.

My grandfather’s nature was simple and soft. He used to wear a smiling look. He devoted his whole life for promoting message of Sufi saints

through music. His dress was simple. He mostly wore colorful loincloth. In winter, he wore black coat. He always put Boski turban on his

head. He wore shoes and sandals and was highly respected by the people. His facial complexions were wheat colored. He was fond of puffing

leaf cigarettes and sometimes used Hubble-bubble. When he died, my younger sister Mahtab alias Marvi had been born. His songs were

recorded on tape but none of these are available now. In August 1979 highest monthly rain 792.2 mm at Thar was recorded. In Shahdadkot it

rained 3 months continuously. My grandfather died on 7th Muharram 1400 AH. / 27th November 1979 AD. It was cold winter season at that

time.

27

MEMORIES…

28

29

THE FALL OF AMERICAN SKYLAB ON EARTH

One of remarkable incidents of my life in childhood was the fall of Skylab. The Skylab was a space station launched and operated

by NASA, the space agency of the United States. Skylab orbited the Earth from 1973 to 1979, and included a workshop, a solar

observatory, and other systems. It was launched unmanned by a modified Saturn V rocket, with a mass of 169,950 pounds (77 tons/ 1925).

On July 11, 1979, the American Skylab Satellite fell on the western part of Australia. However, for a few days before its fall, the parts of the

earth on its route generally were tense, nervous, apprehensive and frightened. Pakistan Radio and Television had inadvertently suggested

that the Skylab might fall anywhere on the Indo Pakistan and Bangladesh subcontinent.

In Pakistan, people in general but especially women, had come to believe that Doomsday was close. A number of people left their normal

activities and spent all their time praying in the mosques. There was a general atmosphere of hopelessness and senselessness but of enhanced

religious fervor. During the waking hours people either talked about the Skylab in an apprehensive tone or kept on thinking about its fall.

Fortunately, however, Pakistani’s faith in God and in life hereafter kept them resigned to whatever might happen and this attitude prevented

any sign of panic behavior.

My family and Shahdadkot citizens were also in great fear due to the fall of Skylab. They would say that women would die on 27th of Ramadan

and men would bury them but who would be available to dig out graves for men on eid day?! Many men and women as well as children died

in this fear and turmoil in Sindh. Islamic Republic of Iran was established in December 1979 under the leadership of Ayatullah Khomeini

(1902-1989). The public talked about Iranian revolution everywhere which gave strength to Shia community in Shahdadkot too.

The SkylabThe SkylabThe SkylabThe Skylab

30

SHIFTING FROM OLD HOUSE TO PRESENT HOME

Our old house was located on Railway Station Road Shahdadkot. The house contained 2 rooms

and a big courtyard with groves of date palm trees. There was my grandfather’s fruit shop beside

my father’s cabin. The Prince Cinema which was center of peoples gatherings, stood at some

distance on the same road. The area used to be very busy in the evening when Cinema night

shows started. Vendors lined up on the road and sold their items.

There was a well locally called a Charkhi from which my grandfather would draw water for

drinking purposes before the Water Supply connection in the town. I remember those days when

we used to track far distance from our house to nearby railway station for merry making. There

we played games and plucked flowers. We waved bye-bye to every vehicle that passed by our

house and in response we enjoyed a lot. We sang songs for aero plane that flew in the sky. We

used to see gigantic National Logistics Cell (NLC) Trawlers carrying machinery and other goods

of Shahdadkot Textile Mills. It was the time when inventions of modern Science & Technology

were entering into public life. Radio, Television, VCR and Telephone were the most recent

discoveries that the residents of the city had. Cars, Ford Wagons and Buses transported the

people from one place to another and making the journey faster. Horse Carts (Tanga) and Bullock Carts were also commonly used by the

people. In my childhood, the town lightened with electricity and its total population was round about 100,000. Khanbahadur Pir Bux

Khuhawar-II (1903-1978) was the most influential personality and he was master of each and everyone. His word was law in the city. Love,

peace and prosperity ruled the area because of his fear and strictness.

Another important event of the era was the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana that took place in 1981. In 1982 I used to watch news

of Lebanon Israel War on black and White television at Rawat Magsi Hotel. We shifted in present house in the beginning of 1982. My father

took me to Ustad Lutuf Mastoi who was owner of a garage near my previous house in order to make me a good mechanic in the future.

Though I was of very little age for the work but my father took me there in order to pass my time. One day while working I hurt my toe and it

bleed bitterly by uprooting my foot nail but I still continued working there. One day an audio cassette of Imdad, a senior worker was missed

there. I was blamed for it. I tried a lot to prove my innocence but was rebuked. This incident broke my heart and I left the work.

Since 1980s Yar Muhammad Sheikh, the owner of Shezan Shahdadkot Hotel lodged a false claim of our house against my father and other

relatives. My grandfather and his close relative Muhammad Khan Sheikh continuously went for hearings in Kamber Civil Court for 3 years. In

this crucial situation, our neighbors kept a bad eye on our house for occupying it. They started making plans against us. Three of the Magsi

Bodyguards of an influential person in the city occupied our house early in the morning. My father had arrived from Khuzdar on that day. He

was told whole the situation by Sirai Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar and other kiths and kins. Later on, the Magsis paid an amount of 27,000

Rupees to Sirai Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar for the occupation which was quite handsome amount of that time. In the result of this situation,

my family went into bitter agony. They were helpless and homeless but sooner Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar offered them a deserted Hindu

house situated beside his Haveli near Qazi Mosque Shahdadkot because he had taken the amount of 27000 from Magsis on behalf of my

father for our home.

My family shifted to present house in early 1982 through a truck and unloaded household belongings at the courtyard of the house. It was

very old house and in dilapidated condition. So my father demolished it and constructed a room and a large veranda. When our house

reached at the roof, Sirai Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar passed away on 15th May 1982. On his death my family underwent heartfelt pain because

he was so kind to them. He was buried in Tajar Graveyard where his father had constructed a burial chamber for his wives and other family

members in 1930s. The building of the graveyard was a remarkable structure with Mughal Patterns. I saw him while our house construction

work was under way. He was short and he would put on Jinnah Cap on his head. He was of wheatish complexion. After some days of his

burial my father once again started the construction work and finalized the house. Actually it was an Evacuee Property left by a Hindu named

Hiro Mal S/o Deo Mal. Its city survey number was 1255 Ward B. Its total area was 345 yards. It had a big room and courtyard with 3

entrances. A cattle shade was also situated in its southern side. The construction work was started by chief mason Abdul Latif Lashari, who

was my father’s friend. While demolishing old building many Black Cobras came out of their hidings. Abdul Latif caught these snakes with his

hands and put Naswar in their mouths. By this, the snakes started shivering and died at once. It was the scene which I have never forgotten.

Since then I have also been killing many poisonous snakes in the house.

31

My grandfather’s sister Qaiman Khatoon died soon after we settled in new house. She was married to Wadero Photo Khan Sheikh. My mother

served her with extreme respect and honur. Qaiman Khatoon was in habit of puffing Hubble bubble. She loved and kissed me a lot because I

had been given name of her deceased husband Wadero Photo Khan. She was with dark complexion. As she was severely ill therefore she was

brought from Larkana to her brother’s house in Shahdadkot where she breathed her last and was buried beside her brother in Kurk or Syed

Misri Shah Graveyard. I still recall that she would emphasize me to shoulder her dead body while taking it to graveyard. It was the year 1983.

Our new neighbourers were Sheikhs, Pathans, Punjabis, Khuhawars, Chandios, Mugheris, Channas and Hindus. The house beside our

northern side belonged to an old Sheikh Lady called Hajani. She sold clothes in the city. She had many young and beautiful daughters. A

black and white television was in her house. We all brothers and sisters used to watch dramas in their house. The lady had no male family

members at that time therefore one of the rented shopkeepers succeeded in getting control of the property on the meager amount. Beside the

house of old Sheikh Lady there was the house of Muhammad Ali Kharani. His family sold fried soft food on cart on the main road. Her

mother was so frank with my mother as a neighbourer. The women of our house used lipstick pasted on wooden pieces. Their sandals were

made of hard wood. My mother did Kitchen gardening and grew Brinjals, Onions, Garlic, Chilies, Cauliflower and other vegetables.

There was a house of Habib Pathan beside ours. They were engaged in making and selling of Iron Trunks. The family lived above the shop. I

saw an old lady there who always chewed Betal nuts and leaves. Though her house was small but it was full of bags, utensils and other

household items. I still remember that they had beautiful Parrots and Cats in their home. I usually went there to see these Parrots and cats.

Very near to this house there was residence of Chaman Qureshi and his brother called Nanho Qureshi. One brother had business of iron

trunks while another was Watch maker. After some time a dispute arose among both brothers and finally they were separated. The Chaman

House was very small but attractive. He had 3 sons named Rehan, Rizwan and Arsalan and 6 daughters Shama, Shabana, Kousar, Hina, Sana

and Farida who were all educated. One of them was a teacher in KG Primary School Shahdadkot. Lessons of Holy Quran were held in their

house daily in the evening. Opposite to Chaman house there was a shop where Cotton was cleaned. Muhammad Ali Channa alias Mamoo was

its owner. Beside this shop there were the graves of Qazi family in decaying condition.

The children of Chaman were our close friends. They used to come in our house and played with us. The family of Chaman specially his wife

Fatima always remembered us on eids and other happy occasions. She would send us meals and sweetmeats on such events. We also took

care of them as they had fear of thieves from our side of home which was actually an open plot spread on thousands of square feet. My father

in law Rais Tooh Sheikh’s thatched hut was situated beside the Hindu house of Lachhi Bai which was started from the end of Chaman’s

residence. Other houses of Chandios and Mugheris were at a distance from us. The Mugheris had lands and Al Shakoor Hotel near Khuzdar

Bus stand in Shahdadkot. While the only Chandio house belonged to the family of Ahmed Ali Chandio. He was employed in Sindh Police. He

left behind one son and a daughter named Salim Raza Chandio and Noor Jehan Chandio. Both of them have worked in NGOs.

The building looked like a compartment of train. The Garanths were placed in her house. She was considered to be a pious lady. Every one

respected and honored her. She was aged women and her husband was also tall man with meek nature. I saw him buying vegetables and

fruits from bazzar. Round about 30 to 40 women came to their house daily for religious gatherings. Veena Shringi has mentioned Lachhi Mai

in his Reminiscences published from New Delhi 1984. She had sons and daughters. Among these Mr. Sukhdev Gurnani was famous who

became a lecturer at Govt: Boys Degree College Shahdadkot. I saw him combing his hair beside window that opened into our house. His sons

Dr. Rajesh Kumar, Mahesh Kumar, and Suresh Kumar studied at Government Mehran Primary School Shahdadkot.

32

The residents of this house were rich in gold and money. Our cricket ball usually went inside their neat & clean house. Though my family was

illiterate in their eyes yet they never looked down upon us. One day thieves entered their home but failed to take away anything because of the

cries that awakened the whole neighborhood including ours. After this incident this Hindu family protected their house with electric fence

and shifted away. They sold the property to Hajji Lal Bux Soomro in Rs2, 70,000 in 1986-87. He had 4 sons namely Qurban Ali, Imdad Ali,

Deedar Ali and Nadir Ali. The family had blood relations with Ustad Peeral Kamber (1933-1994), the famed poet of Shahdadkot. The houses

of Dr. Nazir Ahmed Jarwar, Dr. Sobdar Jarwar and Syed Raunaq Ali Shah were also situated in this area on main road. The house of another

Hindu shopkeeper Sunder was also situated in the western side. His daughters and sons also played with us. He prepared Lai (Sweetmeat) at

his shop along with his other assistants. His sons Sunil Kumar and Ravi Kumar were my brother’s friends. Their friendship was mostly about

Indian films as we had obtained a VCR connection from them. I myself went to their house many times.

The grinding machine of Moulvi Abdul Qadir Khoso was located in our street. He was tall man with white beard dyed with hena. I saw many

rare Arabic and Persian books in his hands while he worked in the machine. He was a religious man. In front of him were some carpenters

shops that belonged to Moula Bux Soomro, Gahi Khan Soomro, Ali Goher Patoojo, Muhammad Pariyal Soomro and Moriyo Soomro. Besides

these shops, there was a Shifakhana of a Doctor and residence of Muhammad Khan Magsi. After some time this residence was rented by a

dramatic group of city under Mirani’s supervision. From this point of location started the Maqbool Khuhawar Rice Mills and houses of Rais

Feroz Khan Khuhawar. During my primary education I used to go to this mill and did preparations of my exams in the evening. The labourers

took bath from the water tank after finishing their work here. The large houses of Khuhawars were decorated with deer horns.

The Qazi Mosque was built by Qazi family in mid 19th century. The Qazis were the assistants to Khuhawars in Shahdadkot and kept their

lands record. They had come from village Tando Murad Ali Khuhawar along with Khanbahadur Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar-I. Some of the

graves of Qazis were situated under a large Neem tree which were given a boundary wall later by Captain Dr. Abdul Hameed Qazi. The

children were taught Holy Quran by Ustad Ghulam Abbass Imam of the mosque. Now a day’s Moulvi Ghulam Asgher Solangi is performing

this duty. The caretaker of the mosque was Hajji Sardar Ali Khan Khuhawar who has passed away recently in July 2013. The shop of

Muhammad Ali Kalhoro was opposite to Qazi Mosque where he sold different scented oils.

During my childhood, I collected many toys by stealing through a shop located near Qazi Mosque. My elder sister Rozina would talk to the

shopkeeper while I would hide these toys behind my back. We were never caught by the shopkeeper but soon we were fed up with this

practice because my father bought us many toys. There were the shops of Murad Sheikh and Hidayatullah Sheikh near Qazi mosque. Sunder

Nagdev made delicious sweet meal called Lai in Sindhi. The people purchased oil from Ghulam Hussain Alvi’s shop. His son Ghulam Kamber

sold candies and biscuits on a cabin. We bought Indian Stars photographs from him. A Pipal Tree stood high near to it. The tree gave cool

shade to the labour working under the tree in the Shahi Bazzar. In my childhood, I used to play with puppies and cats roaming inside the

house and in the nearby streets. I along with my brothers and sisters collected cold drink covers from the town. There were many Rabbits,

hedgehogs, squirrels, frogs, owls, cuckoos, Pigeons, doves, Sparrows, dragonflies and Wasps in our house. Our house looked like a habitation

in the woods. The mushrooms grew on the mounds and owls owled in old date palm trees. We tried to offer milk to hedgehogs at night

because it was said that their presence is a good sign for luck. We had kept Parrots in cages that ate green chilies and tomatoes most.

33

THE LIFE, WORKS AND DESCENDENTS OF RAIS WAJID ALI KHAN KHUHAWAR

Rais Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar was an influential landholder who owned fertile lands in Shahdadkot, Miro Khan and Qubo Saeed Khan

Talukas in Larkana district. His father Sirai Muhammad Bux Khan Khuhawar-I, who was son of Khanbahadur Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar-I,

died in 1932. He married from Khuhawar, Pathan and Chaki tribes of Shahdadkot and Shikarpur. He left behind 6 sons named 1)

Khanbahadur Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar-II 2) Feroz Khan Khuhawar 3) Yar Muhammad Khan Khuhawar 4) Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar 5)

Safdar Ali Khan Khuhawar and 6) Imdad Hussain Khan Khuhawar. Most of them were philanthropists and played their vital role in the

development of Shahdadkot. The great grandfather of Rais Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar, Sirai Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar-I, was a local tribal chief

and he descended from Mian Dato Khuhawar who was a celebrated minister of Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro (1701-1719) and his son Mian

Noor Muhammad Kalhoro(1719-1753), the Kalhora rulers of Sindh .

Sirai Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar-I was a socio-political and public spirited Zamindar. He had close relations with Sir John Keane who was

Commander In chief of British Army. Sir John Keane drew supplies from Shahdadkot for his Army on advancing towards Afghanistan, during

first Anglo Afghan War in 1840. During that time Shahdadkot was badly hit by River Indus floods and everything was washed away in the

whole area. Another important friend of Khanbahadur Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar-I, was General John Jacob who established many out posts to

protect Upper Sindh Frontier from mountain robbers. These outposts guarded the border from 1839 to 1858 through Dost Ali, Shahdadkot,

Garhi Khero, Rojhan, Khangarh (Jacobabad), Dilmurad, Garhi Hassan, Tangwani, Kandhkot, Kumri and Kashmore posts. He constructed

roads, bridges and canals to develop Garhi Khero, Shahdadkot, Kamber and Larkana areas and brought peace and trade in a turmoil

conditions in the land. General John Jacob died in 1858 at Jacobabad. After 1858 Khan Bahadur Pir Bakhsh Khan Khuhawar-I took

initiatives to rehabilitate Shahdadkot town. He also brought illustrious saint and scholar Mian Noor Muhammad Mekan, his family members,

disciples and other Hindu traders from Village Kanda / Balochistan to Mirokhan on 60 Bullock carts and made arrangements for their houses

in the town. Soon after, Shahdadkot was again hit by a great flood disaster in 1874.

According to A.W.Hughes, “Shahdadpur was a Government town in Kamber taluka of the Larkana Deputy Collectorate in 1874 and, distant

about 30 miles north-north-west from Larkana. It was seated on the west bank of the Dato-Ji-Kur Canal, and had road communications with

Kamber, Garhi Khairo Jamali, and Hamal, and was the Head-quarter Station of a Tapadar. The population, in number was about 783,

comprised 464 Muslims of the Pirzada, Kalhora, Lashari, Sial, Magsi and Muhana tribes. The remainder (319) being Hindus. The chief man

of note in this place was Pir Bakhsh Khuhawar, a very influential and public spirited Zamindar, who had done much towards raising this town

to its former prosperity.” (Gazetteer of the Province of Sind: Compiled by A.W. Hughes, F.R.G.S., F.S, Bombay UNCOV Civil Service, London

George Bell and Sons, York Street, Covent Garden , 1876). A Certificate was awarded to Khanbahadur Sirai Pir Bux Khan Khuhawar- I, in the

name of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, Empress of India by Governor General of Bombay and Viceroy of India on 1st January 1878 AD for his

loyalty and good services as a landholder of Sindh. Shahdadkot was made a taluka of District Upper Sindh Frontier/Jacobabad in 1883-84. It

was separated from Jacobabad District in 1932 and was made a taluka of Larkana district. There was a major role of Khanbahadur Sirai Pir

Bux Khan Khuhawar- I, in making Shahdadkot as a taluka. He had married three wives from Khuhawar, Ghaloo and Chandio tribes who bore

him two sons namely Muhammad Ali Khan Khuhawar-I and Muhammad Bux Khan Khuhawar-I.

The haveli of Sirai Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar was divided into 2 parts. Both houses belonged to her wives. The haveli was built before 1942

great flood disaster. Its walls were strong and of attractive designs. The courtyard of both houses was covered with Mimosa and Ber trees.

Birds twittered on the trees and their shadow was very pleasant. The ceiling of the haveli was made up of black wood. Its upper part was

connected with a staircase. The vaulted doors were so beautiful and wide. Peacocks sang whole day in the old building. It was the efforts of

Rais Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar that a Primary school was opened on 5th May 1963 after his name which was later called as Government

Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot. He started the school in his own building opposite to Tharo Khan Sheikh Mosque. The earliest Head

Master of the school was Mr. Ali Gohar Mastoi. While other teaching staff was Juma Khan Thahim, Muhammad Bux Umrani, Muhammad

Yousif Soomro and Abdul Rasheed Soomro. Later on this school was shifted in present building where a fish market earlier existed. Now the

school has five rooms building reconstructed and inaugurated by Mir Nadir Ali Khan Magsi, in 1995.

34

One day, I went to fetch water from haveli along with my sister. I saw there a middle aged teacher who was sitting in the chair. He was

teaching English to Miss Naheed Khuhawar the youngest daughter of Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar at the corner of haveli. She had long hair and

a charming face. Later on I came to know that the teacher was Mr. Abdul Sami Arain. He was a senior teacher at Govt: Prov: High School

Shahdadkot. He also taught me English in VI Class in 1987. He died recently in on 4th February 2012 at Lahore. His son Dr. Javed Arain is

Captain in Pakistan Army while his daughter lives in Canada. Miss Naheed Khuhawar has reconstructed her old haveli in a bungalow. Her

only real brother Amjed Ali Khuhawar was addicted to drugs. He died recently before his fixed marriage. Sirai Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar had

married Aman Khatoon Chandio, Shanul Sheikh and Khursheed Begum Khuhawar. He had three sons named Hidayatullah Khuhawar,

Nazeer Ahmed Khuhawar and Amjed Ali Khuhawar. He passed away on 15th May 1982.

Madam Naheed Khuhawar took part in 2013 elections on PS 40 Shahdadkot, Sijawal Junejo and Qubo Saeed Khan from PML

(F) Platform. Election Commission of Pakistan declared following results of PS 40; Mir Nadir Ali Khan Magsi 36,555, Mir Ghaibi Khan

Mugheri 13880 and Naheed Wajid Khuhawar 3278 votes. Though she could not win elections yet she made a breakthrough by taking part

into politics in Shahdadkot. It was in fact a great change in the community like Khuhawar which she belonged to. After elections she went to

Saudi Arabia to perform Umera in July 2013. She holds 118 Acres of agricultural land in Shahdadkot.

Names of some notable people who got primary education from Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot are as under; Dr. Muslim

Khoso, Manzoor Ahmed Bhutto, Dr. Latif Akber Sheikh, Dr. Shahnawaz Sheikh, Dr. Barkat Silro, Dr. Razia Jarwar, Dr. Muzaffar Silro, Dr.

Sumera Niaz Solangi, Dr. Nadir Khoso, Maqbool Ahmed Shahani, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Gurnani, Riaz Hussain Ganwas, Zamir Hussain Kharal,

Hajul Silro, Professor Khalid Hussain Channa, Sikander Ali Sheikh, Shahid Hussain Abbassi, Liaqat Ali Channa, Abdul Razzaque Channa,

Juned Ali Soomro etc. Mr. Abid Hussain Wadho is presently serving as Head Master of Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot.

Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot

35

HARRASMENT ON THE MURDER OF SILRA BROTHERS IN SHAHDADKOT-20th

JANUARY 1982

Another important incident that took place was the murder of Silra brothers in Shahdadkot. Shah Muhammad Silro and his son

Muhammad Ameen Silro were murdered in Shahdadkot by an unknown killer through dagger knife. While their father Allan Khan Silro was

badly injured. The city was in grief due to this murder and a wave of fear arose in the city which persisted for long. Whole the city was closed

due to fear and this harassment. Murder was unexpected thing in Shahdadkot at that time. It was the day of 20th January 1982. One of the

killed people was a worker in Shahdadkot Textile Mills. Therefore the family of the victims went to the mills for seeking support from labour

union.

Police arrested Abdul Aziz Silro in this case who spent many of his life years in prison. He remained in Jails from 1982 to 1985 and second

time from 1992 to 1998. He taught us Sindhi in 1991 as a Subject teacher in Government Prov: High School Shahdadkot. Professor Abdul

Latif Silro is the brother of both above victims. Mr. Abdul Aziz Silro encouraged us in our lessons while we were students of IX Class. It is said

that he was a well off in the area and had transport vehicles in partnership with Wadero Adal Silro. It is said that the killer was rented and his

name was Shamoo Kharani who was from Kamber. He was also imprisoned for three years or more. Mr. Abdul Aziz Silro had 4 sons and 7

daughters.

One of them was Miss Hajul Silro who worked with in NGOs Development Society (NDS) Shahdadkot from 2006 to 2009. I found her bold,

laborious and caring person. Her struggle for the empowerment of women in the district is worth appreciating. She teaches at Government

Girls High School village Silra near Shahdadkot. She is one of those females in Shahdadkot who are socially and politically a role model for

the new generation to follow.

36

THE OLD TREES & THE GHOSTS

There were many old Mimosa, Date Palm and Ber Trees in our house. Some of them were haunted with ghosts. The Date Palm Tree is worth

mentioning in this regards. Actually it was a grove of five seeds with large and scattered branches and leaves. Many ghosts lived there. Old

men and women of our family paid homage to the Date Palm Trees and kept special cleanliness around the grove. We the children also

thought it holy site like a shrine and swept the area all the time and burnt fragrance sticks. My family members tell that when my parents

would sleep at night, the ghosts would carry me away and played with me. When they awoke they found me smiling and playing in the

courtyard at the dead of night.

Yar Muhammad Lashari, the husband of Mai Kauri Sheikh was said to be the master of ghosts that lived in the graveyard of Hafiz Natho. It is

said that Hafiz was disciple of Mian Ghulam Siddique (1844-1905) of Shahdadkot. Mai Syedan Sheikh, one of our relatives from paternal

side, had ghosts in her control. Some of them were named as Mirchoo, Muhammad Pannah and Mandiro. The ghost’s entered into the bodies

of our relatives who moved their heads in meditation. Afterwards they were served with Piyalo or bowl of water filled with ashes of fire. It was

like a cold drink to them that brought them again to the normal life. Yar Muhammad Lashari was brother in law of my maternal grandfather

Jaro Khan Sheikh and his brother Rasool Bux Sheikh. Both of them had no children except my mother. Many of our family members saw

white dressed ghosts wandering in our house and thatched huts. They are said to be of low height and black colour with long hair. Their eyes

were fixed in their heads. Our whole family honored and gave respects to the ghosts living in the trees.

Old Yar Muhammad Sheikh always talked about a rare and precious book named Kokapind which was actually used by Hindu priests to

control spirits and handle day today matters according to their wishes. He said that it was the book of great value, magic and rituals. He

wanted to transfer his ghosts to me but my parents refused him. He originally belonged to village Muhammad Khan Bhutto. He died childless

in Shahdadkot. After his death all his relatives took his body to the above village and buried him in an old grave yard situated at the banks of

Edan Wah. He was considered as a pious man and till this day our relatives visit his grave annually. My elders were in Ghost phobia since

long time. We were fed with ghost stories by our aunty and other female relatives. We did not venture out of doors after dark due to ghosts

fear living in the old trees of our house.

37

ABOUT SYDES OF ROHRI

Our house was hub of Syeds, Beggars and Transgender who came there on different occasions. Syed Shah Jehanian of village Doonhon/

Rohri paid his visits to our community annually and collected a handsome amount from his followers. The Syed was accompanied by his

Khalifa and other persons. They lived 2 to 3 days in the house. Beautiful Quilts and pillows were spread for them. All household members sat

on mats while the Syed was placed on a cot. Special dishes like meat, fish and rice were prepared in the honor of the religious guides. Each of

the married members was bound to pay annual donation as a sign of gift. Without cash the Syeds also took hens, cocks and goats from their

followers. They told my elders that Muhammad ibn Al-Hanafia (633-700 AD) , the son of Imam Ali (AS) will rule over the world before the

judgment day. I saw these Syeds many times in my house. They were said to be our ancestral Murshids for last many centuries. None of them

impressed me. I saw them only collecting annual gifts and having delicious foods during their stay at Shahdadkot. Last time I saw Syed

Sharfan Shah Jahanian who was brother of Syed Shah Jehanian. He was stutterer. Rohri is famous for Muharram Al Haram processions.

38

SIDKLI-A FAMILY MAN

Besides these Syeds, my house was also centre of some beggars. One of them was Siddique Ali alias Sidkli Mirasi, an old man of 70 years

approximately. He sang with my grandfather and belonged to Dadu. He wore long rings in his ears. He was short but of fair skin. He had an

Iron Stick for walking and a bowl for alms. He was accompanied by a blind companion who had beard on his dark face. Most of children

feared from him. Sidkli, after returning from bazzar gave us bananas, oranges and olives as a token of love. He also gave us white coins as

pocket money. He stayed for a week or two in our house and returned back with his companion to his native town.

It was the period of 1982-83 when we went to Larkana on the circumcision ceremony of the sons of Atta Muhammad Sheikh, who had a cold

drink shop in Jiles Bazzar at Larkana. His father Sojhro and mother Rani were poor vendors who sold edible items in the streets. Atta

Muhammad Sheikh had three brothers Abdul Ghafoor, Muhammad Hassan and Mirza. At that time this family was very rich and famous. On

the celebration day they threw hundreds of coins over the participants of the event. It made happy to children as they collected coins in great

number. The children of this family studied in different schools. I saw there Arabic Text Book of 6th Class in a room. Atta Muhammad’s son in

law Qasim addicted to drugs hence he divorced his young wife Sughera who was married to another person later.

39

THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, MUHARAM PROCESSIONS AND HOLY SHRINES

On the birth of children many of Transgender Community members came to our house for gifts and money. They mostly demanded for

beautiful dresses. My parents gave them such dresses and money in the return of blessings. Aloo Khadro Dayo was their head in Shahdadkot.

The only annual festival in our area was of Syed Hakim Ali Shah Pat Waro near Bahram on Shahdadkot Kamber Road at the distance of 15

Kms. I went there with my elder brothers who were fond of visiting this annual celebration. We bought colorful foamed caps and sweetmeats

from the Mela. In this festival, we entertained ourselves through magic shows, dances, wrestling matches, and animal’s shows. My father

would also install a cabin there and earn handsome amount in three days.

We used to buy pieces of wood from a nearby shop fixed on a big thatched hut beside present Bago Daro Stand. In the absence of wood

sometimes we also used buffalo dung for cooking. My aunty told us stories of fairies, ghosts and demons in cold winter nights when there was

no electricity in our house. She told us that Sun and the Moon were brothers to each other. One day their mother was taking bath. The Sun

rushed towards her disturbing her privacy. She cursed Sun that it would always burn. Similarly the moon also came there on the same day but

it hid himself while its mother was taking bath. Finding this mother of both Sun and the Moon blessed moon with charming Moonlight. She

said that rest of the world would love the moonlight.

Regarding earthquakes older people of my family told me that a heavy and powerful bull has taken earth on its horns. Whenever he changes

the horn the earthquake comes and brings the destruction in the world. We used lanterns filled with Kerosene oil at night. Our relatives also

told us the stories of Kings, queens and the princes. Some of these mythical and folk stories were of Lal Badshah, Chhateeh Lakhno, Bateeh

Lakhno, Bhol Rani, Sassui Punhoon and Umer Marvi etc. My family was spiritually attached to Qalander Lal Shahbaz, Shah Latif and Sachal

Sarmast. They elders of the family annually visited the shrines of Mian Ghulam Siddique Mekan, Mian Shahal Muhammad Kalhoro, Yousif

Shah Jilani, Pir Jan Muhammad of Naodero, Aalo Sain and Shah Godrio. They were also followers of Mianwal Movement started by Mian

Adam Shah Kalhoro in Sindh.

40

MY UNCLE’S WEDDING AT VILLAGE RAUNTI NEAR KAMBER

One of the important events in my family history was the wedding of my Uncle Roshan Ali alias Majan Khan Sheikh which took place in

1983-84 at village Raunti, 12 Km in the north of Kamber city. It comprises 250 houses with a 6000 population. Presently Kalhora,

Manganhar, Hajam, Hulia, Sheikh, Chandia, Syed, Bhatti, and Channa tribes live in the village. Raunti was a ferry on the banks of Koor Dato

Canal. Its neighbouring villages are Allahdino Chandio, Hasula, Mubarak Kalhoro, Mena, Jhinjh and Kot Ghulam Shah.

The village is said to be founded by Mai Raunti, a Hindu woman who traded in livestock during 17th Century AD. Later on Kalhora tribe

stteled here with the efforts of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. Rais Pariyal Khan Kalhoro was a famous landholder of this village. He was

son of Chholi Khan Kalhoro. Their agricultural lands stretched from Raunti to Imam Bux Jamali near Shahdadkot. Mahraj Gopi Krishan

Shringi (1910-1992), the first Chairman of Shahdadkot Municipality had also lands in Mairi, Raunti and Tando Murad Ali Khuhawar. Its

Irrigation Bungalows were constructed in 1903. In 1945, Shamsuddin Kalhoro, Din Muhammad Bhatti and Illahi Bux Manganhar were

famous wrestlers. Hindus left the village after the partition of 1947. Stage dramas started in 1965. Walan Sheikh, Gulan Sheikh and Peeral

Sheikh played music in stage dramas such as Suhni Mehar, Ishaq-e-Laila and Sassui Punhoon. While Razi Sheikh, Bagh Ali Sheikh and

Dilmurad Sheikh were famous folk singers of the village. They mostly entertained people on the shrine of Syed Misri Shah Bukhari whose

tomb stood on large sandy dunes in the south of village.

My father’s close relatives like Budhal Sheikh, Mula Muhammad Saffaer Sheikh, Arbab Sheikh, Mehar Sheikh,Gulzar Sheikh and Sadoro

Sheikh advised him to arrange grooms programme at village Raunti which was near to Kot Ghualm Shah. The bride was Zarina Khatoon

Sheikh, the daughter of Kauro Khan Sheikh. The Marriage procession reached Raunti through donkey carts from which 5 wagons were hired

for Kot Ghulam Shah. The wedding ceremony took place in village Kot Ghualm Shah. The guests had also come from Miro Khan, Kamber and

Larkana. Lady Imam Machhi sang in the programme. Ahmed Khan Sheikh, Muhammad Khan Sheikh, Nooral Sheikh, Muhammad Achar

Sheikh, Wazir Muhammad Sheikh, and Khamiso Sheikh served the guests with their core of hearts. Sindhi Jhumer (folk dance)was also

performed The special dish of rice and beef was cooked on the occasion. The marriage procession returned back to Shahdadkot on bus.

Roshan Ali alias Majan Khan Sheikh was a minor employee in Sui Gas Company at Larkana. Later on he worked at Rice Mills. During his last

days he quarreled with my father and left Shahdadkot. He went to live in village Kot Ghulam Shah along with his wife. He left behind a son

Muharam Ali Sheikh and a daughter Kalsoom Sheikh. He died in a very young age in TB and was buried in the historical graveyard of Kot

Ghulam Shah village. He was blunt and short tempered by nature. My mother took great care of him and prepared for him buttermilk foods.

He would take me to his wife while he went to cut reeds from jungle early in the morning.

41

MY TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISON…

The Circumcision is derived from Latin word Circumcidere which means "to cut around". It is the surgical removal of the foreskin (prepuce)

from the human penis. According to a survey about one-third of males worldwide are circumcised. The procedure is most prevalent in

the Muslim world and Israel, the United States and parts of Southeast Asia and Africa; it is relatively rare in Europe, Latin America, parts

of Southern Africa and most of Asia. The origin of circumcision is not known with certainty; the oldest documentary evidence for it comes

from ancient Egypt. Circumcision is the world's oldest planned surgical procedure, suggested by Grafton Elliot Smith to be over 15,000 years

old, pre-dating recorded history.

My circumcision ceremony was organized with pomp and show in 1982. A message for the celebration was sent to all of our close relatives

living in Shahdadkot, Miro Khan, Kamber and Larkana areas. It was the winter season. Our relatives had put on pink shawls on their heads

and shoulders. Delicious food was prepared for all the guests and cultural songs were sung. My father’s cousins took me to the Barber with

Red loincloth. I was fully prepared with new dress and scented with talcum powder and henna on my hands and feet. Every male and female

member loved and kissed me. At the time of circumcision my relatives put sweetmeat in my mouth and asked me to look into the sky for

areoplane. I did this and during these seconds they performed well what they had to do. I was circumcised with razor. My penis was bleeding.

They spread powder on it and started its treatment on regular basis. My mother filled a bowl of water and put Neem Tree leaves in it. The

bowl contained hot water and she put me in the bowl and tried to wash my wounds with bird feathers. This act lasted for many days and

finally I was healed. I clearly remembered that I collected a lot of pocket money from my Circumcision. I used to buy carrots Halwa from

nearby Sweetmeat shop every day.

My eldeMy eldeMy eldeMy elder brothers Ghulam Abbass, Akhter Ali, aunty Zarina r brothers Ghulam Abbass, Akhter Ali, aunty Zarina r brothers Ghulam Abbass, Akhter Ali, aunty Zarina r brothers Ghulam Abbass, Akhter Ali, aunty Zarina & me& me& me& me

42

RAYS OF LIGHT

43

44

HOW DID I START MY EDUCATION?

I got my early education from Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot. The

School General Register shows that I was enrolled in school on 18th May 1982. A Cattle

Pound once existed at the site of the school building during British period. After Indo

Pak partition, a fish market was constructed by the government on the same location.

Previously the school was named after Rais Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar which was run

in his plot near haveli. As the number of students grew day by day which was quite

difficult to accommodate under only one room. District Inspector of Schools Larkana

and Deputy Commissioner Larkana ordered Mr. Khuda Bux Soomro to occupy vacant

building of Fish Market due to unavailability of school building on 16th August 1971. In

1972, Honorable Advisor to Governor Sindh Education Department issued an order to

run school at night and change its name from Rais Wajid Ali Khan Khuhawar Primary

School Shahdadkot to Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot. Such copy of

letter was also sent to Chairman PPP Shahdadkot on 15-4-1972. The Janbaz Force

Training was organized for school teachers, Municipal employees, Irrigation staff and citizens since 1974.

Mr. Taj Muhammad Wadho and Mr. Abdul Rasool Mangi and Aijaz Ali Wadho taught us during initial years. Mr. Khuda Bux Soomro

administrated the school at that time. Our classes started with only thirty students, twenty seven boys and three girls. The school assembly

bell rang at 7:30 a.m in the morning. The recess started from 10:30 to 11:00 a.m. While school closing time was 1.00 p.m. In winter season

the school opened with half an hour’s difference. After Assembly we read Yasarna-al-Quran in our classes. The classes were small in size but

these were beautifully decorated with colorful charts, pictures and maps. Abacus for learning counting was also available in primary classes.

Wooden blackboards were hung on walls. There were small utensils filled with water for erasing iron slates. There was a small washroom in

the whole school. There was no proper arrangement for cleaning in and around the school. Students regularly cleaned classes and the school

whereas there was heaps of garbage outside of school. Many people urinated in the drain on southern side where windows of the classes were

fixed. Many naughty students used to watch people urinating from these windows.

Some of our teachers used to puff Cigarettes and Biris in the school and chatted with each other for hours. Once the school headmaster also

issued circular to such teachers by prohibiting them not to do so. There were not chairs for the students neither desks but there were benches

on which usually four to five students were seated and students would sit-upon them like sitting on the horse while writing dictation. Some

students also used these benches as slides in the recess. We drank water from urns and pitchers kept at the corner of the school. We went to

eat meal on nearby hotel during recess beside the Shia Communal place of the dumb. Sometimes we friends enjoyed the delicious beef soup

from an old couple on the road. We also bought edibles from Shamshoo, the vendor. We played different games in the recess. There was no

gender difference. Girls and boys would play together without any difference. As soon as the school closing bell rang the students would rush

forward by shouting out of happiness and would try to get out of the school gate first from the rest of the students. Eventually many students

fell down or stumbled on the ground. Burnt bricks were pitched into the school floor.

My ears got infection during initial classes which usually puss out in the school time. Then my father took me to the doctor for the treatment.

After sometime I recovered. It was a usual scene especially in early primary classes that one or the other student would stool in the dress out

of shyness and fear of the teachers. One day I could not control myself as well and did stool in school uniform. When I reached home I was so

frightened from my family. I stood at the corner of my house but could not dare to go forward. Noticing my anxiety my mother came to me

and realized the scene. She washed me and changed my dress in proper way. My mother had keen interest in Kitchen gardening. She would

grow Onions, Spinach, Brinjals, Tomatoes and Garlic inside the house. She loved flowers so much. I had been assigned the task of watering

vegetables and flowers with my brothers and sisters. We would eat dates and berries from the trees grown in our house.

45

MRD MOVEMENT-SEPTEMBER 1983

The Movement for the Restoration of Democracy (MRD) was a major alliance formed by secular- socialist democratic political forces aiming

to end General Zia-ul-Haque’s martial law and military dictatorship in the country. It was formed in 1981. Within Sindh, however, the

movement had broad support, forcing Zia to send 45,000 troops into the province to suppress the uprising. Between 60 and 200 people were

killed and up to 15,000 were arrested. In Pakistan round about 20,000 Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) workers were killed and between

40,000 to 150,000 people were made political prisoners in crackdown by Zia. The people of Sindh called General Zia as Zialoo out of hatred

and anger. According to simple villagers he had made grain expensive that gave tough time to the poor masses.

On 24th August 1983, at round about 12:30 pm, angry mobs of the city burnt Municipal Committee, WAPDA Office, Municipal Park and

Railway station. According to the Records of RM Larkana Court Crime no 13 of 24-08-1983 mobs of people attacked Shahdadkot Railway

Station and burnt its government records. They also threatened Railways staff present on the site. The mob had guns and sticks in their

hands. The names of the active persons on that day were as follows; 1) Ghulam Mustafa Abdul Karim Chandio 2) Suleman Ghulam Mustafa

Khoso 3) Ali Jan Ali Dost Khoso 4) Sodhal Ali Khan Khaskheli 5) Salim Bux Feroz Khan Khuhawar 6) Asgher Ali Muhammad Siddique

Sheikh 7) Irshad Illahi Bux Sheikh 8) Sajjad Hassan Noor Hussain Alvi Advocate 9) Ghulam Murtaza Hafiz Mehrab Brohi 10) Ghulam Sarwar

Rehmatullah Magsi 11) Muhammad Ramzan Muhammad Mithal Bhayo 12) Muhammad Aslam Shaukat Ali Punjabi and 13) Gul Muhammad

Sherdil Mugheri. The FIR had been lodged by Station Master Railway Station Shahdadkot. The challan was made on 1st October 1985. Later

on the accused persons were released by Muhammad Ashraf Arain, Resident Magistrate Larkana.

Under the leadership of Comrade Jam Saqi, Shaheed Nazeer Abbassi, Imdad Chandio, Sher Muhammad Mangrio and Ghansham Parkash,

the student of 8th Class Momin Jamali of Gandakha gave his arrest in Shahdadkot police Station in 1983. Attaullah Pandrani, Abdul Khalique

Jamali, Attaullah Jamali and Muhammad Yaqoob Brohi were already arrested from their native villages. Ghulam Rasool Brohi and Momin

Jamali were badly tortured by SHO Syed Abid Shah at Police Station Shahdadkot. After 9 days custody all these prisoners including Comrade

Muhammad Uris Silro, Abdul Majeed Silro, Nek Muhammad Silro and Faqir Muhammad Silro were sent to Miro Khan and Ratodero Military

Camps. Later on these political prisoners were sent to Ladies Jail Larkana for further prosecution.

Muhammad Ali Gadahi, a Biri Worker of Shahdadkot also went to Karachi and gave his arrest alongwith journalists, workers, peasants and

students in Azadi-e-Sahafat Movement in 1978. He was badly tortured to death by Pakistan Army Camp at Karachi. Ahfaz-ul-Rehman (1942)

a famous Pakistani journalist, writer and poet was struggling behind this movement for the freedom of press. Once I saw his photograph

hung on the walls of Umer Brohi Biri Workplace near MCB Shahdadkot. In 1984, General Zia-ul-Haque called for a Referendum seeking

approval for his ultra conservative and authoritarian brand of Islamization. Most of the MRD Parties boycotted the referendum and only 10%

of eligible voters participated. I saw helicopters flying over Shahdadkot and throwing printed material regarding Referendum in my

childhood. People rushed to get any one of those in order to know what was written on them. Some people guessed that those were rupees so

they tried to follow the movement of the helicopters. The helicopters were so down to earth that one could easily see pilots sitting in the

helicopters. There was much hue and cry. Everyone was uncertain. Conditions were quite capricious. I saw Nawabzada Nasrullah Khan Huqa

Wala (1918-2003) in a political congregation organized at Khadim Hussain Langah Rice Mills near Prince Cinema Shahdadkot during my

childhood. He was a tall man with weak health. He put on Turkish cap. He made his speech there for the restoration of democracy in the

country. I used to join my father’s cabin situated near Khuzdar Bus Stand.

From 1985 Abdul Latif Mangrio started Study Circles in Labour Hall and other Workplaces of Biri workers. He introduced books, Magazines

and Newspapers to the labour. His personal library contained 500 books on different topics. He also took active part in MRD Movement. My

father and brothers made Biris hence I went these places and took meals for them. There, I saw these study circles being conducted with my

eyes. I compiled the profile of Abdul Latif Mangrio in Sindhi which was published in Quarterly Indus Valley Newsletter printed by NDS

Shahdadkot.

46

47

CELEBRATION OF LATIF DAY IN SHAHDADKOT TEXTILE MILLS-1984

The Pakistan Industrial Development Cooperation (PIDC) Shahdadkot Textile Mills was situated in the north

of Shahdadkot City and was one of the biggest Industrial Complexes in the country, employing round about 8000

workers in Larkana or present Kamber-Shahdadkot District, Sindh. This Textile plant was established in 1974 under

the instructions of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the then Prime Minister of Pakistan. His Majesty Muhammad Raza

Pahlavi (1919-1980) the Shah of Iran had assisted Pakistani Government for the installation of this Mega Project in

Shahdadkot. The Mills was spread on 200 Acres or 400 Jarebs of Land in Deh Chandia, Shahdadkot. Originally this

land belonged to Rais Ali Hassan Khan Chandio who was one of the close friends of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. On the

special request of PPP President Taluka Shahdadkot Muhammad Usman Sheikh, Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto constructed this mill to provide

employment to the people of Shahdadkot area. While Saifullah Magsi Branch was dug on the special request of Maulana Comrade Illahi Bux

Qureshi to provide irrigation water to the tail end farmers of Qubo Saeed Khan and Shahdadkot area. On the special requests of Mahraj Gopi

Krishan he founded Govt: Prov: Boys High School and Government Boys Degree College in Shahdadkot.

In 1976 the Machinery was installed in this Mill. This installation work was done by Chinese and Japanese engineers who stayed at Sambara

Inn Hotel at Larkana for many years. The heavy machinery was brought to Shahdadkot through NLC Trawlers from Karachi Port. I saw these

heavy yellow trawlers with NLC Mark during 1980s. We used to take out black grease from their tyros. Whole of the Plant took many years for

completion. In 1977, it was about to be completed when Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was arrested. The total expenditure on this mills is said to be

66 Crore Rupees. In 1978 this Mills was started and it became a main source of income for many laborers of Sindh, Balochistan,

NWFP, Punjab and Kashmir. Its first General Manager was Brigadier (Rtd) Yaqoob Beg Siddiqui. Other MDS of this mill were as follows; 1)

Chaudhri Ashraf Warich, 2) Muizuddin Khan, 3) Nafees Ahmed Siddiqui and 4) A.H. Solangi. Other minor officials of the mills were Abdul

Qadir Chandio, N.A. Baloch, Munir Ali Qureshi, Rahim Yar Khan Khuhawar and Hakim Ali Unar. Momin Electric Press Shahdadkot printed

ID Cards for the Mill workers. The number of workers employed in the mill is said to be approximately from 5000 to 8000. Majority of them

belonged to Shahdadkot, Garhi Khero, Kamber, Biro Chandio, Rato Kot and Larkana. While nearly 100 Technical Staff belonged to

Faisalabad, Lahore, Bhakkar, and Karachi.

After its completion, the plant started up production regularly around 1981. It had 25000 spindles which had 117 Frames. It was a complete

industrial plant of its times, comprising spinning, weaving, dying and all required processes for textile production. The laborers worked in

shifts. Each of the shifts worked for 8 hours and had total 35 working men. In this way each of the Shift could produce 30/35 or 40 Bales and

each of the Bales Mills was of Rs.8000/= worth. There were 40 Cones in every Bale. The cloth of different kinds was printed here and it was

sold in Faisalabad/ Punjab. A famous Lawn called JHALAK was printed here and it had large sale in whole of the country. Its Advertisement

was also shown on PTV. The basic pay of a Fitter in 1981 was Rs. 750/= per month. After the MRD Movement the workers, laborers, social as

well as political activists once again united themselves for a long-lasting struggle for democracy restoration. The Mills caught sudden fire in

1981-82 but was extinguished at the earliest and no major loss occurred.

In the 2nd week of October 1984, Watan Dost Mazdoor Federation and Trade Union Mazdoor Federation Shahdadkot celebrated Latif Day in

Shahdadkot Textile Mills. It is one of the most remarkable celebration events in the history of Shahdadkot for me in case of my primary

education. The organizers of the programme were Comrade Abdul Aziz Abbassi and Qurban Ali Soomro. They collected a donation of round

about Rs. 1, 50,000 from Mill workers, citizens and other influential’s of the area. More than 5000 participants attended this historic event

besides labour workers. The programme had been arranged with different categories i.e. speeches, wrestling matches and musical shows. The

chief guest of the programme was Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Khuhawar-II, the ex-chairman and famous landholder of Shahdadkot. Other

important figures were Mir Amir Khan Magsi, Abdul Haque Khatiyan (Pak Saudi Fertilizer Company Mirpur Mathelo), Makhdoom Abdul

Rasheed (Al-Noor Sugar Mills Shahpur Jahania/ Nawabshah), Dr. Arbab Khuhawar, Lal Bux

Larik and Syed Mushtaque Shah. Sirai Sajjad Soomro, Comrade Muhammad Uris Silro, Abdul

Fattah Markhand and Ghulam Sarwar Silro also attended this event. Wrestling matches were

played among the wrestlers from Sindh and Punjab. One of the wrestlers had taken up tractor

with his hands by displaying his strength. Whereas the famous singers Alan Faqir, Manzoor

Sakhirani and Abida Parveen entertained the audience. The programme lasted till late night.

Round about 250 guests were served with meals in residential quarters of the mills. Some of

the participants had come from far-flung areas such as Jacobabad, Shikarpur, and Larkana.

48

For the guests 35 tents were fixed in the programme according to Riaz Hussain Awan, the owner of Mazdoor Decoration Shahdadkot.

I recall that I went to attend this programme with my elder brothers Ghulam Abbass and Akhter Ali. Both of them were Biri workers and were

in the attachment of Textile Mills workers. I clearly remember that that Shahdadkot Garhi Khero Road was illuminated with flood lights. The

roads wore charming look worth remembering. We entered through the main gate. There was a great rush of people. We succeeded in getting

a place for sitting there. I saw Allan Faqir and Abida Parveen in that celebration for the first time. It is said that Allan Faqir was drunk

bitterly. After two weeks of this celebration, Indian Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31st October 1984. The active

political presence and pressure in north western Sindh General Zia gave tough time to Mill workers in 1985. In 1986 General Zia visited Qazi

Fazalullah House at Larkana. There some Workers of Shahdadkot Textile Mills reached in one or other way and presented their case before

General Zia therefore he announced the Salaries of workers from Ushar & Zakwat Funds. Almost 4000 Mill workers got their salaries in this

way. He also announced that the Mills would not be shifted to Punjab or somewhere else in the country.

In 1988, after returning to the country Benazir Bhutto once again started the mills during her tenure. It continued up to 1990s in PPP

government. The Mills produced fine Polyester productions of various designs. On 6th August 1990 President Ghulam Ishaque Khan

dismissed Benazir Bhutto government. On 4th August 1991 Mill workers took out procession against closure of Mills. On 13th November 1993

Farooque Leghari was elected President of Pakistan. During his president ship, Benazir Bhutto’s government again paid special attention

towards the mill and its name was also changed as Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Textile Mills (Pvt) Limited under Ministry of Production, Government

of Pakistan. Later Nawaz Sharif government also issued a 2.5 Crore Rupees grant to Mills in a bid to operate this mill but it could not survive

and faced problems from different quarters. In this way the chances of mills closure came in the vogue. In the meanwhile the administration

of mills offered Golden Handshake to the workers. On 26th July 1994, about 700 Mill workers submitted application for Golden Handshake to

District Magistrate Larkana. On 12 October 1999 General Parvez Musharaf took power in Pakistan from Nawaz Sharif through a bloodless

coup. The Musharaf regime sold it to a local petit bourgeois, Nisar Memon, who was a raw material & scrap trader in Karachi. The workers of

this textile plant protested and struggled against its privatization and closure but all in vain.

The Mills Workers lodged a case against Government in Sindh High Court which issued decree to continue the mills. Later on Mr. Liaqat Ali

Jatoi, Sindh Government Minister liquidated the Mills to Nisar Memon who purchased it in 8 Crore Rupees. He, in the presence of Mir Nadir

Ali Khan Magsi and Sirai Sultan Ahmed Khan Khuhawar promised that he would not shift the mill from Shahdadkot. He also ensured that he

will run the Mills for more 2 years but unfortunately the Mills could not work more. On this issue Laborers started a movement for

reoperation of the mill and observed hunger strikes with social and political activists of the city. Initially the struggle was very strong but later

on it was subsided through different means either by threatening of dire consequences or by bribing to the key activists. Shahdadkot Textile

Mills was finally closed by PIDC in 2001-02. A lot of families employed there are now suffering and going hungry. Whatever it was but the

fact is that it was the bad luck for the poor masses of this area. There seemed to me three major causes for the closure of Shahdadkot Textile

Mills which were 1) the underline invisible forces from government especially Ant PPP governments were quite reluctant and indifferent for

the successful operation of this mill 2) Leaders of Trade Union who along with Mill Administration enjoyed privileges and benefits and 3) the

Mills Workers themselves who were not duteous and sincere. According to the audit of 2002 the total worth of Shahdadkot Textile Mills was

82 Crore Rupees which was sold in only 8 Crores to a scrap trader.

49

SCHOOL LEAVE ON THE ASSASINATION DAY OF INDIRA GANDHI

We enjoyed a School leave on the assassination day of Indira Gandhi in class II. She was assassinated by Sikh guards on 31st October 1984.

She was mother of Sanjay and Rajiv Gandhi. Indira Priyadarshini Gandhi Nehru; was born on 19 November 1917 and was killed on 31 October

1984. She was the third Prime Minister of India and a central figure of the Indian National Congress party. Gandhi, who served from 1966 to

1977 and then again from 1980 until her assassination in 1984, was the second-longest-serving Prime Minister of India and the only woman

to hold the office. Both Gandhi and Bhutto families had good relations with each other. It was Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto who succeeded in

releasing 90, 0000 Pakistan Army Soldiers from India on July 2, 1972 through Simla agreement.

Indira Gandhi was the only child of Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. She served as the Chief of Staff of her father's highly centralized

administration between 1947 and 1964 and came to wield considerable unofficial influence in government. Elected Congress President in

1959, she was offered the premiership in succession to her father. Gandhi refused and instead chose to become a cabinet minister in the

government. She finally consented to become Prime Minister in succession to Lal Bahadur Shastri in 1966.

As Prime Minister, Gandhi became known for her political ruthlessness and unprecedented centralization of power. She presided over a

period where India emerged with greater power than before to become the regional hegemon of South Asia with considerable political,

economic, and military developments. Gandhi also presided over a state of emergency from 1975 to 1977 during which she ruled by decree

and made lasting changes to the constitution of India. She was assassinated in the aftermath of Operation Blue Star. In 2001, Gandhi was

voted the greatest Indian Prime Minister in a poll organized by India Today. She was also named "Woman of the Millennium" in a poll

organized by the BBC in 1999. A short time after her death Shahnawaz Khan Bhutto, the youngest son of Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was killed in

July 1985. He left behind a daughter named Sasui Bhutto. She lives with her mother in Paris –France. We studied in Class III when

Shahnawaz Khan Bhutto was murdered.

The BhuttoThe BhuttoThe BhuttoThe Bhutto childrenchildrenchildrenchildren

50

LEARNING HOLY QURAN

I learnt Holy Quran from Bua Ameeran Kalhoro from 1984-85. She was grandmother of my class fellow Shahid Hussain Kalhoro. They also

called themselves as Abbassi. She was widow of Muhammad Achar Kalhoro who was Imam in a mosque in Sheikh Muhalla Shahdadkot. The

family claims its origin with Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro (1657-1692), the well-known leader of Mianwal Movement in Sindh. I used to

go to her house early in the morning. She gave us Kettle for getting meals and tea from door to door from her neighboring houses. We did this

job very well because we would also be shared something out of it. Here for the first time I saw books having Biblical stories. According to my

class fellow Shahid Hussain Kalhoro they had sacks full with such type of books. I went there for many years.

My mother had beautifully made wooden racks of Holy Quran and her personal copy of Holy Quran. As in every home of a Muslim, my family

would hold Holy Quran in high esteem and I remember I was told many anecdotes related with the miracle of Holy Quran. I was informed

that Holy Quran flies away saving itself when any home get fire. There are in fact many places till today where we can see people coming for

prayers at the sight of landing of Holy Book. I have seen a number of times people reciting Holy Quran over the dead body while burying it.

My father once bought a small copy of Namaz-e-Jafaria for me as a gift which was published by Asgheria Students Organization from Sindh.

The Holy QuranThe Holy QuranThe Holy QuranThe Holy Quran

51

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT JAMIA QAIM-E-AL-E-MUHAMMAD

NajafNajafNajafNajaf----eeee----Ashraf IRAQAshraf IRAQAshraf IRAQAshraf IRAQ

The Shia represents the second largest denomination of Islam. Shia Islam is based on the Quran and the message of the Islamic

prophet Muhammad attested in Shia Hadith, and certain books deemed sacred to Shia called Nahj al-Balagha. In contrast to other types, the

Shia believe that only God has the right to choose a representative to safeguard Islam, the Quran and Sharia. Thus the Shias look to Ali,

Muhammad's son-in-law, whom they revere and consider divinely appointed, as the rightful successor to Muhammad, and the first Imam.

The Shia extended this belief to Muhammad's family, the Ahl al-Bayt and certain individuals among his descendants, known as imams, who

they believe possess special spiritual and political authority over the community, infallibility, and other traits. Although there were many Shia

branches throughout history, modern Shia Islam has been divided into three main branches, namely the Ithna Ashariyya (Twelvers),

the Ismailis (Seveners) and the Zaidis (Fivers). In Sindh, there is majority of the Ithna Ashariyya

My family was also attached to the sect of Shiaism since past. My grandfather sang songs in the praise of the Ahl al-Bayt. My father wore

black robes and mourned in Muharam Al-Haram every year and he still does this. He got prepared cooked food, cold drinks and would

distribute those among the mourners in the procession crossing through the main road near our street. He would also go to Rohri and

Larkana for beating his chest on Chehlum. My elder brother Akhter Ali would beat his chest and cut his head with knife during these days.

Whereas the children used shaving blades to cut their chest and bleed. They raised the slogans of Ya Ali, Ya Ali and Hyder Moula Ali Moula

with such a loud and emotional voice which affected everyone there and people started beating their chests fastly. The Bhil Community also

joined the processions as a respect also.

I was sent to the Jamia Qaim-e-Ale Muhammad locally known after the name of Syed Hassan Ali Shah who settled down there in 1970s on

the sandy dunes in the west of Shahdadkot. His father Syed Ali Akber Karam Hussain Shah was caretaker of the shrine of Syed Hakim Ali

Shah Pat Waro. I learned lessons of Shia Islam from this school since 1985. The teacher was Moulvi Ameer Hussain Marri who lived with his

family in the corner of that Medressah. I used to go into his house sometimes with other pupils. He was of kind nature with vast knowledge

and experience in Islamic teachings. In his absence Moulvi Riaz Hussain Leghari would teach the students. I received some of the lessons

from Allama Ghulam Kamber Karimi, who was a great scholar of Arabic and Persian. The Medressah building was simple at that time. We

played badminton sometimes for entertainment. Tea was served to all students in early winters. I studied various Shia books, magazines and

newspapers there. Wahdat-E-Islami was the best among these magazines which was published from Iranian Embassy Islamabad Pakistan. It

published also magazines for children as well as women. I learnt many good lessons from these publications.

52

MY FATHER’S MISHAP IN A ROBBERY NEAR GOLO WAH, SHAHDADKOT

Sikander Ali Khan Sheikh My father earned his livelihood through making leaf cigarettes. He would sell these Biris into Larkana on fair

prices. It was the year of 1985 when one day my father went to Larkana for selling his product. He received the money and got into the wagon

with his close friend Sirai Abid Ali Khuhawar. In Those days law and order situation was very bad in the district. Dacoits and robbers robbed

passengers frequently. The Sirai advised my father to hide money in the wagon due to the fear of robbers. Unluckily when the wagon reached

Golo Wah dacoits trapped the passengers with an artificial road accident. The robbers then came out from the hide and started firing on the

passengers and pointed to stop the vehicle. Seeing this driver geared the wagon and tried to escape from the site. In meanwhile the

passengers were shot from backside by the dacoits. There were many holes in the wagon and blood gushed out from the passengers which

caused great panic to them.

My father was also wounded badly due to the firing. A bullet went through his right leg which colored his dress red. He fainted when the

wagon reached Shahdadkot city. The police sent all wounded persons to Civil Hospital for first aid. There were many people who were shot

with the bullets in this incident. One of them was Arbab Ali Bhatti, the father of Dr. Niaz Kalani, a Sindhi nationalist. My father was in the

hospital for many hours. My brothers were told about this incident by someone. They rushed to the hospital without informing my mother at

home. After first aid my father was taken back to home where he was dressed daily by a dispenser. Sometimes Sirai Abid Ali Khuhawar took

my father on his back to the doctor for treatment. On this act, other Khuhawars laughed at him. He proved himself a true friend at that time. I

remember my father’s those days when he was wounded and was in the bed rest. During those days my mother received house expenses from

my elder brothers and ran the house matters.

53

PROBLEM OF PAROO CAHNDIO

The most notorious dacoits in Larkana direction on Sindh Balochistan border are said to be Sanwlo Burdi, Abdul Rehman Brohi and Limo

Kosh during Talpur and British era. I read about them in history books and listened their robberies and plundering stories from the old

people in the area. After the creation of Pakistan Muhammad Pariyal alias Paroo Chandio and his brother Ali Gohar Chandio were notorious

and most wanted dacoits of Sindh. In 1972 Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto became the president and then the prime minister of Pakistan. Under his

government, the Government of Sindh started a crackdown on Hurs. Matters got worst when 4 prominent fakirs were gunned down by police.

Their photos appeared in the newspapers as dacoits gunned down by police in armed combat. This happened despite the fact that Sindhis

considered Hurs as Sindh's heroes and the historic Bhutto family personally respected Pir Pagaro. In the general elections of 1977, Pir Pagaro

decided to break the tradition of not becoming involved in power politics and ran for the seat of parliament from Mr. Bhuttos hometown

of Larkana. This was a symbolic gesture of protest but Pir Pagaro was arrested. This saw a bloody clash of Hurs and government leaving

hundreds of Hurs and government officials dead.

In a 1977 coup which overthrew Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, the newly empowered dictator General Zia-ul-Haque, who was looking for some

foothold in Sindh, restored the status of Hurs in the Pakistan Army. He also appointed a famous Sindhi civil servant, Bashir Ahmed Siddiqui

as Inspector General of Sindh to face the growing problem of dacoits, especially Paroo Chandio. Siddiqui formed a militia called Hur Force

out of Hurs; this had 1965 war hero Faqir Jamal Mangrio killed by Chandio. The most infamous incident of the Sukkur Jail break took place

in 1980s. Many believe that the dacoits who attacked the jail were well protected by the people in power. It was a well organized and pre-

planned ‘operation’. Scores of dacoits — according to some reports, they were well over 100 — had cut the electric wires, scaled over the walls,

broken the locks of the death cells of condemned prisoners and rescued no less than 35 prisoners involved in various heinous crimes. How

could that have happened in broad daylight if officials were not involved? The mystery is yet to be solved. Paroo Chandio and his brother Ali

Gohar Chandio were the most wanted and notorious dacoits of Sindh. They indulged in cases of looting and kidnapping people all over the

province.

In 1986, Paroo Chandio along with his brother Ali Goher Chandio and other accomplice Manzoor Buriro, Almoo Choliyani and Nooro

Chandio kidnapped Tahir Salim Sheikh a young man from Shahdadkot. He was the eldest son of well-known Captain Dr. Muhammad Saleh

Sheikh. The gang of the dacoits rushed on jeeps through our house street by firing in discriminately. They were loudly delivering message for

SHO Syed Abid Shah to chase them. The dacoits took Dost Ali Road and vanished around Zero Point in the south west of Shahdadkot.

Though some influential landlords like Nawab Mir Zulfiqar Ali Magsi, Niaz Ahmed Khoso and Mithal Khan Mugheri chased them but all in

vain. Roshan Ali Kalhoro and Gul Muhammad Detho two Policemen were killed by dacoits firing. Dacoit Gul Hassan Chandio was also killed

on the occasion. One of the Jeeps of Paroo Chandio caught fire therefore the dacoits took the hostage to Khirthar Range hideouts. The

kidnapped Youngman remained 2 months in their captivity and was released after receiving 200,000 Rs as ransom. The name of Paroo

Chandio was sign of fear in the region. The news of kidnapping of Sheikh young-man spread like fire in the jungle. Everyone was harassed on

this incident of kidnapping. Mr. Bashir Ahmed Siddiqui, IG Sindh Police killed Paroo Chandio. It may be recalled that Paroo Chandio was

killed by third person Abdul Latif Chandio though according to the police he was killed in encounter. Paroo Chandio was very popular. His

coffin was decorated with more than 2000 Ajraks and a Sindhi film was made on his life. Paroo Chandio and his brother left very little money

for their parents. Their mother begged in Dadu to meet her basic necessities. It is said that he was poisoned near Shah Panjo Dahot in River

Indus area. His native village was Sita in Dadu District, Sindh. His friend Ghulam Qadir Mirbahar was also killed with him on the spot.

Paroo ChandioParoo ChandioParoo ChandioParoo Chandio

54

LOVE WITH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES & NATURAL BEAUTY

I fell in love with birds, animals and plants during my Primary School days. I used to collect Arabic newspapers thrown outside by laborers of

Wajid Ali Silro, the fruit broker. There were cartoons in these newspapers that focused Lebanon, Israel, Syria and America. I cut these papers

and trace their duplicates on other tissue papers. I collected English and Urdu newspapers also in this way. The Sindhi newspapers were not

common in those days. I developed my drawing and handwriting skills very nicely. My class fellows implored me to make such drawings for

them on some amount.

There was an old and clumsy person named Samander Magsi. He had a small shop in Shahi Bazaar near our house. He sold colorful charts of

animals, birds and plants. I frequently bought such charts from him. He had a big flesh ball in his throat which made his voice very heavy and

unclear. He made frames for pictures and portraits too. He also worked in iron and repaired Kerosene lights. He looked like villains of

English films and fairy tales as his curly hair hung around his shoulders. He behaved hard with children like me. He had long moustaches. I

started making drawings from 1983 to 1986 and later.

55

ALLAH-O-AKBER: WATCHING ISLAMIC DOCUMENTRY IN CINEMA

One day all the students of Govt Primary Mehran School were taken to Nishat Cinema for watching, Allah-O-Akber an Islamic documentary.

Our school teachers led student’s lines through the city streets. The people stared at us as we moved through streets to the cinema. The

cinema authorities did not ticket charges from school students. It was the only Pakistan made religious Urdu film about Islamic holy places.

Allah-o-Akbar was released on March 5, 1976 in Rivoli cinema Karachi. The great actor Mohammad Ali was commentator and Rafiq

Chamman was director. I remember that we enjoyed a lot by visiting the cinema gallery. We paid a little attention to the film.. Later on I

found that we were being Islamized under the government of a military dictator who killed thousands of innocent political and social activists

in the country in his 11 years cruel rule.

THE GRAVEYARD OF SPARROWS

Blinding dust storms and heavy rains hit Shahdadk

Shahdadkot and Qubo Saeed Khan in the result of lo

would eat them by frying. Sometimes we took out th

a snake tried to enter their nests the sparrows would

died in heavy rain and sizzling cold. Dead bodies of

dogs enjoyed a lot by galloping down their cold dead

trees and the bushes. We dug their graves under the

there for many months and finally disappeared from

ARROWS

Shahdadkot and its surrounding in 1986. Agricultural lands were destroyed

result of low floods. It rained for many weeks. I was fond of catching sparro

ook out their eggs and chicks from their nests. We played with them usually

ows would chirp loudly. As there were many trees grown inside my house h

bodies of these Sparrows were scattered everywhere especially under the

cold dead bodies during the rains. I and my sister collected dead bodies of

under the trees and buried their bodies. It took the shape of a graveyard.

eared from the house.

56

e destroyed in the western parts of

ing sparrows through cages and

em usually in the house. Whenever

y house hence dozens of Sparrows

der the trees and bushes. Cats and

bodies of these sparrows from

veyard. This graveyard remained

57

MY MOTHER’S SUDDEN DEATH ON EID-RAMAZAN-1986

My mother Ghulam Zuhra Sheikh left this mortal world on Monday 9th June 1986/1st Shawal 1406 A.H from a heart attack. She was tall,

caring and loving mother. She nurtured us with great care. She used to recite Holy Quran and offered prayers. She helped my father whole the

life and would cut leaves which were used in making leaf cigarettes. She used to sew clothes for neighbouers on cheap rates. The Baleshahi

women especially Sehat Khatoon brought her siblings to her for sewing. The women of this community were engaged in sweeping. Some of

them cured the sick with their Leeches kept in covered clay pot who sucked blood of the patients. This practice can be seen on eid days on

roads even today. While some of the Baleshahi women collected animal bones and prepared Chhajs. (tool to clean rice). My mother was

generous and her hospitality was very famous. Everyone would respect and honor her due to her nature, attitude and behavior. She taught us

discipline, responsibility and commitment. She lived her life in village Mena, Kot Ghulam Shah, Larkana, Khuzdar and Shahdadkot.

She loved flowers and kitchen gardening. She had planted a Ber tree beside my father’s Willow tree. Both of them still exist and provide my

children shade and merry go round. I never saw her quarrelling with her husband. She gave me food for my father who worked in Office

Labour Union Shahdadkot, situated near Khuzdar Bus Stop. It was a large building having shady Neem Trees. There roundabout 30 Biri

Workers worked from day to night. Sometimes they would arrange VCR for entertainment. They usually entertained themselves with Blue

print movies also. I used to ask my mother about the dead bodies placed in wagons which were killed in the name of honour killings. One day

I found myself with my mother, uncle and other relatives in local police station at Larkana. My father had been arrested due to Honour killing

case committed by our Raunti relatives. Sooner my father was released as he was not involved in the issue.

The story of my mother’s death is very painful and unforgettable. It was the day of Eid-ul-Fitr when everyone was preparing for eid

celebrations. My brothers and sisters prepared themselves and wore new clothes. The elderly were also preparing for eid prayers. All of

sudden some reeds caught flames near motor pump. When my mother saw these flames she hurried to extinguish fire. During this she fainted

and fell down on the earth. My youngest sister Seema was on her chest. She was born on 29th February 1986. Everyone was worried on this

situation. She fainted for a long time. Dr. Guru Dino Panjwani was brought for her check up. He came quickly because he was our family

doctor. He checked her up but it was too late. My mother had passed away. Eid celebrations were changed into Funeral preparations.

Everyone was informed about her sudden and untimely death. Her funeral procession brought tears in everyone’s eyes. She was laid into rest

in Kurk or Misri Shah Graveyard near Shahdadkot. I still remember my mother every moment and every step of my life. She is indispensible

guiding force and symptom of love in my life and I think whatever I m today I’m because of prayers of my beloved parents. I have also named

one of my daughters after her name.

Ghulam Zuhra SheikhGhulam Zuhra SheikhGhulam Zuhra SheikhGhulam Zuhra Sheikh----My mother My mother My mother My mother

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MRD MOVEMENT-AUGUST 1986

Martial Law was lifted on December 30, 1985 and General Zia introduced new Civilian Government which was in fact a charade. Bribery and

crime had become nationwide industries. Smuggling, Kalashnikov culture, and drug trafficking were so common originally linked with

Afghanistan. In this crucial situation Benazir Bhutto returned to Pakistan on 10th April 1986. She was given a warm welcome by the people of

Pakistan. She led demonstrations and marches in the whole country. It was second phase of MRD Movement in Pakistan.

During 1986 MRD Movement demonstrations were taken out for restoration of democracy. I and my class fellow Aijaz Ali Soomro also joined

such demonstrations in Shahdadkot. I clearly remember that the protestors up sided down the carts of Urdu speaker community living in the

city. Their fruits and vegetables were destroyed in great quantity. Afterwards the participants set on fire the railway station, Municipality and

other government buildings in the city. Police attacked the protestors and during this rush and fear I along with my friend Aijaz Soomro fell

into salt ditch near Municipality and Government Prov: High School. Someone took out us from the ditch. Later on we ran towards High

School in order to escape from Police Baton charge. There we saw Mr. Abdul Razzak Awan in the class while other students were watching a

documentary on VCR. Sometime later Mr. Awan taught us in the High school. He wore uniform and was fond of hunting. He was killed in an

accident near Shahdadkot. It was the time when Benazir Bhutto married Asif Ali Zardari in on 18th December 1987.

59

MY ELDER BROTHERS MARRIAGE AT MIRO KHAN

My father’s father in law Jaro Khan Sheikh and his brother Rasool Bux Sheikh had no male children. My father gifted both his elder sons

Ghulam Abbass and Akhter Ali to them forever. I and my elder sister Rozina lived with our parents while our elder brothers lived and worked

with above old couples at Larkana and Shahdadkot. When my eldest brother Ghulam Abbass became an expert in making leaf cigarettes he

earned handsome amount daily. He was adult now. From his savings he bought golden lockets and chains and was considered as a rich

person among Biri workers in Shahdadkot. He wished for the marriage now.

A girl named Mukhtiar Sheikh was selected for him from village Gopang near Miro Khan. This marriage was one of the mega events for my

family. My father as well as other members was very happy. All relatives had been invited at Shahdadkot from where they got into buses and

moved on to Miro Khan. There were round about 30 houses of Sheikh Community near Warah Bridge in village Gopang. It was a pleasant site

with shady trees and cool breeze. The family celebrated the event with great pleasure, dances and songs. Special food was prepared for the

guests. My brother’s father in law Paliyo Khan Sheikh and his wife Zuhra Khatoon Sheikh were simple persons and their sons Buxal Sheikh

and Rakhial Sheikh worked as a labour. As a child I enjoyed a lot in this marriage by visiting countryside for the first time. I saw Warah

Branch closely and took bath on its banks. The houses were enlightened with colorful tube lights, bulbs and buntings. A rented electric

generator was also taken for the occasion as there was no electricity in the village. This marriage took place on Monday 7th April 1987. Ghulam

Abbass Sheikh was blessed with a son on 15th January 199o but he died at a very young age a few years ago.

Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi, Sartaj Sheikh, Ghulam Abbass Sheikh, Khalid Ali Sheikh, Akhter AliSheikh Javed Ali Sindhi, Sartaj Sheikh, Ghulam Abbass Sheikh, Khalid Ali Sheikh, Akhter AliSheikh Javed Ali Sindhi, Sartaj Sheikh, Ghulam Abbass Sheikh, Khalid Ali Sheikh, Akhter AliSheikh Javed Ali Sindhi, Sartaj Sheikh, Ghulam Abbass Sheikh, Khalid Ali Sheikh, Akhter Ali Sheikh, Ghulam Sughera Sheikh, Mahtab Sheikh, Sheikh, Ghulam Sughera Sheikh, Mahtab Sheikh, Sheikh, Ghulam Sughera Sheikh, Mahtab Sheikh, Sheikh, Ghulam Sughera Sheikh, Mahtab Sheikh,

Rozina Sheikh and Himat Ali Sheikh at Khalid Photo Studio Shahdadkot January 1983.Rozina Sheikh and Himat Ali Sheikh at Khalid Photo Studio Shahdadkot January 1983.Rozina Sheikh and Himat Ali Sheikh at Khalid Photo Studio Shahdadkot January 1983.Rozina Sheikh and Himat Ali Sheikh at Khalid Photo Studio Shahdadkot January 1983.

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NIZAMIA NIGHT SCHOOL

Night School is a school that holds classes in the evening or at night so that people working day jobs can continue to pursue their educations.

They are the schools which also teach the students at night so that more and more students can learn education. In the year 1966 Mr.

Nizamuddin Soomro was Manager National Bank Shahdadkot Branch. While Gul Muhammad Channa was Assistant Manager in the same

bank. Both of them were friends and philanthropists. They founded Nizamia Night School in Shahdadkot and started its initial classes near

Shezan Hotel area. Mr. Allahwarayo Qureshi, Mr. Sijawal Khan Wadho, Mr. Seetaldas of Larkana, Mr. Ali Abbass Langah, Mr. Muhammad

Hassan Pathan and Mr. Shaukat Hussain Soomro taught the students during late nights in this school.

After some years, Nizamia Night School was shifted in Shahi Bazzar Shahdadkot. Some of the neighboring shops were of Andal Khan Sheikh,

Raza Muhammad Sheikh and Dr. Nawaz Sheikh. I myself used to get lessons from Mr. Shaukat Hussain Soomro in this school. He belonged

to Shikarpur and was expert in Donkey Cart making. I found him very polite, cooperative and hardworking. I learned here the English Book

of 6th Class in advance. Most of the students of this school were Biri workers, hotel workers and tailors. They earned their bread during day

and got education at nights. The school stood on the ceiling of a Medical Store which belonged to Dr. Nawaz Sheikh. Its stairs were very old

and I feared by climbing up the school. In winter we all teachers and students sat in a large wooden cabin. Another room was also full with

students of various classes. Here English and Sindhi languages were taught. The monthly fee was 20 to 30 Rupees per month during my time.

The famous Nizamia Night School was a ray of light for poor labourers and workers of the city who could not get education during day time in

Government schools. The school was closed in 1990s and now it has become story of the past. A sign board hung at the main entrance and

bore the name of the school. Mr. Abbass Ali Silro learnt lessons in this school. Later on he was appointed as Primary School Teacher by

Education Department. He is now Assistant Head Master in Government Boys Primary School village Silra near Shahdadkot. The main

important point of this school was its simple building, devoted teachers and hardworking students. Corporal Punishment was not allowed

here. This historic institution is unseen today and I think such institutions must be established today in order to eradicate illiteracy especially

among the poor.

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OTHER STORIES FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL DAYS…

Every year a Magic Show was organized to entertain students in Government Primary Mehran School Shahdadkot. Magician is an

entertainer or performing artist who creates illusions of impossible or supernatural feats or magic tricks. They are also known as a stage

magician or illusionist. After getting formal permission from Education Department Officials the magicians showed us different items of

magic in the school. There was a Transgender Community Residence locally known after the name of Aloo Khadro Dayo. She is said to be one

of the most important figure of Transgender community living in Shahdadkot. She was huge figure with great weight. She always sat on a

charpoy in a dark room. One day when I went to drink water in his room, she asked me to switch on the bulb. I got frightened and came out of

the house in hurry. Her house was changed in a shop after her death. Beside her Marhi was the famous Khalid Photo Studio where people

came for getting their photos taken by him. I saw one of my friends sending a love letter to a girl during primary school days.

I got up early in the morning and went to buy biscuits for morning tea from one of my father’s friend’s shop named Mahboob Pathan. His

younger brother Munawar Pathan later became my class fellow in High School days. We used to take bath with water supply and washed our

bodies with Lifebuoy and Neem soap. We also used MET, Neem tree leaves and Lemons while bathing. It gave us freshness and comfort.

Tooth brush was not so common in our family so we cleaned our teeth with coals and Dentonic. In summer we drank White Soda cold drink

which cost one rupee only. We bought these bottles from a Hotel run by Muhammad Salim Pathan. Beside him was Sardar Magsi’s vegetable

shop from whom we bought fresh vegetables and potatoes. I saw first time the saplings of Mango tree and potatoes there. We used Prickly

Heat Powder in hot season to sooth ourselves from scorching beams. We used to iron clothes with heavy iron and burning coals. One day I

was hit with a Bicycle and received minor wounds. Altaf Mangi, a barber working outside school took me and laid me on the bench. He

offered me water and asked me for the pain I had received. I usually told stories to my friends in the class during recess.

We used to buy pink tablets from Umer Medical Store for Skin diseases. The clinic of Dr. Muhammad Nawaz Soomro was located beside the

shop of Raza Muhammad Sheikh. Dr. Wazir Soomro, his son runs a clinic till this day in our neighborhood. We usually bought candies from

Roshan Channa’s cabin beside florists. There were also shops of barbers, snacks shops and kiryana merchants in the same area. There was no

electricity in our house hence we lit Chimini or Lantern. We got filled these lamps with Kerosene Oil daily. Andal Khan Sheikh, Hidayatullah

Sheikh and Raza Muhammad Sheikh were famous greengrocers. We had a small garden with water flowing through it in the house. The Noor

Rice Mill tower was at a distance of our house and was visible from all directions of the city. It was constructed by Noor Muhammad Khosa in

1940s. Near Khuzdar Bus stand situated Holo Mal Rice Mills. My uncle Roshan Ali Sheikh worked there and carried bags of rice. I saw there

an old bus in ruins which was said to be of Sodho Khan Sheikh. We had a Sanyo Tape with a lot of Sindhi and Urdu Cassettes. During Primary

School days I had visited Mourning processions of Muharam Al Haram at the Imambargahs of Nooro, Goonga, Mehmood Shah and Jaffer

Shah. A great number of women also followed these processions.

Mr. Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was thought to be hero therefore I bought his Black and White Photographs and would garland them in my house

windows. I saw story books at the shop of a vendor near Khuzdar Chowk. I saw Wajid Ali Silro selling mangoes here on a cart. Near Shezan

Chowk was a Bungalow of Khuda Dino Khan Chandio. The gate was decorated with heads of the deer. It is said that Benazir Bhutto came to

this historic building twice. The characters I saw during Primary School period was Janati Faqir Dayo, Dedar Faqir Manganhar, Dr. Tiloo

Kalhoro, Sheikh Gulo Tetri and Gosho Sheerazi. A Hindu rich man used to distribute sweetmeat among school children after wining money in

gambling. I also took sweetmeat from him may times. I saw huge Pelicans alive and dead during my childhood. A vendor sold its bones and

oil near my house on roads on handsome amount. People purchased this oil to relieve from wicked pain. One day I accompanied my father up

to village Kot Chhatoo, a village situated near Imam Bux Jamali on Sindh Balochistan border. We returned back with donkey cart loaded with

reeds. The violent Hathora Group was very active during 1985 as some killings were reported from Jacobabad, Shikarpur and Larkana.

62

CUP OF TEA REWARD & TRIP TO GOLO WAH -MARCH 1987

In fifth class/B, my class fellows were Khalid Hussain Channa, Sikander Ali Sheikh, Muhammad Khan Khuhawar, Aijaz Ali Soomro, Imam

Ali Mirjat, Iqbal Ahmed Khoso, Anil Kumar Makheja, Anwer Ali Khoso, Abdul Qadir Sheikh, Wasim Bari Sheikh, Shahid Hussain Abbassi,

Zamir Hussain Soomro, Maqbool Ahmed Khoso, Shafqat Ali Sheikh, Muhammad Iqbal Khoso, Ali Khan Khoso, Anwer Ali Khoso, Abdul

Qadir Sheikh and Amir Bux Khoso. My best friend was Khalid Hussain Channa who is presently serving as lecturer in English at Government

Boys Degree College Shahdadkot. Of the girls, the oldest was Abida Parveen Sheikh. Other girls were Reshma Magsi, Hasina Begum Sheikh

and Vejanti Kumari Makheeja.

I got first position in 5th Class. I was so happy on this achievement. My handwriting was neat and clean. Mr. Abdul Haque Silro, our class

teacher encouraged us very much in studies. We used to go his house for delivering fresh vegetables and fruits. His house lay in between

Hirabad and Baqarabad. The area of Baqarabad is named after his father Haji Muhammad Baqar Silro. A railway lines separated both of the

areas. We stole Iron Bars from railway lines as these were easy to take out from the wooden plaques of the line. We used these bars for ringing

school bells. Some of my class fellows sold them to scrapers. I got 540 out of 700 Marks. My fifth class Result Sheet Cover 1986-87 gives

following results;

S.No Subject Marks

01 Deeniyat/ Islamiat 80

02 Sindhi (Mother Tounge 90

03 Riazi/Maths 100

04 Samaji Abhyas/Social Studies 60

05 General Science 70

06 Urdu 80

07 Drawing/ Arts 60 Total: 540

A farewell party was arranged and a group photo was taken. I found this historic photograph after 26 years on Saturday 20th July 2013 from

Government Mehran Primary School Shahdadkot old Records. When I received first position my class teacher Mr. Abdul Haque Silro gave

me a reward by offering special cup of tea for me. I took tea and thanked him a lot for his honur. Our class was situated near the main gate of

the school. Beside it there was Shamsuddin Mangi alias Shamshoo’s stall where he sold edibles to the students in recess. We would complain

him that he would give girls more edibles in case of boys. He was as red as a tomato. Many years later he became a Primary School Teacher

and has died some years back. It was the time when I was pushed forward in school Assembly. I fell on the ground and my head struck with

burnt brick fixed in the ground. The blood gushed out from my head and I was taken to the clinic of Dr. Muhammad Saleh Sheikh. He put a

bandage on my head. I was healed but a mark remained forever on my face. I entered Government Mehran Primary School Shahdadkot on

18-5-1982 and left it on 31-3-1987. Some days before leaving this school on 15th March 1987 Jashan-e-Baharan was celebrated in Govt: Main

Primary School Shahdadkot where some of our teachers had been invited in the programme.

We all friends decided to plan a trip after passing the examination. Finally it was unanimously decided that Golo Wah would be a pleasant

place as it was the village of our Khosa class fellows. We got into the bus and reached at Railway Bridge near Golo Wah. The air was fresh and

full with crops scent. A Saline watercourse came from the east. Our friends Muhammad Iqbal Khoso, Anwer Ali Khoso, Ali Khan Khoso and

Amir Bux Khoso had fertile lands beside this village. We visited the fields and swum in the watercourses and ponds. We also caught fish and

entertained ourselves with different games. Our Khosa friends served us with meals and butter milk. It was a remarkable trip in the early

years of our life.

63

FAREWELL PARTY OF VTH CLASS GOVERNMENT PRIMARY MEHRAN SCHOOL SHAHDADKOT 1987

Mr. Taj Muhamad Wadho, Mr. Aijaz Ali Wadho, Mr. Shamsuddin Soomro, Mr. Nazar Muhammad Dayo (Head Master), Mr.

Muhammad Yousif Brohi (Supervisor Education Department), Mr. Abdul Haque Silro and Mr. Moula Bux Wadho,

Mr. Ghous Bux Bhatti, Mr. Muhammad Nawaz Wadho, Mr. Muhammad Yousif Khoso, Mr. Abdul Rasool Mangi, Mr.

Azizullah Soomro, Mr. Abdul Rasool Bhatti and Mr. Ali Gul Mangi.

Aijaz Ali Soomro, Khalid Husaain Channa, Amir Bux Khoso, Maqbool Ahmed Khoso, Anwer Ali Khoso, Ali Khan Khoso and

Muhammad Iqbal Khoso

Wasim Bari Sheikh, Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi, Shahid Hussain Abbassi and Aijaz Ali Soomro

64