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
SAROH
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Story of my Life: Adventures and Experiences on Prasiane, the lost Island of River Indus
An Autobiography
Volume: -I 1977-1987 AD
If you would not be forgotten As soon as you are dead and rotten Either write things worth reading 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
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 lifes 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
PROLOGUE
Im 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. Im 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. Im also registered as Research Scholar in M.Phil Studies at University of Sindh Jamshoro Sindh Pakistan. Im 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. Im Capricorn. My height is 5 feet and 6 inches. I weigh 70 Kgs. I have a lot of friends and followers round the globe. Im married to Sartaj Sheikhmy 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
The Old Courses of River Indus in Kandhkot, 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. The Jacobabad Course, 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 courses remnant deposits become mixed with Kachhi Plain piedmont sediments and the course becomes untraceable any further west. The 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 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 elephants. 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
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 Batutas 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 Sirwah. Sirwah 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.
CONTENTS
CHAPTERCHAPTER-I
SEEDS
I HAVE INDIGENOUS BLOOD & BONES MY BIRTH & PARENTAGE ORIGION & FAMILY BACKGROUND OF MY GRANDPARENTS MY GRANDFATHERS LIFE STORY MY PARENTS & THEIR NEIGHBOURS IN SHAHDADKOT RESIDENCE AT KHUZDAR BALOCHISTAN THE ASSASINATION OF MR. ZULFIQAR ALI BHUTTO END OF MY GRANDFATHERS LIFE
CHAPTERCHAPTER-II
MEMORIES
THE FALL OF AMERICAN SKYLAB ON EARTH SHIFTING FROM OLD HOUSE TO PRESENT HOME The LIFE, WORKS AND DESCENDENTS OF RAIS WAJID ALI KHAN KHUHAWAR HARRASMENT ON THE MURDER OF SILRA BROTHERS IN SHAHDADKOTSHAHDADKOT-20th JANUARY 1982 THE OLD TREES & THE GHOSTS ABOUT SYDES OF ROHRI SIDKLISIDKLI-A FAMILY MAN THE TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY, MUHARAM PROCESSIONS AND HOLY SHRINES MY UNCLES WEDDING AT VILLAGE RAUNTI NEAR KAMBER MY TRADITIONAL CEREMONY OF CIRCUMCISON
CHAPTERCHAPTER-III III
RAYS OF LIGHT
HOW DID I START MY EDUCATION? MRD MOVEMENTMOVEMENT-SEPTEMBER 1983 CELEBRATION OF LATIF DAY IN SHAHDADKOT TEXTILE MILLSMILLS-1984 SCHOOL LEAVE ON THE ASSASINATION DAY OF INDIRA GANDHI LEARNING HOLY QURAN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION AT JAMIA QAIMQAIM-E-ALAL-E-MUHAMMAD MY FATHERS MISHAP IN A ROBBERY NEAR GOLO WAH, SHAHDADKOT PROBLEM OF PAROO CAHNDIO LOVE WITH RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES ACTIVITIES & NATURAL BEAUTY ALLAHALLAH-O-AKBER: WATCHING ISLAMIC DOCUMENTRY IN CINEMA THE GRAVEYARD OF SPARROWS MY MOTHERS SUDDEN DEATH ON EIDEID-RAMAZANRAMAZAN-1986 MRD MOVEMENTMOVEMENT-AUGUST 1986 MY ELDER BROTHERS MARRIAGE AT MIRO KHAN NIZAMIA NIGHT SCHOOL OTHER STORIES FROM PRIMARY SCHOOL DAYS CUP OF TEA REWARD & TRIP TO GOLO WAH -MARCH 1987
SEEDS
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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.
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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 Chuhras 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 its a Sayed clan (Agricultural) found in Montgomery area.
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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 Pakistans 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; its 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 husbands 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.
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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 husbands 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 grandfathers 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 fathers 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 grandfathers 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.
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Whereas Jaffar Mgasi our neighbouer had two sons called Mumtaz and Altaf. There was also house of Mai Phami Magsi, Mag a Physical disabled lady. Her husbands name was Ghulam Rasool Mach Machhi who belonged to Larkana. She would eat meal, drink k water, and an put thread into needle with her feet because she was armless. I myse myself saw Mai Phami Magsi practically doing all these things. Her eyes ey always seemed to be reddish and heavy. She was fond of Naswar r and biri. It is said that she went to perform Hajj on grant of General Zia-ul-Haq, Zia the then president of Pakistan. Comrade Wali Muhammad ammad M Manganhar wrote an article on her life which was aired on n All India Radio Sindhi Service by Veena Shringi. Her son Sikander Ali Magsi agsi was a donkey cart maker. Muhammad Azeem Magsi, Shoukat t Hussain Soomro and Iqrar Hussain Soomro were also experts in this profession profession. It is said that there were a great number of huts of Nari Wal Chandama faqirs in olden days that lived beside e the garden gard of Sardar Ali Khuhawar which was famous for Pomegranates tree trees. Bano Punjabi worked there who was murdered later. Imdad Magsi, Ma Mai Goher Barijo, Muhammad Haroon Brohi, Habibullah Chandamo, o, S Sikander Magsi, Qasim Magsi, Rozi Faqir Sheikh, Durani ni Sheikh, Moula Bux Bhatti and Jaffar Magsi were also some of the neighbouers. The There was a shop of Punhal Sheikh whom I saw very old and weak. He H seemed to be model of old Hindu Shopkeepers in his appearance. Beside these houses there was house and Rice Mills of Khadim Hussain ussain Langah, La a well-known diehard of PPP in Shahdadkot. On the other er hand in the opposite side of road there were Municipal shops and nd houses of Baleshahi Sweeping Community. There was a garage of Ustad Lutuf Mast Mastoi who repaired vehicles of all kinds. At walking distance ce there was a bungalow of Mir Abdul Qadir Magsi. The houses of Kalhoros, , Chandio Chandios and Chakis located in the neighborhood of Mirs bungalow. Next Nex to it were Kamber Larkana Bus Stand, Bengal Rice Mills and Railways Quarters. The other notable buildings were Godown locally known know as Diko. Actually it was a shed of Old Railway Station Shahdadkot which was considered to be the center of Rice and other crops s supply. There was a cemented water tank for donkey and horse carts. There ere was ho house of Goher Barijo on the present site of Prince Cinema. The growth gro of cinema started from 1947 to 1958. The golden age of this industry w was under President Ayub Khan (1959-1969). The age of VCR was 1970 to 1977. Zia-ulHaques Islamization, Gandasa Culture & downfall p period stretch from 1979-1988. My parents and their relatives also went to see Sindhi films in the cinema like Chandoki, Mithra Shaal Mila Milan, Pardesi aen Piyar and Jeejal Maa. The film industry collapsed in Pakistan from 19882002. The Prince Cinema started working round about 198 1980s. Its plot originally belonged to Mai Goher Barijo. Jahan han Khan Niazi, a rich Pathan bought this plot from her at meager amount. His anc ancestral village lay in Mianwali District Punjab. His wish was to construct con a grand mosque on the site but his son Lala Ghulam Muhammad mmad Nia Niazi was of this opinion that he would build a cinema on that plot. plot Finally the latter succeeded in his desire. He himself labored during th the construction of the cinema. It is said that a labour was as killed during d the construction work. The cinema was very famous among the peopl people. It showed pictures three times in a day i.e. from 3:00 pm, 7:00 pm and 10:00 pm. Its ticket was very cheap. The films of Muhammad mad Ali, Z Zeba, Nadim and Shabnam were very popular. The cinema ma was functional fu up till 1990s. Abdul Razzak Joyo and his brother Muhammad mmad Asla Aslam Joyo were the cinema painters. Their father was Karim rim Bux Joyo, Jo a Railways employee. Lala left Shahdadkot and finally ly moved b back to Mianwali around 2008. He had three sons Sher Bahadur Niazi, N Sherdil Niazi and Sher Samad Niazi. Currently the owner of the cinem cinema property is Shahnawaz Khan Brohi who lives in village Machhi hi Khan K Khokhar near Shahdadkot.
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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 beedaa 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.
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MEMORIES
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My grandfathers 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 brothers 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 Sheikhs thatched hut was situated beside the Hindu house of Lachhi Bai which was started from the end of Chamans 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.
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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 brothers 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 Miranis 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 days 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 Alvis 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.
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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.
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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.
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My elder elder brothers Ghulam Abbass, Akhter Ali, aunty Zarina & me
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RAYS OF LIGHT
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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 Bhuttos 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.
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NajafNajaf-e-Ashraf 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.
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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.
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Sheikh Javed Ali Sindhi, Sartaj Sheikh, Ghulam Abbass Sheikh, Khalid Ali Sheikh, Akhter Ali Sheikh, Ghulam Sughera Sheikh, Mahtab Sheikh, Rozina Sheikh and Himat Ali Sheikh at Khalid Photo Studio Shahdadkot January 1983.
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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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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 Shamshoos 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.
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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
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