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Featured Pakistan: The Archaeological Marvel

Palace of Barrister Raees Ghulam Mohammad Bhurgri (1878-1924),one of the earliest leaders of Sindh during the colonial period. He was contemporary and one of the closest aide of Sir Quaid-e-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah. Located at Dengan Bhurgri, District Mirpurkhas, Sindh .


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Agham Kot founded in 7th Century by Agham Lohana. King Chach of Brahmanabad Dynasty invaded this area after conquering Multan and Sehwan. Agham Lohana died during this invasion. Ruins located 60 km from Hyderabad,close to Gulab Laghari town in Sindh..



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Tombs of Bahwani Lagharis in Johi


Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro

January 29, 2021




Tombs of Bahwani Lagharis in Johi


The tomb of Jaro Faqir



The Bahwani Lagharis claim their descent. Several members of this family served the Kalhoras (1700-1783). The descendants of noblemen still narrate stories eulogizing their bravery which they displayed in the battlefields. Some excelled in the administrative matters and others in battles.


Shah Baho Laghari was a khalifo (deputy) of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro and a member of the top advisory council which was then called ‘Shahi or Shah group’ within the Mianwal Tariqa of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. He remained very close to Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. His advice was sought during the battles which were fought against the Panhwars and the Mughal Nawabs.

There were 360 khalifas of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. Many of them are buried in the necropolis of Mian Nasir Muhammad. Shah Baho was also buried in the necropolis of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. In fact, Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro is believed to have erected the tombs for the Shahi group and the soldiers and generals of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. The tomb of Shah Baho is located southwest of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro’s mausoleum.


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The tomb of Jaro Faqir


The south-western side of the graveyard contains the tombs of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro’s Laghari disciples. Shah Baho’s tomb is conspicuous from a distance. The tomb is erected on a low podium. The main archway of the tomb opens to the south. The conical dome rests on an octagonal drum. Corner kiosks surround the dome. It enshrines a single grave of Shah Baho. The tomb is noted for its conical dome which resembles Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro’s mausoleum.

Since Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro was a Sufi, the dome over his grave is symbolic of a Sufi kullah. It is noteworthy that all the tombs built later imitated the tomb of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. There are two possible reasons. It is a symbolic relationship between a Faqir (disciple) and Mian (mentor) which is reflected in the architecture. The second explanation could be the spiritual relationship between the Faqir and Mian which is again reflected in the dome surmounting the graves of the disciples.

The disciples who died in the distant land and dead bodies could not be brought for burials to the necropolis of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro imitated the dome of their mentor. This practice continued when even the Kalhora dynasty was supplanted by the Talpurs. Even today, some devotees wish that after their death their tombs should imitate the tomb of their mentor.



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Necropolis of Bahwani Lagharis near Qasbo, Johi


Therefore, the tomb, though built by Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro, imitated the dome of Mian Nasir’s mausoleum. According to Muhammad Umar of Qasbo village, a descendant of Shah Baho, Shah Baho had two sons Pahar Faqir and Jaro Faqir.

Pahar Faqir was the eldest son of Shah Baho who served Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro. It so happened that Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro had appointed him as an administrator of Qasbo and Gaj area in Johi. He used to arrest criminals and punished them accordingly.

There was a prison in Qasbo village where he used to hang the criminals. Due to some domestic problems between the families of Jaro Faqir and Pahar Faqir, the latter could not pay much attention to the criminal activities in the region under his control.

The sad part of the story is that the son of Pahar Faqir killed the son of Jaro over some land dispute. When this news reached Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro, he called both the parties. Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro sacked Pahar Faqir and instead appointed Jaro Faqir as a new administrator of the area.


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Lime plastered graves in the necropolis of Bahwanis


Pahar Faqir died in the reign of Mian Noor Muhammad Kalhoro and was buried in the necropolis of the Bahwanis, which lies about 2 km south of Qasbo village in Johi tehsil of Dadu District. The necropolis is situated on the right bank of the old course of Gaj Nai. It is a brick-built canopy which is located south of the necropolis where his descendants’ lime-plastered graves are also located.

The canopy of Pahar Faqir is erected on a square platform. It is an octagonal structure superimposed with a conical dome resembling the dome of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro’s mausoleum. However, the plaster of the dome has come off. The canopy lies in a very bad state of preservation. The finial which once surmounted the dome is also broken. It enshrines a single grave of Pahar Faqir.

The interior of the canopy is adorned with floral and figural patterns. But only the traces of the paintings can be seen now. This is a very small structure. Such similar octagonal and contemporary structures are found in the graveyards of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro, Mir Allahyar Khan Talpur, Murid Dero, Muridani Jamali, Pat Suleiman, Shah Faqir Rodnani and Araro in Khairpur Nathan Shah and Johi tehsils of Dadu District.


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Canopy of Pahar Faqir

Close to the canopy are several lime-plastered graves erected on the platforms. The graves of family members are erected on common platforms. There are at least 30 such lime-plastered graves erected over platforms that belong to the Paharani lineage of the Bahwani Lagharis.

Qasbo was an important town in the Kalhora period

Jaro Faqir was also an administrator of Qasbo and the Gaj valley. Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro had replaced his brother Pahar Faqir when Mian Yar Muhammad sacked the latter. He maintained law and order in the region very wisely. And he also constructed some watchtowers in Gaj valley by the order of Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro.

In order to keep an eye on the Brohis of Khuzdar, who frequently invaded the villages which were under the dominion of Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro. Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro had also posted some soldiers there. The graves of those soldiers are located in the necropolis of Hayat Faqir in Gaj valley.


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Kalhora period mosque at Qasbo, Johi


Qasbo was an important town in the Kalhora period. The mosque of the Kalhora period (1700-183) is still extant in Qasbo although it lost its original beauty due to frequent renovations.
He died during the reign of Mian Noor Muhammad Kalhoro.

The tomb of Jaro Faqir is located in the necropolis of Bahwanis. He was believed to have built the tomb during his lifetime. It is a brick-built canopy but is larger than Pahar Faqir’s canopy. It is a twelve-pillared, which is erected on a raised platform as compared to the canopy of Pahar Faqir which is erected on a low platform. It enshrines a single grave which belongs to Jaro Faqir. The canopy lies in a dilapidated condition. The dome of the canopy has caved in. Only the drum of the canopy is still extant.

Close to the canopy are several lime-plastered chaukhandi graves erected on a common platform which belong to the descendants of Jaro Faqir.

At present, the Bahwani Lagharis live in Qasbo, Dittal, and other villages in Johi taluka of Dadu District.

Apart from the tombs and the chaukhandis of the Bahwnani Lagharis, there are lime plastered chaukhandi graves of Shahwani Lagharis too. The necropolis also contains the shrine of Chhato Faqir Shahwani. He was the son of Shaho Faqir Laghari and was a disciple of Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro. He belonged to the Surandai group of the Mianwal Tariqa. There is a popular love story of Mai Madan Kaur and Chhato Faqir which was well narrated by Bhai Khan Laghari of Qasbo who died last year.

According to Bhai Khan Laghari, Chatto Faqir fell in love with a Sikh lady named Madan Kaur who was from Qasbo. When the father of Mai Madan knew about the love story of his daughter and Chhato Faqir, he left his three-storeyed Maari (mansion) and migrated to Johi which was then a small village. After a few days, when Chatto Faqir came to know of this, he was heartbroken. He was an accomplished fiddle player, so his friends asked him in a joke that he should keep playing surando until Mai Madan heard it.

According to legend, it was not possible that the music of Surando could reach to her house in Johi village, but Chhato Faqir who was intoxicated in the love of Mai Madan started playing the Surando (fiddle). He kept palying day and night and his condition started to worsen. Mai Madan heard about the worsening condition of Chatto Faqir and she came back to Qasbo from Johi to meet her beloved Chatto Faqir Laghari. Afterwards,
both decided to get married.

Today, the Maari of Mai Madan does not exist now but the remains of Tikaney waro Khuh (name of the well) which was before the Maari is still extant. The grave of Mai Madan Kaur is located near the grave of Chhato Faqir in the necropolis of the Bahwanis.

Local people venerate him and have placed chadars (cloths) over his graves. The descendants of Chhato Faqir live in the Shahwani village which lies about 2 km south of Qasbo.

The tombs of the Bahwani Lagharis are in a dilapidated condition. They need to be preserved by the authorities concerned before they become history.

The writer is an anthropologist. He may be contacted at zulfi04@hotmail.com

All photos are by the writer



 
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Archaeologists Start Excavation At 2000 Years Old Buddhist Site In Swat


PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jan, 2021 ) Directorate of Archaeology and Museums Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has started scientific archaeological excavations at 2000 years old Buddhist site of Aba Saib Chena in Swat district.

Aba Saib Chena is Swat region's biggest Bhuddhist complex and this is first excavation of this site by Archeology Department, said Director Archeology and Museums, Dr. Abdul Samad Khan.

In a press statement issued here on Wednesday, Director Archeology said professional team of archeology and conservation has started work at the site and in the initial days we found four big stupas, monasteries and other settlements including small stupas.

"Archaeological findings at this site will add new information to history of Buddhism and promote religious tourism in KP," Samad remarked.

Aba Saib Chena has remained a center of Buddhist civilization and the antiquities recovered from the site dates back to Ist century AD, 2000 years old, he disclosed. Other recoveries included coins, Buddhist painting, traces of fresco paintings etc.

The excavation has been started around a month earlier and will continue for three to four months for completion.

Director Archeology and Museum KP expressed the hope that the discovering from this site would reshape the history of this region and new information would be explored which will enhance archaeological importance of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

 
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Preserving centuries-old method of grinding wheat


Amjad Iqbal
July 3, 2016


A traditional water mill on a stream in a valley near Hassanabdal.



A traditional water mill on a stream in a valley near Hassanabdal.


Residents of the katchi abadi along the Haro River in Hassanabdal have kept their centuries-old water-run flour mills known as jandars.

The mills are powered by fast-flowing water from the nearby river, which turns the heavy grindstone to produce flour.

Though there are many machine-run flour mills in the area, residents of Hassan Abdal and its surrounding areas prefer to grind their wheat grains in the traditional water-run mills due to a wide-held belief that wheat from jandars is of better quality and tastes better than mass produced flour. Owners do not charge money for grinding wheat, rather take a share from the ground flour.


Flour ground in water mills remains safe from insects and other pests for many months


“Flour ground in water mills remains safe from insects and other pests for many months. That is why you see so many people waiting with sacks of wheat to be ground,” said a jandar owner Khalid Mehmood.


Mr Mehmood has been operating his watermill since he was a young boy and said he will continue with his forefathers’ business. In reply to a question, he said that while there is a long list of benefits of watermill ground flour, the one disadvantage is that the process is very time consuming. It takes several hours to grind a kilogramme of wheat, he said.

“I have been operating this mill for a long time and I charge less than what machine-run flour mills do. For grinding 2,000 kilogrammes of flour, we take 50kg of flour,” said Nisar Khan, the owner of another jandar.

He said the mill has been in his family for generations, adding that traditional water mills are environment-friendly and do not consume fuel.


Wheat being ground into flour. — Photos by the writer



Wheat being ground into flour. — Photos by the writer


Because it does not need electricity to run, people of the area do not have to worry about the shortage of flour when during prolonged hours of load-shedding, said Shahid Khan, a local flour mill operator whose family has been in the profession for many decades. The cost of machine-ground flour increases with increases in the prices of fuel, he said.

“Jandar-produced flour is cheap because the owner only keeps a kg of flour for grinding 5kg,” he said, adding that there were no factors such as fuel to drive the price up.

“Flour from water-run mills tastes better which is why people come from far away to grind their wheat,” said Sadaqat Ali, who had travelled 20 kilometres to the mill.

Another regular customer at the mill, Dr Arshad said flour from the mill does not spoil for month and that the mills also do not harm the environment as it does not require fuel.

The traditional jandars cater to the flour requirements of the local population. Comprising of a small 12x14 foot room and only requiring a small capital investment, these mills grind wheat and maize flour in fine and super fine quality in addition to chokar (chaff) and sooji.

A local archaeologist, AG Lone, said the jandars of Hassan Abdal are almost 300 years old.

“They should be preserved for the future generations,” he said.
 
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برہمن آباد: ’چار دروازوں والے شہر‘ کے نیچے اسلامی تہذیب سے کئی صدیوں قبل کے آثار برآمد

  • ریاض سہیل
  • بی بی سی اردو ڈاٹ کام، کراچی
13 جنوری 2021




آثار قدیمہ




سندھ کے وسط میں موجود برہمن آباد کے کھنڈرات سے عرب سپہ سالار محمد بن قاسم کی آمد سے قبل کے آثار برآمد ہوئے ہیں۔ تاریخی حوالوں میں تو اس کا ذکر ملتا تھا لیکن شاہ عبدالطیف یونیورسٹی کے شعبہ آرکیالوجی نے حالیہ سائنسی تحقیق سے ثابت کیا ہے کہ یہاں تیسری صدی عیسوی کی آبادی کے آثار موجود ہیں۔

برہمن آباد کہاں ہے؟


اگر آپ بذریعہ ٹرین کراچی سے لاہور کی طرف جا رہے ہیں تو ٹنڈوآدم ریلوے سٹیشن کے بعد شہدادپور سٹیشن آتا ہے، اس سے کوئی 18 کلومیٹر دور برہمن آباد یا منصورہ کے قدیم شہر کے آثار موجود ہیں۔
یہاں ایک سٹوپا بھی موجود ہے جس کو بعض مؤرخ بدھ سٹوپا یا عبادت گاہ قرار دیتے ہیں جبکہ آس پاس سرخ اینٹوں کی ڈھیریاں لگی ہوئی ہیں اور یہ چار کلومیٹر سے زائد رقبے پر پھیلا ہوا ہے۔
محکمہ آثار قدیمہ اور نوادرات کا کہنا ہے کہ برصغیر میں یہ مسلمانوں کا پہلا مضبوط مرکز تھا، جو دریا میں جزیرہ نما شہر تھا۔



آثار قدیمہ




برہمن آباد کی کھدائی کب ہوئی؟
بیلاسس اور رچرڈسن نے سنہ 1854 میں پہلی بار ان آثار قدیمہ کی کھدائی کی اس کے بعد ہینری کیزنز نے اس کو آگے بڑھایا۔ قیام پاکستان کے بعد قومی وزارت آثار قدیمہ کی جانب سے سنہ 1962 میں کھدائی کی گئی جس کی ابتدائی رپورٹ تو شائع ہوئی لیکن جامع رپورٹ آج تک شائع نہیں کی گئی۔
اس رپورٹ میں ڈاکٹر ایف اے خان نے قرار دیا کہ یہ منصورہ شہر کے آثار ہیں اور یہاں سے مسجد کے آثار ملے ہیں جبکہ اسلام سے قبل کے آثار نہیں دستیاب۔
شاہ عبدالطیف یونیورسٹی کے شعبہ آرکیالوجی سے منسلک ڈاکٹر غلام محی الدین ویسر کا کہنا ہے کہ اس رپورٹ میں عمارتوں کی سطح، یا ادوار پر کوئی بات نہیں کی گئی۔




آثار قدیمہ




حالیہ تحقیق کا مقصد کیا ہے؟
شاہ عبدالطیف یونیورسٹی کے شعبے آرکیالوجی کے سربراہ ڈاکٹر غلام محی الدین ویسر کی سربراہی میں اساتذہ اور طالب علموں پر مشتمل 20 افراد کا گروپ حالیہ دنوں برہمن آباد کے آثار کی تحقیق کر رہا ہے، ابتدائی طور پر چھ مقامات پر یہ تحقیق جاری ہے جسے اگلے مرحلے میں وسیع کیا جائے گا۔
ڈاکٹر غلام محی الدین ویسر کا کہنا ہے کہ ’ہم یہ دیکھنا چاہتے ہیں کہ یہ جو مفروضہ ہے کہ جب محمد بن قاسم آیا تھا اس وقت یہ آبادی بنی تھی یہ درست ہے کہ نہیں، یہاں عمارتوں کی سطح کیا ہے، کس قسم کے مٹی کے برتن مل رہے ہیں اور وہ کس صدی اور ادوار کی عکاسی کرتے ہیں۔‘
یاد رہے کہ محمد بن قاسم نے بغداد کے حکمران حجاج بن یوسف کے حکم پر 712 ہجری میں سندھ پر حملہ کیا تھا، اس وقت یہاں یہاں راجہ داہر کی حکومت تھی۔



آثار قدیمہ



مسجد کے نیچے قدیم آبادی کے نشانات
ڈاکٹر غلام محی الدین ویسر کا کہنا ہے کہ پہلے کی تحقیق میں ایک جامع مسجد کا ذکر ملتا ہے اس لیے انھوں نے چار گڑھے، مسجد ایریا میں لگائے ہیں جو 15 فٹ نیچے تک گئے ہیں جس سے یہ معلوم ہوا ہے کہ جو موجودہ شہر ہے اس سے پہلے بھی ایک آبادی تھی۔
ان کے مطابق یہاں جو عمارتوں کی سطح مل رہی ہے یا مٹی کے برتن مل رہے ہیں اس میں بھی فرق نظر آ رہا ہے اور اس میں اسلامی دور کی نشانیاں بھی ہیں اور قبل از اسلامی ادوار بھی شامل ہیں۔
انھوں نے بتایا کہ ’یہاں سے ملنے والے مٹی کے برتن تیسری صدی عیسوی سے مشہابت رکھتے ہیں جو ساسانی دور (اسلام سے قبل ایران کا آخری بادشاہی دور) سے تعلق رکھتے ہیں اسی نوعیت کے برتن بھنبور کے آثار قدیمہ سے بھی مل چکے ہیں۔
’اس بنیاد پر یہ کہا جا سکتا ہے یہ شہر تیسری صدی سے آباد تھا، اس کا پھیلاؤ دیکھتے ہیں تو ہم کہتے ہیں کہ محمد بن قاسم جب یہاں آئے تو انھوں نے اس کو فتح کیا لیکن لوگ یہاں پہلے سےآباد تھے۔‘



آثار قدیمہ




قیمتی پتھر اور زیورات
برہمن آباد پر کی گئی تحقیق سے یہ بھی معلوم ہوتا ہے کہ یہ شہر معاشی سرگرمیوں کا مرکز رہا ہو گا۔
اس سے پہلے کی گئی تحقیق میں یہاں سے سکے اور دیگر نوادرات ملے تھے جو قیام پاکستان سے قبل برٹش میوزیم اور بمبئی منتقل کر دیے گئے تھے۔



آثار قدیمہ




ڈاکٹر ویسر کا کہنا ہے کہ حالیہ تحقیق میں مٹی کے برتنوں کے علاوہ قیمتی پتھر، نیلم، روبی، زمرد بھی پائے گئے ہیں اس کے علاوہ ان کی پالش کرنے کے آلات اور سانچے بھی برآمد ہوئے ہیں۔
’جس سے اندازہ ہوتا ہے کہ ان کی یہاں صنعت موجود تھی۔ اس کے علاوہ ہاتھی دانت کے زیورات، شیل اور سکے بھی ملے ہیں اور سکوں کی صفائی کے بعد یہ معلوم ہو گا کہ یہ کس دور کے ہیں۔‘



آثار قدیمہ




زیر زمین پانی کے حصول کا نظام

موئن جو دڑو اور بھنبھور کی طرح برہمن آباد سے بھی پینے کے پانی کے کنویں ملے ہیں لیکن یہ اُن سے منفرد ہیں۔
ڈاکٹر غلام محی الدین بتاتے ہیں کہ مٹی کے برتنوں کی طرح بھٹی میں بنی ہوئِے پائپ کے رنگ کی ایک لائن پندرہ فٹ سے بھی نیچے جا رہی ہے ان رنگوں کو آپس میں ملا کر یہ لائن بنائی گئی۔ زیر زمین پانی کے حصول کے لیے یہ لائن عمودی چل رہی ہے، یہ اپنی طرز کی منفرد ٹیکنالوجی ہے، اس سے پہلے کی تحقیق میں اس لائن کو نکاسی آب کی لائن قرار دیا گیا تھا۔



آثار قدیمہ

چار دروازوں والا شہر
برہمن آباد پر عربی، فارسی سمیت مختلف زبانوں میں تاریخی مواد شامل ہے، جن سے اس شہر کی موجودگی کا پتہ چلتا ہے۔
سندھی زبان کے تاریخ اور ڈرامہ نویس مرزا قلیچ بیگ ’قدیم سندھ‘ میں لکھتے ہیں کہ ہندو راجاؤں کے زمانے میں برہمن آباد سات بڑے قلعوں والے شہروں میں شامل تھا۔
برہمن راجہ چچ کی حکومت میں اگھم لوہانہ یہاں کا حاکم تھا، لاکھا، سما اور سھتا برداری اس کے زیر اثر تھیں۔ اس کا حکم سمندر تک یعنی دیبل بندر گاہ تک چلتا تھا۔ چچ نے اگھم سے لڑائی کر کے اس کو شکست دی اور شہر پر کنٹرول کر کے اگھم کی بیوہ سے شادی کر لی۔
وہ مزید لکھتے ہیں کہ چچ کا بیٹا راجہ داہر جب حکمران ہوا تو اس نے اپنے بھائی داہر سیئن کو یہاں کا حاکم مقرر کیا اور اس کی وفات کے بعد اس کے بیٹے کو حکمرانی دی گئی۔
آثار قدیمہ




مولائی شیدائی ’جنت السندھ‘ میں لکھتے ہیں کہ یہاں بدھ مت کا ایک بڑا عبادت خانہ تھا اور علم جوتش کے ماہر یہاں موجود تھے۔ چچ نے سخت گیر برہمن ہونے کے باوجود بدھوں کی عبادت گاہ برقرار رکھی تھی۔
ڈاکٹر ویسر کہتے ہیں کہ پہلے تحقیق میں یہ کہا گیا کہ یہاں بدھمت کا سٹوپا بھی ہے لیکن اس کی خصوصیات یا علامات کا متعلقہ مواد دستیاب نہیں کیونکہ بدھ سٹوپا کی الگ خصوصیات ہوتی ہیں، اس قدر کے بدھا کا کوئی مجمسہ یا مورت بھی نہیں ملتی۔



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محمد بن قاسم کی آمد

’جنت السندھ‘ میں مولائی شیدائی لکھتے ہیں کہ راجہ داہر کے قتل کے بعد ان کے بیٹے جیسئین کے پاس محمد علافی (محمد علافی نے عمان میں خلیفہ کے خلاف بغاوت کی تھی اور ناکامی پر راجہ داہر نے اس کو پناہ دی تھی) سمیت 15 ہزار کا لشکر تھا۔ دونوں کو وزیر سیاسگر نے برہمن آباد کی طرف جانے کا مشورہ دیا، جہاں بے شمار خزانہ دفن تھا۔
برہمن آباد کے قلعے کے چار دروازے تھے جر بیڑی (کشتی) ساہتیا، منھڑو اور سالباہ۔ جن پر جئسین نے چار سپہ سالار فوجوں سمیت مقرر کیے تھے، بقول ان کے محمد بن قاسم سے سندھیوں کی یہ آخری جنگ تھی۔
ماہ رجب میں عرب لشکر برہمن آباد کے قریب پہنچا، محمد بن قاسم کے حکم پر خندقیں کھودی گئیں، جئسین نے گوریلا جنگ شروع کر دی اور سارے علاقے کو ویران کر دیا تاکہ اسلامی لشکر کو سامان کی رسد اور جانوروں کو گھاس نہ ملے، چھ ماہ کے گھیراؤ کے بعد شکست ہوئی اور شہریوں نے قلعے کے دروازے کھول دیے۔ محمد بن قاسم نے ان پر جزیہ مقرر کیا، یہ فتح محرم سنہ 94 ہجری میں ہوئی۔




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ایرانی بادشاہ کا شہر

برہمن آباد کے بارے میں بعض محققین کا خیال ہے کہ یہ شہر ایرانی بادشاہ نے آباد کیا تھا، سندھ کے تعلیم دان اور تاریخ دان غلام علی الانا مہران میگزین میں اپنے مضمون ’منصورہ پر اسماعیلی حکومت‘ میں لکھتے ہیں کہ ساسانی گھرانے کے حکمران گشتسپ نے وادی سندھ کی حکومت اپنے پوتے بہمن کے حوالے کی تھی، جو ایران کی تاریخ میں ’ہمن اردشیر دراز دست‘ سے مشہور ہے۔
بھمن نے سندھ میں بھمنو نام سے شہر آباد کیا جو پھر ’برہم آباد‘ کے نام سے مشہور ہوا، عرب سیاحوں میں سے کچھ نے برہم آباد اور منصورہ کو ایک ہی شہر بیان کیا۔ وہ یاقوت لحومی، حمزہ کا حوالہ دیتے ہوئے لکھتے ہیں المنصورہ، برہمن آباد کا دوسرا نام ہے۔ عرب سیاح البیرونی کی رائے کے مطابق برہمن آباد کا نام بھمنوا ہے، مسلمانوں کی حکومت سے قبل اس شہر کو برہم آْباد پکارا جاتا تھا۔
سندھ کے محقق اور تاریخ نویس ڈاکٹر نبی بخش بلوچ بھی ڈاکٹر الانا کی رائے کی تائید کرتے ہیں۔ ان کا کہنا ہے کہ برہمن آباد بہمن اردشیر کے حکم سے تعمیر ہوا اور غالبا کافی عرصے کے بعد جب سندھ میں برہمنوں کا اثر و رسوخ بڑھا تو بھمن آباد کے نام کو برہمن آباد پکارا جانے لگا۔ یہ تبدیلی برہمنوں کے تسلط یا پھر سندھی زبان کی مقامی ادائیگی کی وجہ سے وجود میں آئی۔


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برہمن آباد یا منصورہ

محققین کا خیال ہے کہ عسکری اور سیاسی ضروریات کے پیش نظر سندھ میں عربوں کو اپنے شہر آباد کرنے پڑے جن میں محفوظہ، بیضا اور منصورہ مشہور ہوئے۔

ایلیئٹ بلاذری کے حوالے سے لکھتا ہے کہ برھم آباد منصورہ سے دور تھا، اس کے ساتھ ان کی یہ رائے بھی ہے کہ برھم آباد کا کافی حصہ منصورہ میں شامل ہو گیا تھا اور محفوظہ اس کے برابر میں آباد کیا گیا۔
سندھ کے تاریخ نویس ایم ایچ پنہور لکھتے ہیں کہ تاریخی شواہد سے معلوم ہوتا ہے برہمن آباد اور منصورہ ایک ہی شہر کے دو نام ہیں، یزید ال قلبی کے زمانے میں سندھ کا دارالحکومت الور سے منصورہ منتقل کیا گیا۔

بشاری المقدسی جس نے 961 عسیوی میں سندھ کا دورہ کیا نے اپنی کتاب ’احسان التقسیم معارف الکلیم‘ میں لکھا کہ منصورہ ایک کلومیٹر طویل اور دو کلومیٹر چوڑا شہر ہے جس کے چاروں اطراف میں دریا ہے اور چار دروازے ہیں۔


بقول اس کے منصورہ اپنی اراضی میں دمشق کے برابر ہے۔ مکانات مٹی اور لکڑی کے ہیں لیکن جامع مسجد پتھروں اور اینٹوں سے بنی ہوئی ہے اور اچھی ِخاصی بڑی عمارت ہے جو وسط شہر میں ہے۔


Mahmud of Ghazni attacking the Jats on the Chenab River, Northern India in 1026. Yam?n-ud-Dawla Abul-Q??im Ma?m?d ibn Sebükteg?n, aka Mahmud of Ghazni or Mahm?d-i Z?bul?, 971 – 1030. Prominent ruler of the Ghaznavid Empire. From Hutchinson's History of the Nations, published 1915.

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محمود غزنوی کی جانب سے سنہ 1026 میں شمالی ہندوستان پر کیے جانے والے ایک حملے کا خیالی منظر


محمود غزنوی کا حملہ؟

برہمن آباد پر محمود غزنوی نے بھی حملہ کیا تھا۔ ایم ایچ پنہور لکھتے ہیں کہ سومنات مندر پر حملے کے بعد محمود غزنوی نے منصورہ پر حملہ کیا، یہاں خفیف سومرو کی حکومت تھی جو حملے سے پہلے فرار ہو گیا، یہاں بڑے پیمانے پر قتل و غارت ہوئی اور شہر کے کچھ حصے کو نذر آتش کیا گیا۔

پنہور لکھتے ہیں محمود غزنوی کے درباری شاعر فرخی نے اپنے دس سطروں کے قصیدے میں خفیف کے کھجور کے باغوں میں فرار ہونے، زندگی بچانے کے لیے دریا میں کھود کر جانیں گنوانے والے لوگوں اور قتل عام کا ذکر کیا ہے۔
ہینری کینز کا حوالہ دیتے ہوئے پنہور لکھتے ہیں کہ جس طرح گلیوں میں سے سکے پڑے ملے ہیں اس سے یہ اندازہ ہوتا ہے کہ یہاں سے لوٹ مار کی گئی ہے۔

بعض مؤرخین کا خیال ہے کہ محمود غزنوی موجودہ انڈین گجرات میں سومنات پر حملے کے بعد واپسی پر منصورہ آیا اور یہاں حملے کے بعد ملتن پر حملہ آور ہوا۔ تاہم ایم ایچ پنہور اس سے اتفاق نہیں کرتے ہیں۔
ڈاکٹر غلام علی الانا لکھتے ہیں کہ شیعہ تحریک کے علمبردار مبلغ الاشتر سب سے پہلے منصورہ میں وارد ہوئے اور اس وقت ابو جعفر منصور عباسی کی خلافت کا زمانہ اور عمر بن حفص والی منصورہ تھے۔ وہ سادات کے طرفدار تھا اور انھوں نے اس کو دعوت دی، جس نے شہر کے بااثر افراد کو طلب کیا اور کسی جمعرات کو بیعت لینے کا فیصلہ کیا لیکن یہ خبر بغداد تک پہنچ گئی اور الاشتر کو فرار ہونا پڑا۔

برہمن آباد یا منصورہ کا زوال کیسے آیا؟

بیلاسس اور رچرڈسن جنھوں نے یہاں پہلے کھدائی کی تھی کا خیال ہے کہ زلزلے کی وجہ سے شہر اجڑ گیا تھا۔

شاہ عبدالطیف یونیورسٹی کے شعبے آرکیالوجی کے سربراہ غلام محی الدین زلزلے کی تھیوری تو مسترد کرتے ہیں کیونکہ ’دیواریں سلامت ہیں اور کہیں بھی جھکی ہوئی نہیں ہیں۔‘ وہ اس مؤقف سے بھی اتفاق نہیں کرتے کہ شہر پر حملہ کر کے نذر آتش کیا گیا ہو، بقول ان کے ’آگ کے نشانات یا جلی ہوئی لکڑیاں وغیرہ برآمد نہیں ہوئی ہیں۔‘

ایم ایچ پنہور کا خیال ہے کہ تاریخی ریکارڈ ظاہر کرتا ہے کہ ہاکڑا دریا سوکھ گیا اور دریائے سندھ نے بھی اپنا رُخ تبدیل کیا، یہ تبدیلیاں اس خطے میں 10 صدی عیسوی میں آئیں۔

ڈاکٹر ویسر کا بھی خیال ہے کہ یہ ہو سکتا ہے کہ دریائے سندھ نے اپنا رخ تبدیل کیا ہو، جس کے مواصلات اورسہولیات متاثر ہوئی ہوں۔

ان کے مطابق بعد میں ملنے والا عمارتی ڈھانچہ اتنا اچھا نہیں جو اس سے پہلے والوں کا مل رہا ہے جنھوں نے بعد میں گھر بنائے

ہیں ان میں اینٹوں کا دوبارہ استعمال ہوا ہے جیسے موئن جو دڑو میں کیا گیا تھا۔





 
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Residential area at Mohenjo Daro, built around 2500 BCE, it was one of the largest settlements of the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation, and one of the world's earliest major cities.



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Fort Mirgarh Rohi (Cholistan) Bahawalpur.



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Jan 17, 2021
 
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Indus Civilization At Least 8,000 Years Old, Not 5,500: Scientists

The Editor | May 29, 2016
Jhimli Mukherjee Pandey / TNN


Indus Civilization At Least 8,000 Years Old, Not 5,500: Scientists


It may be time to rewrite history textbooks. Scientists from IIT-Kharagpur and Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) have uncovered evidence that the Indus Valley Civilization is at least 8,000 years old, and not 5,500 years old, taking root well before the Egyptian (7000BC to 3000BC) and Mesopotamian (6500BC to 3100BC) civilizations. What’s more, the researchers have found evidence of a pre-Harappan civilization that existed for at least 1,000 years before this.

The discovery, published in the prestigious ‘Nature’ journal on May 25, may force a global rethink on the timelines of the so-called ‘cradles of civilization’. The scientists believe they also know why the civilization ended about 3,000 years ago — climate change.

“We have recovered perhaps the oldest pottery from the civilization. We used a technique called ‘optically stimulated luminescence’ to date pottery shards of the Early Mature Harappan time to nearly 6,000 years ago and the cultural levels of pre-Harappan Hakra phase as far back as 8,000 years,” said Anindya Sarkar, head of the department of geology and geophysics at IIT-Kgp.


The team had actually set out to prove that the civilization proliferated to other Indian sites like Bhirrana and Rakhigarrhi in Haryana, apart from the known locations of Harappa and Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan and Lothal, Dholavira and Kalibangan in India. They took their dig to an unexplored site, Bhirrana — and ended up unearthing something much bigger.

The excavation also yielded large quantities of animal remains like bones, teeth, horn cores of cow, goat, deer and antelope, which were put through Carbon 14 analysis to decipher antiquity and the climatic conditions in which the civilization flourished, said Arati Deshpande Mukherjee of Deccan College, which helped analyse the finds along with Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.


The researchers believe that the Indus Valley Civilization spread over a vast expanse of India — stretching to the banks of the now “lost” Saraswati river or the Ghaggar-Hakra river – but this has not been studied enough because what we know so far is based on British excavations. “At the excavation sites, we saw preservation of all cultural levels right from the pre-Indus Valley Civilization phase (9000-8000 BC) through what we have categorised as Early Harappan (8000-7000BC) to the Mature Harappan times,” said Sarkar.


indus-05



While the earlier phases were represented by pastoral and early village farming communities, the mature Harappan settlements were highly urbanised with organised cities, and a much developed material and craft culture.

They also had regular trade with Arabia and Mesopotamia. The Late Harappan phase witnessed large-scale de-urbanisation, drop in population, abandonment of established settlements, lack of basic amenities, violence and even the disappearance of the Harappan script, the researchers say.
“We analysed the oxygen isotope composition in the bone and tooth phosphates of these remains to unravel the climate pattern.

The oxygen isotope in mammal bones and teeth preserve the signature of ancient meteoric water and in turn the intensity of monsoon rainfall. Our study shows that the pre-Harappan humans started inhabiting this area along the Ghaggar-Hakra rivers in a climate that was favourable for human settlement and agriculture. The monsoon was much stronger between 9000 years and 7000 years from now and probably fed these rivers making them mightier with vast floodplains,” explained Deshpande Mukherjee.


indus-02
Indus Valley Evolved Even as Monsoon Declined


They took their dig to an unexplored site, Bhirrana — and ended up unearthing something much bigger. The excavation also yielded large quantities of animal remains like bones, teeth, horn cores of cow, goat, deer and antelope, which were put through Carbon 14 analysis to decipher antiquity and the climatic conditions in which the civilization flourished, said Arati Deshpande Mukherjee of Deccan College, which helped analyse the finds along with Physical Research Laboratory, Ahmedabad.

The researchers believe that the Indus Valley Civilization spread over a vast expanse of India — stretching to the banks of the now “lost” Saraswati river or the Ghaggar-Hakra river — but this has not been studied enough because what we know so far is based on British excavations. “At the excavation sites, we saw preservation of all cultural levels right from the pre-Indus Valley Civilisation phase (9,000-8,000 years ago) through what we have categorised as Early Harappan (8,000-7,000 years ago) to the Mature Harappan times,” said Sarkar.


indus-04


late Harappan phase witnessed large-scale de-urbanisation, drop in population, abandonment of established settlements, violence and even the disappearance of the Harappan script, the researchers say. The study revealed that monsoon started weakening 7,000 years ago but, surprisingly, the civilization did not disappear.

The Indus Valley people were very resolute and flexible and continued to evolve even in the face of declining monsoon. The people shifted their crop patterns from large-grained cereals like wheat and barley during the early part of intensified monsoon to drought-resistant species like rice in the latter part. As the yield diminished, the organised large storage system of the Mature Harappan period gave way to more individual household-based crop processing and storage systems that acted as a catalyst for the de-urbanisation of the civilization rather than an abrupt collapse, they say.
 
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Who lies beneath Kotli Maqbra?

The origin of the graves in Kotli Maqbra have been largely disputed by historians and archaeologists time and again.


Aown AliP 28 May, 2015

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On the famous GT road, a few kilometers from Gujranwala, a junction “Morr Eminabad” connects to a village that silently seeps the subcontinent’s history and ancient folktales. The town ‘Eminabad’ is home to a number of religiously significant monuments; a Gurdwara, temples and a crumbling mosque all peacefully coexisting.

A travel writer Salman Rashid believes the mosque can possibly be one of the oldest in Pakistan, built during the Lodhi dynasty. The Gurdwara Rori Sahib, three Shiva temples, and a Hindu water tank dating back to the pre-Mughal era are one of the historical sites found in this otherwise small village.

A few kilometers ahead, towards the east, in the town of Kotli Maqbra is a mesmerising octagonal structure raised on a platform with four minarets on each side.

It is hard to miss the arched edifice rising above the fields as one approaches Kotli Maqbra. The conical minarets with cupola at the center are all built in lock brick work and glazed tiles with geometric and floral patterns on the exterior.

The minarets are quite similar to the early 17th century buildings like Jahangir Tomb, Dai Anga Mosque and the Wazir Khan Mosque in Lahore. The arched entrance to the underground grave chamber is on the southern side, with three graves wrapped in green silk sheets that bear Islamic inscriptions on them.


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Rashid in his book, Gujranwala, The Glory That Was writes:
“...built as it is in the middle of a great nowhere and in the absence of any accessible historical reference to it, it has quite naturally acquired a metaphysical complexion and the local attribute it to jinns”.
While Salman Rashid wrote this book in the early 90s, it seems the local narrative has changed since then, people from nearby villages now acknowledge the building as a man-made structure.
They now believe the tomb to be associated with Sheikh Abdul Nabi, Sadrus Sudur (Chief Qazi) during Akbar’s era.


This idea is based on the research of some of our renowned archeologists, for example Ihsan H. Nadiem in an article on historic monuments in Gujranwala writes:


“The tomb is associated with Sheikh Abdul Nabi who was a tutor of the great Akbar. The sheikh reached the status of Sadrus Sudur but was exiled to the holy places (Makkah and Madina) when the emperor was poisoned by Sheikh Faizi and Abul Fazal.


“He was ordered not to return to his country unless called by the emperor. On receiving rumors of disturbed conditions in India under Akbar he, however, came back without the permission of the emperor and settled in Ahmadabad in Gujarat in 1583. He was, therefore, arrested by Akbar and sent to prison under the charge of his old rival, Abul Fazal.
“Another version tells of his having been murdered, while yet another attributes it as a natural death. But both accounts agree that it happened in 1584.”


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Furthermore, in the same article, the veteran archaeologist says that there is no dated inscription record about the monument yet the architectural features on comparative basis suggests it dates back to the early 17th century of Shahjahan’s rule (1628-1658).

However, the comparative historical notes suggest that Sheikh Abdul Nabi was imprisoned and died in Fatehpur Sikri in 1583.

It seems strange that the body of a person who was oppressed by the emperor was shifted so far away, and for what reason?

Why was he buried in this great wilderness, as it surely has been towards the end of 16th century when the sheikh died.

Our archeologists do not accommodate this query.

But the historic record that we do have is a testament to the fact that Sheikh Abdul Nabi, the Sadrus Sudur, was buried in Narnaul in the Indian state of Haryana. This place is not too far from Fatehpur Sikri where the sheikh died while in prison.

The other school of thought regarding the tomb relates it to the Diwan Abdul Nabi Khan who is said to be the governor of Wazirabad under Shah Jahan and Aurangzeb’s era.

Dr. Saif ur Rahman Dar the archeologist and Salman Rashid the travel writer are leading on this thought.
Dr. Dar even establishes that Diwan Abdul Nabi Khan was a tutor of the grandchildren of Nawab Saad Ullah Khan, the prime minister, under Shah Jahan.



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However, there is no such prominent governor named Abdul Nabi known during the period of the two said Mughal emperors. At least the biographies of the emperors are silent about this information.

From credible historic records, we find a person named Abdul Nabi during the Shah Jahan period. He is the son of Khwaja Sabir (Khan-e-Duran Nusrat Jahang), one of the high ranking courtiers of Shah Jahan, who died in 1645 and is buried in Lahore. His tomb stands amidst the carriage workshop of Pakistan Railways in Mugalpura, Lahore.

Ma'asir al-umara and Shah Jahan Namah provide sufficient details of this distinguished emir of Shah Jhan’s court.

It also note worthy that when Khan-e-Duran was murdered during his way back from Kashmir in 1645 by a Kashmiri Brahmin, the king conferred his two elder sons Sayed Muhammad and Syed Mahmood with first class rank of 1000 zat (personal ranking) and swar (horsemen), and Abdul Nabi who was only 12-years-old, was ranked with 500 zat and 200 swar.

This beautiful Mughal monument has not received any attention from British historians and archaeologists and this
disinterest continued in the post partition era, eventually leading to its dilapidation.


The monument not only battles to survive harsh environment, weather, old age and lack of conservation but is also a regular target of burglars seeking to find hidden treasure beneath the tomb.



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The secret is still buried at Ancient Kahu Jo Daro of Mirpurkhas.
In starting of 19th Century only 2-5% has been researched, excavated and revealed a 2,200 years old Buddhist stupa and terracotta sculptures and placed in ...
@CSMVSmumbai




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Masoom Shah Jo Minaro

This minaret was completed in AD 1617 by Syed Nizamuddin Shah, commonly known as Mir Masoom Shah.

He was the governor of Sukkur during Mughal emperor Akbar’s era.

Located in Sukkur the third largest city of #Sindh. He is known for writing a history of Sindh.



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WCLA starts restoration work of monuments at Lahore Fort

The restoration work of the monuments, which includes waterproofing of roofs, realignment of arches and lime terracing, will be completed by November this year

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LAHORE: The Walled City of Lahore Authority (WCLA) is restoring and conserving Dewan-e-Aam, Doulat Khana and Kharak Singh Haveli at Lahore Fort after allocation of Rs60 million for these monuments by the Punjab government, Pakistan Today learnt on Friday.

According to details, the restoration work of the monuments, which includes waterproofing of roofs, realignment of arches and lime terracing, will be completed by November this year.

The WCLA officials said that the authority’s conservation team is presently conserving several sites inside Lahore Fort, including Makatib Khana and Moti mosque, adding that the work on revamping the fort’s canteen area will also be started soon.

WCLA Assistant Director Historic Research Samina Fazil said, “Dewan-e-Aam, which is the most attractive and prominent feature of the grand fort, was built by Emperor Akbar. It is a hall of forty pillars and most-visited tourist site in the fort as the visitors are fascinated by its marble balcony and other features. The basement of Dewan-e-Aam is another wonder that was revealed last year and now the team is working on its conservation as well.”

“Doulat Khana is the upper chamber and its entrance is from Dewan-e-Aam. It was closed for the public long ago. Now it is being conserved and after the work is completed, it will be opened for the tourists.”

She added that the Kharak Singh Haveli was part of the quadrangle of Jahangir and built as a residence of Kharak Singh, son of Ranjeet Sigh. “When the fort was taken over by Ranjeet, some Sikh structures were added in the fort and this Haveli is one of those structures,” she said.

A tourist Mohsin Ali, while commenting on these locations, said, “I was wondering why some monuments were covered with green coverings but then I read the board stating work in progress. I am really glad to know that these sites are being restored by the WCLA as these were poorly maintained. I am a frequent visitor of Lahore fort and I come here for study purposes. I have been observing good changes in Lahore Fort from the last three to four years and it is good to see that things are improving.”

WCLA Director General Kamran Lashari said that it is the prime responsibility of the authority to restore these important monuments. “It is a high time for us to preserve and save the heritage sites for our coming generations and show our rich heritage to the world. Lahore Fort is very important to us and we are working day and night for its betterment in all aspects, including tourism and conservation. Actually conservation is a slow process and demands a lot of patience. We are simultaneously working on different sites at the fort so that things are improved speedily,” he added.

 
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Hingorani Mariyoon near Tando Fazal has its own history. There are a Mosques & a Tomb.
These Mosques built during the rule of Mian Noor Muhammad Kalhoro (1719-1753).
This place was attacked and Burned by some Invaders.
Renovated by Sindh Govt .



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