From Shah Inayat to Mai Bakhtawar

Feudals are like parasites. They all live on the earnings of others and exploit those who earn for them. From ages, the farmer work in fields from dawn to dusk all the year and he can not even get the bread and butter for his family.

When someone talk about Peasants ( Hari Movement) in Sindh Shah Inayat’s name comes on the top. Shah Inayat gave the slogan to peasants “Jo Kherey, So Hee Khaey” was translated into Punjabi (“Jhera Vaahvey, Ohi Khaavey”) means the tiller has the right to the produce.

Shah Inayat led a peasants’ movement in the mid-1700s, and the “Jhok communes” were established as a result long before the French communes were even an idea.

Shah Inayat shaheed is the first Socialist philosopher of sindh in the world the modern era. About 300 years back, this philosopher led foundation of modern economic ideology. He was the leader of Sufism ideology. In those days, mughals used to rule and their appointed governor of Thatta and the local pirs, Mullahs, feudal of that area started exploitation of the native people, social and economic inequality reached its peak, than after shah inayat shahed of mieeranpur/ jhaok / thatta raised the vocal against it. Hundreds of farmers, poor people and peasants started coming to meet him.

The Jhok communes, according to legend, were attacked on the orders of the Mughal emperor, who was assisted by the feudal leadership of the area, as well as extremist religious leaders. Shah Inayat was arrested, and ordered to be crushed to death in a Chakki. Many of his followers laid down their lives too. All the martyrs, irrespective of their religion, are buried at the Jhok Sharif shrine.

Re: From Shah Inayat to Mai Bakhtawar

I don't know much about Mai Bakhtawar. Recently read that her biography has been made part of school syllabus. Someone told me that Benazir named her daughter on this woman's name.

She is said to be a peasant woman, who refused to accept the laws formulated by feudal lords and was consequently murdered. This led to a massive revolt amongst the Haris leading a Movement.

Re: From Shah Inayat to Mai Bakhtawar

While Mughals were busy in fighting Marathas during the difficult time of their history, Mughal emperor Farrukh Sair with his Kalhora cronies in Sindh exploited the peasants. Peasants were asked to pay 25% of their crop to state as against the Islamic Ushr (which is 10%). Means Islam agree that 90% of the crop belongs to the peasant.