History of city names

[muqawwee123]

Re: History of city names

Something about the history of Karachi’s name from GS archives

@muqawwee123

Mai Kolachi is said to be a Baloch woman living near today’s Lyari (probably near khadda Market). It is believed that she owned a neaeby portion of the delta (locally known as Kunn) which was full of fish and sea species. Mai Kolachi used to spent income from Kunn on the guests coming from remote area.

But the name Karachi seems to have other roots too. Greek historians of Alexander time called the area Krolota/ Crolota (some thing related to Crocodiles). It is said that in ancient Sindh, crocodiles were wrshipped. Its alive in one or other form in Manghopir (oldest area of Karachi) today

@muqawwee123

Where the name Karachi came from

(1) Karachi ka naam ‘Karachi ki khaari / Bhanwar’ se mansoob hai jo iss waqt ke ‘Khadda market Lyari’ ka ilaqa tha, yahan per Lyari naddi samandar main girti thi jis ki waja se khaari ka wajood aya. Lyari Naddi ka rukh badalne se yeh khaari sookh ke ‘khadda’ bun gai aur phir ye area aaj tak ‘khadda’ ke naam se mansoob hai

Iss khari ka naam ‘Kolachi’ ya ‘karachi’ kaise pada iss bare main mukhtalif khayalaat hain:

(i) Yahan per Baloch qabeela ‘Kolachi’ ya ‘Kolacho’ rehta tha jin ke waja se yeh jaga mansoob hogai. (Balochistan ke ilaqe makraan main aaj bhi do ilaqon ke naam kolaanch ke naam se hain. Kolochi qabeele ke log Meetha dar ke paas wale ilaqe main abad the.

(ii) Ye bhi kaha jata hai ke Balochistan ki ilaaqe Qalaat jo uss waqt ek azad riyast thi unka karobar ke silsile main yahan boht ana jana tha, jinhon ne yahann apni bastian bana li thi. Unn ke nisbat se ye ilaqa ‘Qallati’ Kehlwaya jo bad main bigad kar Qallachi or phir Kallachi aur Karachi bun gaya.

(iii) Ek rivayat ke mutabiq yahan per machheron (jinhe maqami zaban main Muhana kaha jata hai) ki basti main ek ‘Mai Kolachi’ rehti thi aur ooper zikr ki hui khari uss ki milkiyat thi aur jo bhi machli uss khari se shikarr hoti thi uska ek hissa mai kolachi ko diya jata tha jis se wo mehmaano aur musafiron ka kharcha pura karti thi. Ussi mai Kolachi ki waja se ye ilaqa Kolachi aur phir Kalachi kelaya.
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Sindhi Literature main Karachi ka zikr
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Soomra Dur e Hukoomat (around 13th century) main Morero Meerbehar ka mashoor waqiya pesh aya, jis qisse ka zikr soomra aur uss ke bad aane wale samma dor ke shairon ne apne kalaam main kiya. Phir 18th century main Kalhora dur main Shah Latif ne iss qisse ko apni shairi (Jo Shah Jo Risalo ke naam se mashoor hai) main pura ek Sur (chapter) Ghaatoo ki surat main pesh kia, jiski waja se iss qisse aur iss se wabasta jaghon ko door daraaz tak shuhrat mili. Morero ke bhaiyon ko Kalachi ki khari main mojud ek magar mach ne nigal liya tha, jiska badla lene ke liye Morero ne uss magar mach ka shikaar kar ke uss ke pet se apne bhaiyon ki lashen nikali thi.**

Ek lateefa Karachi ke naam ke bare main

**Jabshru main yahan Angrez aaye to ek angrez ne ek Memon se iss jagah ka naam poocha. Memon ko angrezi nahin aati thi to uss ne angrez ko kaha ‘Kurro chee’ - Kia Keh rahe ho. Uss se us angrez ne iss jagah ka naam ‘Kureochee’ samajha jo bad main karachi main tabdeel hogaya.