Khairpur state

Ali_Syed · March 3, 2012, 3:20am

one of my friend’s shared some information about Khairpur state which was annexed alongwith Kalat and Bahawalpur in 1955. What is the history of the state?

muqawwee123 · March 3, 2012, 6:34am

Re: Khairpur state

Ali Nice topic. Hope to learn many new things about this.

As far as I know. Khairpur was an independent state uptil 1947 and it annexed with Pakistan based on an agreement and it continued its functions as an independent state until 1955, when it was merged to Pakistan (under one unit) on the reason that it was a failed state like Bahawalpur, Qallat and other states, which were also merged into one unit.

There is a documentary in Sindhi (with 60% interviews in Urdu) which deals with the complete history of Khairpur.

I’ll be adding material from this documentary and other available material. For the time being here is the brief histroy of Khairpur:

The history of the state of Khairpur is bound up with the history of the Talpur clan and its rule over Sind. The origins of the state date back to the disputes over the succession to the leadership of the clan, following the murder of its chief, Mir Bahram Khan in 1775. The clan then revolted against the Kalhoras of Sind, taking control of various parts of the kingdom and eventually replacing them as rulers.

Mir Sohrab Khan Talpur established his control over Upper Sind by 1783, established his capital at Burahan, which he renamed Khairpur in 1786. He extended his territories over a vast area, eventually helping his kinsmen from Hyderabad, in expelling the Afghans from the province by 1823. As early as 1811, he had divided his territories into three emirates, each ruled by one of his sons, but with his eldest invested as principal Amir. To them he left the day to day affairs of administration and retired to the Fort of Ahmadabad, in Diji. There, he took a new wife and raised a family, to whom he intended to bequeath a portion of his realm. This incurred the jealousy of his adult grandsons, especially those of his second son, Mubarak 'Ali.

The death of Sohrab in 1830, left his eldest son Mir Rustam 'Ali Khan, in full though precarious control over Upper Sind. His position had been little more than that of a regent during his father’s lifetime, and this was to remain unchanged until his youngest half brother, 'Ali Murad, came of age. Unwilling to surrender power to him, Rustam sought to strengthen his position by entering into treaty relations with the British in 1832. He secured their recognition as independent ruler, but surrendered control over external relations to them in April 1838, followed by full British protection later that year. Nevertheless, this did not save him from internal family disputes, with which the British initially refused to treat or take sides. However, the contest between 'Ali Murad, the youngest brother and the sons of Mir Mubarak 'Ali, culminated in victory for the latter. Peace was finally established in 1842 through a negotiated settlement, resulting in Rustam abdicating in favour of his youngest brother.

Mir 'Ali Murad was a forceful personality, who mistrusted the British for siding with his eldest half-brother in 1832. Nevertheless, he imbued himself with a sense of realism and attempted to co-operate whenever his interests or inclinations did not supervene. He honoured the alliance by assisting the HEIC during the Turki Campaign in 1847, but blotted his copybook by intriguing against them in 1851-1852. Accused of deception and fraud, he was stripped of most of his territories in Upper Sind in 1852, being left with little more than his original emirate including Khairpur and surrounding lands. Despite this setback, he co-operated faithfully during the Indian Mutiny five years later. At his death in 1894, after a long reign of fifty-two years, he was an honoured and respected ruler of the empire.

The eldest son of 'Ali Murad having predeceased him, he was succeeded by his second son, Mir Faiz Muhammad Khan. His reign and those of his son and grandson were relatively short and uneventful. The last died in 1935 leaving an only son, Mir Faiz Muhammad Khan II, who had suffered from an unstable and nervous affliction for many years. So much so that he could not be trusted with the management of state affairs. The government instituted a council of regency under local ministers and ordered the Mir to live outside the state. After a period of twelve-years, and shortly before the transfer of power, he abdicated in favour of his minor son in July 1947. The state was annexed to Pakistan in October that year, and merged into West Pakistan in 1955. The young Mir having reached his majority and received full ruling powers, just four years earlier. The state had been the first place on the sub-continent to introduce full adult suffrage. His subjects enjoyed free education up to matriculation standard and free healthcare, there were no customs duties, property, income or wealth taxes, the crime rate negligible, and light industries flourished.

Some beautiful places of Khairpur

Ali_Syed · March 3, 2012, 12:37pm

Re: Khairpur state

interesting not many people out of Sindh would know about this! we keep hearing about bahawalpur and kalat but nothing about khairpur.

muqawwee123 · March 3, 2012, 1:00pm

Re: Khairpur state

Peopel know about its being state due to its name Khairpur Meerus and famous Hur Movement from the area, but how and when it was merged into Pakistan is less known. There are two Khairpurs in Sindh.. Khairpur Meerus (state) and Khairpur Nathan Shah (a tehseel of District Dadu).

Ali_Syed · March 6, 2012, 4:25am

Re: Khairpur state

Hmm so the hur movement was also related to the khairpur state?

muqawwee123 · March 6, 2012, 4:52am

Re: Khairpur state

yes the home town of Hurs 'Pir Jo Goth' is in Khairpur state (now district Khairpur).

Ali_Syed · March 6, 2012, 11:36am

Re: Khairpur state

ok thanks, these hur guys have a great history as well (kept the British on their feet).

muqawwee123 · March 6, 2012, 11:51am

Re: Khairpur state

Yes. Indeed two things are famous related to the struggle against British in Sindh. Hur Movement and war at Dubbu / Miani in 1843 where from the famous saying came 'Marsoon Marsoon Sindh na dhesoon' uttered by Hosh Muhammad Sheedi- A hero in history of Sindh.

Ali_Syed · March 6, 2012, 1:00pm

Re: Khairpur state

whats the significance of the war at Dubbu?

muqawwee123 · March 6, 2012, 3:17pm

Re: Khairpur state

It was the war, after which Sindh came under British Rule. Hoshu’s bravery in the war (although he had to lost the war), made him hero of Sindh.

Dauntless valiance and boundless patriotism of Sher-i-Sindh Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur and his Baloch forces turned the apparent defeat at Dubbo into the greatest victory of Sindh. After the conquest of Hyderabad on February 17th, 1843, it was this event which laid the foundations of the glorious incessant struggle of the peace loving sufi oriented Sindhis for the liberty of their rights and the freedom of their motherland.

At the end of the battle days, if British camps of Miani and Dubbo had witnessed the painful cries of dyeing Captain Richardson and Dimitrios; Mir Jan Muhammad Talpur, Mir Ghulam Shah Talpur, Mir Ismail Talpur and their thousands of their faithful soldiers like Hosh Muhammad Sheedi also took their last breaths. Before they went into rest in the laps of their motherland, each of them moved his bloodstained lips and pledged:

*Sindh my mother, my beloved Jeejal!
On your call I’ve sipped this martyrdom
Here I go to others’ World, but I’ll return from there,
After changing the directions of centuries, and after hoisting the flag of righteousness in heavens,
After changing the lead of time, I’ll return on your call.

Sindh my mother, my beloved Jeejal!
When darkness would cast its shadows, when cruelties would come to rule,
When nights prevailed over days, when lies overcame truths,
I’ll return at that time and will sacrifice my head again

Sindh my mother, my beloved Jeejal!
For your sake, I’ll fight oppressions and tyrannies,
Chanting slogans of sacrifice, I’ll return from there,
And will die for righteousness,
I’ll be returning, fighting and meeting martyrdom again and again,
If crucified, I’ll rise again,
But today I’m going to others’ World, just to return from there!*

The dusk of March 24, 1843 was not the usual twilight. The western skies were full of conflagrations. The sun, setting into the horizons, had already started shedding the tears of blood. And below these red skies, the fearless sons of the soil were irrigating their motherland with their own blood! The ambience was as serious and silent as death! Sun sets daily, but it had never been as sad and mournful as it was on the fateful day. The evening came, and with it came the heavenly call for the spirit of martyrs to embark their journey to eternity!

The skies and angels peered astonishingly at the battleground of Dubbo! The combat between Life and Death, which ensued at the afternoon, consummated by the twilight. And Sindh went into the slumber and silence, as quiet as that of Makli! Mir Jan Muhammad Talpur was true. He raised the slogan, ‘Mar waysun par Sindh na ddaysun’. They died but did not ‘give’ Sindh. Napier got it only when they had been martyred.

Remembering Battle of Dubbo - The Royal Talpurs of Sindh