**Necropolis of the Mankani Talpurs in district Badin
***By Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro
*Three kilometres north of Shardi Larj, Badin, are located necropolis of Mankani Talpurs. The
Mankanis trace their ancestry from Manik Khan Talpur. Talpurs (1783-1843) ruled over Mirpurkhas, Badin and some parts of Mithi district. There are three renowned graveyards of Mankanis in Sindh namely Mir Allah Yar Ja Quba in Dadu, Chitori in Mirpurkhas and cemetery of Mir Abdullah in Badin. The Mankani Talpurs played a significant role in socio-political record of Sindh during Kalhora and Talpur dynasties.
However, the necropolis of Mir Abdullah is in shambles and most of the tombstones are in a dilapidated condition. Previously there were four canopies in the necropolis, not a single canopy exists today; all the canopies have been reduced to debris. One can reconstruct the architecture of the canopies from the remains which is spread over the site.
The principal canopy belongs to Mir Abdullah Khan Talpur after whom this cemetery is named. This canopy has also damaged the adjoining graves. It had twelve pillars built in square plane superimposed by a hemispherical dome and was erected on double plinth with both plinths carrying breathtaking designs. To the west of the canopy of Mir Abdullah is a ruined shelter of Mir Walia Khan Talpur, that is also twelve, pillared. According to Mir Haji Mohammad Khan Talpur of Tando Bagho, Mir Walia Khan alias Mir Mohammad Hassan was son of Mir Bagho Khan. Mir Bagho Khan Talpur occupies a significant role in the history of Manakani Talpurs. He was the founder of Tando Bagho, now a bustling town in Badin district, and excavator of Bagho Wah (channel) which is still an agricultural land of Tando Bago tehsil. Mir Bagho Khan, son of Mir Mirzo Faqir Talpur was General of Mian Sarfraz Khan Kalhoro (1772-1775) and was very close to him. Mir Bagho Khan was killed by Sodha Rajputs while hunting. According to Mir Mehboob, Mir Bagho Khan (traditionally known as Pir or Mir Wagha) was buried in the courtyard of Primary Girl’s School in Umarkot.
To the west of the canopy of Mir Walia lay tombstones of Mohammad Khan Talpur and Fateh Khan
Talpur carrying inscriptions. Near these tombstones is located another canopy which has also levelled to the ground. The decorated shafts, capitals, brackets and lintels of the canopy have scattered over the site. Well-nigh close to the canopy of Walia Khan Talpur lies yet another anonymous twelve pillared destroyed ‘chattri.’
Apart from the destroyed canopies, the cemeteries contains many gravestones of ordinary people and the servants of the Talpurs carrying inscriptions and are decorated with floral and geometric designs.
Some 200 metres south of graveyard of Mir Abdullah lays a necropolis of Syed Ahmed Shah. He was the general of Mir Tharo Khan’s army. This graveyard contains gravestones of the soldiers of Mir Tharo Khan’s army. Mir Tharo Khan Talpur was the founder of Manakani Kingdom and established his capital at Ketyan-Jo- Kote on the left bank of Puran River in Badin. Ketyan-Jo-Kote or Ketun served as first capital of Manakani Talpurs. It was a centre of all cultural and political activities. Mir Tharo Khan and his brother Mir Allah Yar Khan II resided in this town and their palaces dominated the city. Apart from them, the palaces of Mir Bagho Khan, Mir Abdullah Khan, Mir Walia Khan, Mir Ghulam Hyder and Mir Ali Murad also dotted the landscape of Ketun town.
Mir Tharo Khan Talpur was a shrewd and liberal ruler. During his rule, peace and prosperity prevailed in the territory. According to Mir Mehboob Ali, primary teacher in Tando Bagho, Mir Tharo Khan engaged in the battle with rulers of Hyderabad over a minor issue. This battle took place between Shahdadanis rulers of Hyderabad (descendents of Mir Shahdad Khan Talpur) and Mankanis rulers of Badin (descendants of Mir Manik Khan Talpur) in 1803 A.D. The battle started after scuffle between the Kardars (revenue collectors) of the Mir Tharo Khan Talpur and Mir Ghulam Ali Khan (1802-1811), a ruler of Hyderabad which resulted in some casualties. In that fight Kardar and few farmars of Mir Tharo Khan were wounded and later on succumbed to their injuries. Mir Tharo Khan vowed to take revenge of his people. Meantime, news reached to Hyderabad that Mir Tharo Khan was collecting troops and planning to attack Hyderabad. Mir Ghulam Ali Khan Talpur (1802-1812) also prepared for battle and assigned his nephew Mir Sobdar Khan Talpur, son of Mir Fateh Ali Khan Talpur, to lead the Talpur army. Mir Sobdar Khan Talpur along with his army marched towards Badin. Syed Ahmed Khan was the general of Mir Tharo Khan’s army. Both armies in the battle ground near Guni fought severely for five days.
Mir Tharo Khan was taken prisoner and Manakanis lost the battle Mir Tharo Khan was taken to Hyderabad where he was presented before Mir Ghulam Ali Khan. This battle was known as Wal Wari Jang (Battle of Wal) took place in 1803 A.D claiming many lives from both sides. According to the locals, 410 soldiers of Mir Ghulam Ali’s army and 300 soldiers of Mir Tharo Khan’s army died in this battle.
Mir Tharo Khan was not put in jail, rather he was greatly honoured. He stayed in the palace of Mir Ghulam Ali. After some time he was allowed to go to his capital, Ketun. After his return from Hyderabad, Mir Tharo Khan felt dejected. After some time, he made his son Mir Ali Murad a ruler of his kingdom. Mir Ali Murad shifted his capital from Ketun to Mirpurkhas in 1806. Mir Tharo Khan also abandoned Ketun and lived in Mirpurkhas. Ketun, the first capital of Manakani Talpurs lost its grandeur.
Mir Tharo Khan died in 1829 leaving behind two sons Mir Ali Murad Khan and Ghulam Hyder. He was buried in Chitori necropolis in Mirpurkhas.