Re: Shikarpur blast at a mosque
It was most educated and refined town in pre partition period. Minorities, and other sects lived in peace even after partition for a long period of time. Even today no resident of Shikarpur believed in such genocide and killing of innocent people. The outsiders (non-residents of Shikarpur) have bleed this peaceful city.
Even today the superb achaar and mithai (diwan) has no parallel in whole of the country.
Shah Abdul Latif University, Shikarpur
**Shikarpur Through History**
Shikarpur once was hunting place Shikargah but due to its geographical and strategic position became a center of trade and commerce, art and architecture, educational and charitable institutions and culture and civilization. It has unique history, neither it is too much old nor too much new. Although difference of opinion over its origin still exists but most of the researchers have agreed that it was established in 1617 A.D by Daudpotas, after a battle with Mahars of Lakhi. Shikarpur remained district of Sindh, in the days when there were only three districts in Sindh, but it lost this status in 1901, when Sukkur was replaced as district. In July 1977 in democratic government of PPP it regained the status of district.
In past, caravans from Central and West Asia through Bolan Pass used to have stoppage at Shikarpur. As a result, exchange of goods and services occurred, which ultimately contributed a lot to the development of city. A branch of Central Bank of Asia existed in Shikarpur as well.
Not only in trade and commerce but in art and architecture, culture, education, fertility and fashion Shikarpur was far ahead of other cities of Sindh. **Due to its Attar industry and beautiful bazars it started to be called as Paris of Sindh. ** **There were many hospitals, schools, charitable institutions, welfare trusts, libraries, printing presses and publication houses. There were many other noticeable places, whose example can rarely be found else where in Sindh. Among such are Dhak (covered) Bazar, which was architectural marvel. it worked like air condition in summer. More over “Shahi Bhag” was the biggest and most beautiful garden of the province with thousands of variety of flowers and the pavilion on the structural lines of Gothic lines of architecture. **
**In British Raj, there were only three colleges in Sindh and one among them was Chela Singh and Setal Das high school Shikarpur. Because of this historical factor, literacy ratio of Shikarpur was higher than other cities. According to one survey there were about 70 graduates in the city of Shikarpur in 1930, whereas in the rest of Sindh there were only 7 graduates. Like wise not only number of public libraries was higher but also private and personal libraries were more than hundred. It proves that many families had literary leanings and the general public kept education in high esteem
**
**After independence slowly and gradually center of education became center of lawlessness, ignorance and tribal disputes. The Paris of Sindh turned into a sad city. Art and Architecture vanished, law and order became a dream and people started migrating in search of peace. **
** *
It is said history repeats itself. With opening of Shikarpur Campus of Shah Abdul Latif University, surely this city of historic significance is once again going to be center of education. * **