The chivalry of Sindhi heroes was greatly eulogized by bards, writers and even Sufi poets. They narrated the stories of their valour, weapons and the horses or camels on which they rode off to rescue their cattle or fight on the battlefield. They were protectors of their homeland, family honour, community, village resources and cattle. And at times, they also fought against foreign occupations, sometimes being the first to rise up against tyrannical rule.
Prominent heroes whose deeds are preserved in the folklore and annals of Sindh include Dodo Soomro, Jam Abro, Mubarak Khan alias Darya Khan, Makhdoom Bilawal Samo, Mian Adam Shah Kalhoro, Mian Shahal Muhammad Kalhoro, Mian Din Muhammad Kalhoro, Mian Nasir Muhammad Kalhoro and his Mianwal faqirs: Gaji Shah, Shah Panjo, Shah Inayat, Fojo Faqir Soomro etc. Mention must also be made of Mir Sher Muhammad Khan Talpur, Hosh Muhammad Sheedi alias Hoshu Sheedi, Sibghatullah Shah II (Soreh Badshah) and his Hur faiqrs: Ratan Singh Sodho, Rooplo Kolhi etc. The list is very long and I cannot name every hero in this article.
Inscription on the grave of Gandabo, Memon Goth graveyard, Karachi
In the present article, we consider the heroes who died during cattle and camel raids, acieving the status of Jhujhars (deified heroes) for their respective communities.
Those who died while defending their homeland against foreign occupation, or their cattle and community and village resources, were called either Vir, Jhujhar Soreh or Sarfarosh. Amongst these, the highest category of the heroes was assigned to those who lost their life in acts of heroism on the battlefield. The second category of heroes included those who protected and successfully retrieved their cattle from the enemy. Interestingly, both cattle-lifters and cattle-retrievers were equally heroes for their respective communities!
All these heroes were commemorated with memorial stones, pillars, towers and tombs. The majority of the memorial stones mark the actions of those who died in action against cattle-thieves. Apart from Tharparkar, in other districts of Sindh one can find memorial towers which were erected in the memory of these cattle retrievers. They are found in the hilly regions of Karachi, Thatta, Jamshoro and Dadu districts where the main mode of subsistence was the raising of livestock. Commemorative/memorial towers erected in the memory of the heroes are called Mahi and Churo. The term “Mahi” (earth, beloved) is in vogue in Karachi and Jamshoro districts whereas “Churo” is used in the Khirthar range in Dadu and Kamber-Shahdadkot districts. In Banbhore, three Mahyoon or commemorative towers were erected – of which two are still standing – to honour the heroic death of three heroes Mugur Jokhio, Harho and Mitho who died fighting against cattle-thieves. Hassan Jakhro and Miran Jakhro are the ones who spearheaded the raiding party.
Hero returns with his retrieved camels, Raj Malik cemetery, Thatta
In Tharparkar, the terms Pariyo, Khambhi, Lorti, Chucho and Daglo are used for memorial stones. One memorial tower is also found in Nagarparkar taluka, locally called “Pollan astan”. It was erected in the memory of the Rathore ruler of Nayer in Jodhpur. He chased cattle-lifters who stole livestock from his village. He engaged them in a fight near the Gori temple, where he died in combat in 1743 AD. Later, his descendants erected a commemorative tower in his memory, which still stands – though in very bad state of preservation.
Many monuments depict a hero fighting with cattle-lifters and enemy troops. It must be understood that cattle-raiding was a frequent and favorite sport of aspiring heroes. It was considered a demonstration of power and bravery to seize the cattle of rival tribes. In fact, tribal elders took pride in the achievements of the heroes who stole cattle and composed poetry on their heroism. The term used for cattle raiding was “looryun” and for camel-lifting “wag”.
Both cattle-lifters and cattle-retrievers were equally heroes for their respective communities!
There is a long list of those heroes who were celebrated for cattle and camel raids in different districts of Sindh. Amongst these, the names of Gandabo, Baran Jokhio, Mando Jakhro and Miran Jakhro and several others have preserved in the folklore of Sindh-Kohistan (Karachi, Jamshoro and Thatta districts).
Gandabo, who was a celebrated cattle-rustler, stole almost every tribe’s cattle. He created terror among the pastoral communities of Lasbela. He was so clever and quick that nobody dared to fight a duel with him. After his death he was buried in a graveyard near Memon Jo Goth, Karachi. The name of Heelo Jat, who was celebrated for cattle raids by his Jat community in Kutch, also created terror among the populace
Hero Stones of Varan and Bhatti Rajputs near Hothiyar village, Mithi
of Nagarparkar. He also stole cattle from almost every tribe of Nagarparkar. Eventually, he was killed by Ranmal Singh Sodho, the cultural hero of the Maldev Sodhas of Dreh village in Nagarparkar. The name of Heelo Jat became a source of trepidation for the populace of Nagarparkar, where children were frightened by mothers by taking the name of Heelo. Upon hearing the name of Heelo twice or thrice, children became quite and slept, we are told!
Hero stone at Harasar, Nagarparkar
Gandabo, who was a celebrated cattle-rustler, stole almost every tribe’s cattle. He created terror among the pastoral communities of Lasbela
To avenge Esso Jat, the brother of Heelo Jat also killed Ranmal Singh Sodho. Later on, Ranmal Singh Sodho was commemorated with an inscribed memorial stone. There is an arched niche on the upper section of the memorial stone, which was apparently inteded for a carved representation of the deceased, but it was left unfinished.
The hero stone of Ranmal Singh Sodho is located at Dreh village. Dreh is a very famous village of the Maldev Sodhas. It lies about 15 km east of Nagarparkar. Half a kilometre from the hero stone of Ranmal Singh Sodho are located the two more memorial stones. Nothing is known about these two.
Some of the hero-stones have now become shrines for the descendants of the defied heroes. On particular occasions, they are venerated and invoked by certain castes in Nagarparkar and other talukas of Tharparkar district.
The writer is an anthropologist. He can be contacted at zulfi04@hotmail.com
