The Kot Diji fort in Khairpur was built by Mir Sohrab Khan Talpur in the late 18th century. The Talpurs are one of Sindh’s royal families about which there is authentic information on direct descendants. PHOTO CREDIT: AMEER HAMZA
Ballots might have dethroned blood as the keys to seats of power, but this matters little to some members of Sindh’s royal families which ruled over the province for six centuries.
Most members of royal families are now keeping themselves aloof of the political arena, but some of them have thrown their names into the ring for provincial assembly seats. Perhaps the reason why such few contenders have emerged from royal families for the upcoming elections is that over time, knowledge about direct descendants has vanished. Soomro, Samma, Kalhora and Talpur: these surnames are associated with royalty. But except for the Talpurs, there is no authentic information about direct descendants.
The Talpurs ruled Khairpur Mirs, Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas - three states in Sindh - for around 60 years. Mir Murad Khan Talpur, the last ruler of Khairpur Mirs acceded to Pakistan back in 1955. Though he spends most of his time in Karachi, his son Prince Mehdi Raza Talpur is nestled in Khairpur where he has immersed himself in the social and political arenas. Though he has chosen not take part in politics directly, other members of the royal family have contested the elections against heavyweights - and won.
Mir Atta Muhammad Talpur and Mir Gulan Talpur of the royal family won provincial assembly seats during the 1970s to 1980s. Now one more contender has emerged from the family: Mir Shahnawaz Talpur. He has been awarded Pakistan Muslim League - Functional’s (PML-F) ticket for PS-32, the same seat Pakistan Peoples Party candidate Manzoor Wassan won back in 2008 and is vying for yet again.
“In every local government election, around four to five union council nazims have been elected with the support of the Talpurs and no one can defeat them. This means they have 12,000 14,000 solid votes in these areas,” said Pir Syed Yasir Ali Shah, the managing director of the defunct princely state of Khairpur Mirs. He said the candidates from the royal family had swept the last local government elections held back in 2005 in Kot Diji, Kum, Narro and Thari Mirwah union councils. As a result, Mir Dinal Talpur was elected Naib Nazim of Khairpur district.
Journalist Niaz Bhanbhro, who has been observing the political situation in these areas, said, “Since the Talpurs belonged to the Shia sect, its members also support them in every election. Their legacy continues till today because they interact with people.”
He added that former chief ministers Syed Qaim Ali Shah and Syed Ghous Ali Shah who are competing for PS-29, Khairpur city, have approached Prince Mir Mehdi Raza Talpur, seeking his support.
While talking to The Express Tribune, Mir Shahnawaz alias Shano Talpur said that the last time Talpur family had supported Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi son of Pir Pagara (Late) who secured around 27,000 votes from the areas. But now the PML-F has nominated Mir Shahnawaz given the family’s influence in the constituency. “In this election we will again prove that Talpurs of Khairpur still enjoyed clout in their state,” he said.
According to Prof. Ghulam Muhammad Lakho, a historian at Sindh University, a few direct descendants of the Talpurs of Mirpurkhas are living broad, but their family members are active in politics. He pointed to former MNA Mir Munawar Talpur, brother-in-law of President Asif Ali Zardari. “Munawar has links to the royal family. He belonged to the family of Mir Sher Muhammad Talpur alias Sher-e-Sindh, who was the last ruler of the Mirpurkhas and fought against British in the battle of Dubbo.”
He added that Mir Rasool Bux Talpur, a close aide of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto who had served as the provincial governor in the 70s was from the royal family in Hyderabad, but his other family members are not active in the politics.
Royalty slips into obscurity
Noted writer and intellectual Qalandar Shah Lakyari says that the Talpurs were actually military men of the Kalhoras -a royal family which ruled over Sindh from 1681 to 1783. “Mian Abdul Nabi Kalhora was the last ruler of the Kalhora dynasty,” says Lakyari.
Shafkat Abbasi, a bureaucrat and politician, who has started research on the Kalhora dynasty, said that a battle ensued between the Talpurs and the Kalhoras, as a result of which the latter fled to Jodhpur. They stayed there till the British took over in 1843. “Later they returned to present-day Pakistan and the British government returned their properties. But the Kalhoras sold it all off.” Abbasi added that a few members of the family are still living in squalor in colonies in Hyderabad and Mirpurkhas.
The Soomra dynasty lasted for about 300 years, but nobody knows about their descendants. There is also no accurate evidence regarding the descendants of the Sammas who ruled for about 175 years. Former chief minister Dr Arbab Ghulam Rahim claims to be a member of this family.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 30th, 2013.
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Very good article, Indeed, It is test of people of Khairpur, I believe. Because Talpur's family has expectation from people to whom they are serving. Furthermore Talpur family has always worked for benefit of people instead of serving their own interest.
“In this election we will again prove that Talpurs of Khairpur still enjoyed clout in their state,” he said. wow clout eh ? At least he is honest .
Excellent article! It's amazing how much history there is in our lands, which most of us are unaware of. Thank you for bringing this to our notice.