Jhirk
Encyclopedia
Jhirk is a small town on the right bank of River Indus, in district Thatta
, province of Sindh
, Pakistan
.
. It also served as the headquarters of the Indus flotilla
, the most modern navigational system of those days.
Karachi Port near Karachi
was connected to Jhirk. The headquarter of the Indus flotilla
was in Jhirk town near Kotri
and then it went to Mithankot
Rajanpur district
near Dera Ghazi Khan
and then to the last point Makhad
Attock
. This part of Indus flotilla was called Punjab flotilla and the Indus flotilla Interchangeably. The British
Indus flotilla of steamboats which once plied the Indus river is described by (Shaw 1998).
Hassan Ali Effendi
the famous educationist who was instrumental in Establishing Sindh Madrasatul Islam used to Work at Indus flotilla
in his early years while learning English. Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was one his student at Sindh Madrasatul Islam Karachi.
The river Indus was an important artery of communication between Karachi
and Jhirk near Kotri
Sindh
, was an important river port, the Indus flotilla
used large quantities of firewood and it was kept to fuel steamboats. Hassan Ali Effendi kept account of the incoming and outgoing wood and Steamboats.
It was because of the commercial importance of the town that the Aga Khan
the first or Awal in Urdu
/ Persian, constructed his palace over there. Another testimony to the importance of Jhirk is that one of the oldest British era schools in Sindh, 15 years older than Karachi’s Sindh Madrasatul Islam, was also established in Jhirk, and is still functioning there.
This historical village is situated on the National Highway from Hyderabad to Thatta at 50 km, which near Keenjhar Lake 26 km ahead. It is on the right bank of River Indus 400 feet high above the sea level on the little mountains. During British rule, it was an important place for the English rulers to reside. The English Capt April Spy of British crown in 1800,s especially describes the majesty and weather of the city. He was stationed here from 1832 to 1839 writes that this was a great city consisting of a Bazaar
of 200 shops and goods were available here at cheaper prices than Karachi
.
Aga Khan I
migrated from Iran to Afghanistan Hirat, after the First Afghan War of 1839, when British were in Hirat. After British defeat at hands of Amir Akbar son of Amir Dost Mohammed of Afghanistan
. He Ran for his life from there to British India, after people of Afghanistan rose against him and declared him Kafir. He settled himself in Jhirk in Sindh in 1843 under British protection.
Aga Khan I
built his Mahal
(Palace) which is still exists in same good condition. He and his followers which were at least one thousand strong and with their residences there in Jhirk. The British were there too to protect him.
Sir Charles Napier
initially made Jhirk the headquarters for the British Army in Sindh
when he came to Sindh which was part of Bombay at that time.
The Grandfather of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
, who come to visit Jhirk for his Aga Khan I
Hassan Ali Shah Imam
’s Deedar settled here for the rest of his life and is buried there too and his grave can be found there.
His elder son, Mr. Poonja father of Mohammed Ali Jinnah was married to Sheeren Bai, the daughter of Moosa Jumo in 1874, who had also migrated along with the Agha Khan.
It has been alleged that Muhammad Ali Jinnah
was born in Jhirk, "but most historians and biographers go along with the official line".
He was admitted in the primary school of the town established in 1870. The school's General Register is missing. Before this controversy when the announcement of his Birth Place was made in the teaching course taught in Pakistan until 1962. It was written as Jhirk in the 8th lession of the course till 1962 in the Books from primary to Graduation level and remained in all level of books up to the tenure of Prime Minister
of Pakistan
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto 1976.
Then it was changed to Wazir Mansion (Karachi) near Light House
Karachi as Quaid-i- Azam Birth Place and a Fresh controversy arose again about birth place of Quaid e Azam and a change was made during Gen Zia Government, it was again admitted in the books that Karachi
was birth Place of Quaid-e-Azam.
A Buddha
Stupa
on the other side of river Indus indicates the historical position of the city. Despite having a brilliant past, Jhirk present situation is very critical. Very little income sources are found in this city. People are dependant on special Aid and Grants from Government.
While the rest of the population is Living Below the Poverty Line now. Due to the lack of water in Kotri
, river. Jhirk town has been deserted by people. All sources of fishing and farming are totally depleted. Many Government employees live here.
Many Graduates and Higher Secondary Pass-out youth from the Mallah Fishermen community pass their life selling brambles or on meagre rural Income resources.
Thatta
Thatta is a historic town of 220,000 inhabitants in the Sindh province of Pakistan, near Lake Keenjhar, the largest freshwater lake in the country. Thatta's major monuments especially its necropolis at Makli are listed among the World Heritage Sites. The Shah Jahan Mosque is also listed...
, province of Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
.
History
In 19th century, Jhirk was the busiest river port and centre of commercial activity in SindhSindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
. It also served as the headquarters of the Indus flotilla
Indus flotilla
The Indus Flotilla was a steamship company established in 1859 in British India to provide "the navigation of the Indus, &c, by means of steamvessels [sic], between Kotree and Mooltan, to be worked in connexion with the railways." It came to ply the Indus River all the way from Karachi Port in the...
, the most modern navigational system of those days.
Karachi Port near Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
was connected to Jhirk. The headquarter of the Indus flotilla
Indus flotilla
The Indus Flotilla was a steamship company established in 1859 in British India to provide "the navigation of the Indus, &c, by means of steamvessels [sic], between Kotree and Mooltan, to be worked in connexion with the railways." It came to ply the Indus River all the way from Karachi Port in the...
was in Jhirk town near Kotri
Kotri
Kotri , a large town, is the headquarters station of the Kotri Taluka, or administrative district...
and then it went to Mithankot
Mithankot
Mithankot , is located in southern Punjab, Pakistan.- Geography :Mithankot is located on the right bank of the Indus River, only a short distance downstream from its junction with Panjnad River. The latter is formed by successive confluence of the five rivers of Punjab, namely Jhelum, Chenab,...
Rajanpur district
Rajanpur District
Rajanpur District is a district of Punjab province in Pakistan. According to the 1998 census of Pakistan it had a population of 1,103,618 of which 14.27% were urban. Its administrative centre is the town of Rajanpur.-History & geography:...
near Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan
Dera Ghazi Khan is a city located in Dera Ghazi Khan District, Punjab, Pakistan. Dera Ghazi Khan is one of the most populous cities in Southern Punjab, and it is the largest district in Punjab in terms of area, being approximately in extent....
and then to the last point Makhad
Makhad
Makhad is a hilly historical town in Attock District in the Northern part of Punjab province, Pakistan. It is one of the last towns separating the Punjab from the rugged North-West Frontier Province...
Attock
Attock
Attock is a city located in the northern border of the Punjab province of Pakistan and the headquarters of Attock District...
. This part of Indus flotilla was called Punjab flotilla and the Indus flotilla Interchangeably. The British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Indus flotilla of steamboats which once plied the Indus river is described by (Shaw 1998).
Hassan Ali Effendi
Hassan Ali Effendi
Hassan Ali Effendi was a renowned educationist in South Asia who is credited as the founder of one of the first Muslim schools in British India: the Sindh Madrasatul Islam , located in Karachi in modern-day Pakistan...
the famous educationist who was instrumental in Establishing Sindh Madrasatul Islam used to Work at Indus flotilla
Indus flotilla
The Indus Flotilla was a steamship company established in 1859 in British India to provide "the navigation of the Indus, &c, by means of steamvessels [sic], between Kotree and Mooltan, to be worked in connexion with the railways." It came to ply the Indus River all the way from Karachi Port in the...
in his early years while learning English. Quaid-i-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah was one his student at Sindh Madrasatul Islam Karachi.
The river Indus was an important artery of communication between Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
and Jhirk near Kotri
Kotri
Kotri , a large town, is the headquarters station of the Kotri Taluka, or administrative district...
Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
, was an important river port, the Indus flotilla
Indus flotilla
The Indus Flotilla was a steamship company established in 1859 in British India to provide "the navigation of the Indus, &c, by means of steamvessels [sic], between Kotree and Mooltan, to be worked in connexion with the railways." It came to ply the Indus River all the way from Karachi Port in the...
used large quantities of firewood and it was kept to fuel steamboats. Hassan Ali Effendi kept account of the incoming and outgoing wood and Steamboats.
It was because of the commercial importance of the town that the Aga Khan
Aga Khan
Aga Khan is the hereditary title of the Imam of the largest branch of the Ismā'īlī followers of the Shī‘a faith. They affirm the Imamat of the descendants of Ismail ibn Jafar, eldest son of Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq, while the larger Twelver branch of Shi`ism follows Ismail's younger brother Musa...
the first or Awal in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
/ Persian, constructed his palace over there. Another testimony to the importance of Jhirk is that one of the oldest British era schools in Sindh, 15 years older than Karachi’s Sindh Madrasatul Islam, was also established in Jhirk, and is still functioning there.
This historical village is situated on the National Highway from Hyderabad to Thatta at 50 km, which near Keenjhar Lake 26 km ahead. It is on the right bank of River Indus 400 feet high above the sea level on the little mountains. During British rule, it was an important place for the English rulers to reside. The English Capt April Spy of British crown in 1800,s especially describes the majesty and weather of the city. He was stationed here from 1832 to 1839 writes that this was a great city consisting of a Bazaar
Bazaar
A bazaar , Cypriot Greek: pantopoula) is a permanent merchandising area, marketplace, or street of shops where goods and services are exchanged or sold. The term is sometimes also used to refer to the "network of merchants, bankers and craftsmen" who work that area...
of 200 shops and goods were available here at cheaper prices than Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
.
Aga Khan I
Aga Khan I
Aga Khan I The Imam Hasan Ali Shah was born in 1804 in Kahak, Iran to Shah Khalil Allah, the 45th Ismaili Imam, and Bibi Sarkara, the daughter of Muhammad Sadiq Mahallati , a poet and a Ni‘mat Allahi Sufi...
migrated from Iran to Afghanistan Hirat, after the First Afghan War of 1839, when British were in Hirat. After British defeat at hands of Amir Akbar son of Amir Dost Mohammed of Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
. He Ran for his life from there to British India, after people of Afghanistan rose against him and declared him Kafir. He settled himself in Jhirk in Sindh in 1843 under British protection.
Aga Khan I
Aga Khan I
Aga Khan I The Imam Hasan Ali Shah was born in 1804 in Kahak, Iran to Shah Khalil Allah, the 45th Ismaili Imam, and Bibi Sarkara, the daughter of Muhammad Sadiq Mahallati , a poet and a Ni‘mat Allahi Sufi...
built his Mahal
Mahal
-Geography:* Mahal, India, a small town in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh, India* Malé, the capital of Maldives* Mahalle, Turkish language country subdivision or neighbourhood term* Mahalla, an Arabic language country subdivision or neighbourhood term...
(Palace) which is still exists in same good condition. He and his followers which were at least one thousand strong and with their residences there in Jhirk. The British were there too to protect him.
Sir Charles Napier
Charles James Napier
General Sir Charles James Napier, GCB , was a general of the British Empire and the British Army's Commander-in-Chief in India, notable for conquering the Sindh Province in what is now Pakistan.- His genealogy :...
initially made Jhirk the headquarters for the British Army in Sindh
Sindh
Sindh historically referred to as Ba'ab-ul-Islam , is one of the four provinces of Pakistan and historically is home to the Sindhi people. It is also locally known as the "Mehran". Though Muslims form the largest religious group in Sindh, a good number of Christians, Zoroastrians and Hindus can...
when he came to Sindh which was part of Bombay at that time.
The Grandfather of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
, who come to visit Jhirk for his Aga Khan I
Aga Khan I
Aga Khan I The Imam Hasan Ali Shah was born in 1804 in Kahak, Iran to Shah Khalil Allah, the 45th Ismaili Imam, and Bibi Sarkara, the daughter of Muhammad Sadiq Mahallati , a poet and a Ni‘mat Allahi Sufi...
Hassan Ali Shah Imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
’s Deedar settled here for the rest of his life and is buried there too and his grave can be found there.
His elder son, Mr. Poonja father of Mohammed Ali Jinnah was married to Sheeren Bai, the daughter of Moosa Jumo in 1874, who had also migrated along with the Agha Khan.
It has been alleged that Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah
Muhammad Ali Jinnah was a Muslim lawyer, politician, statesman and the founder of Pakistan. He is popularly and officially known in Pakistan as Quaid-e-Azam and Baba-e-Qaum ....
was born in Jhirk, "but most historians and biographers go along with the official line".
He was admitted in the primary school of the town established in 1870. The school's General Register is missing. Before this controversy when the announcement of his Birth Place was made in the teaching course taught in Pakistan until 1962. It was written as Jhirk in the 8th lession of the course till 1962 in the Books from primary to Graduation level and remained in all level of books up to the tenure of Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto 1976.
Then it was changed to Wazir Mansion (Karachi) near Light House
Light House
The Light House is currently under construction and will be located on the new harbour front district in Aarhus, Denmark. It is expected to be completed by 2012. The Light House will be 142 metres tall making it the tallest building in Denmark....
Karachi as Quaid-i- Azam Birth Place and a Fresh controversy arose again about birth place of Quaid e Azam and a change was made during Gen Zia Government, it was again admitted in the books that Karachi
Karachi
Karachi is the largest city, main seaport and the main financial centre of Pakistan, as well as the capital of the province of Sindh. The city has an estimated population of 13 to 15 million, while the total metropolitan area has a population of over 18 million...
was birth Place of Quaid-e-Azam.
A Buddha
Buddha
In Buddhism, buddhahood is the state of perfect enlightenment attained by a buddha .In Buddhism, the term buddha usually refers to one who has become enlightened...
Stupa
Stupa
A stupa is a mound-like structure containing Buddhist relics, typically the remains of Buddha, used by Buddhists as a place of worship....
on the other side of river Indus indicates the historical position of the city. Despite having a brilliant past, Jhirk present situation is very critical. Very little income sources are found in this city. People are dependant on special Aid and Grants from Government.
While the rest of the population is Living Below the Poverty Line now. Due to the lack of water in Kotri
Kotri
Kotri , a large town, is the headquarters station of the Kotri Taluka, or administrative district...
, river. Jhirk town has been deserted by people. All sources of fishing and farming are totally depleted. Many Government employees live here.
Many Graduates and Higher Secondary Pass-out youth from the Mallah Fishermen community pass their life selling brambles or on meagre rural Income resources.