THE%20SINDH%20STORY

The Umar Marui is one long paean of patriotism. Even more, it is a plea for
swadharma --- for y our own life values and life style. The Umar Marui is an
abiding source of inspiration for the Sindhi nationalists today.
However, the long and memorable Soomra rule is enshrined most in the historic
contest of Dodo and Chanesar. When Bhungar Rao died towards the end of the
thirteenth century, the court elders had decided to crown Dodo, his younger and
brighter son by his regular wife, and not Chanesar, his elder son, by an iron-
smith girl. Neither half-brother was keen on the pugg (pugree, turban or crown);
and Dodo even said that he would be a titular sovereign and Chanesar would be
the real ruler. But even so, the formal crowning of the younger brother infuriated
Chanesar’s mother and wife --- even as Kekayi and Manthura had been enraged
by Rama’s succession --- who provoked him to seek the aid of Alauddin Khalji in
Delhi. What followed was a titanic struggle between Sindh and the Khaljis in
1296--1300. A huge army descended on Sindh via Gujerat. The army was so huge,
say the Sindhi bards, that “they drank the Sabarmati dry”.
The Khaljis now not only wanted to replace Dodo by Chanesar; they also wanted
Bhagi, Bhungar Rao’s daughter by a third (regular) wife, for Alauddin. However,
the Soomras would not agree to either demand. Rejecting the idea of a
matrimonial alliance, they said: “Tu Turk asee Soomra, ahri jor na jugai” (“You
are a Turk and we are Soomras; such a union will not be right”). In the fight that
ensued, both sides suffered heavily. Dodo’s son Bhungar Jr. and even Chanesar s
son Nangar “Nehro”, fought heroically for Dodo --- and fell. Sabar Abro, a
Samma chief on the Soomra side, killed Alauddin’s son Syed Ghazi Salar. When
Dodo was speared and raised high, he told Chanesar standing by: “Even now I
am above you!”
Meanwhile the Khalji attack on his own land and people had induced second
thoughts in Chanesar. He now began to hate Alauddin for his excesses against
Sindh. He is believed to have died fighting Alauddin.
The most important aspect of this episode is that in Sindh it became a people’s
war. Even peasants, shepherds, cowherds, bards, faqirs, fishermen, potters and
weavers joined the fray. They all said: “The sword is our plough.”
The Soomra ladies secretly left for the safety of Samma protection in Kutch, and
Alauddin found the palace deserted. He left Sindh disgusted and disappointed.
To this day songs are sung in praise of the heroism of the Soomras and the
beauty and purity of their womenfolk. Dodo’s martyrdom is still observed with
an annual fair in the month of Chaitra. Three-hundred-year-old ballads, still
sung in Sindh, go on like this:
The Sindh Story; Copyright © www.panhwar.com
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