Sufi Saints and State Power: The Pirs of Sind [Sindh], 1843-1947

198 Pages·1992·7.44 MB·English

by  Sarah F. D. Ansari

What has been the role of 'local collaborators' in creating and sustaining
European colonial empires? In this book, Dr Sarah Ansari addresses this
question by examining the system of political control constructed by the
British in Sind between 1843 and 1947. In particular, she explores the part of
the local Muslim religious elite, the pirs or hereditary sufi saints, who had long
acted as mediators between rulers and the ordinary people of the region.
Using a wealth of historical material, Dr Ansari looks at the development of
the institution of the pir its power base and the mechanics of the system of
t
control into which pirs were drawn. The overall success of the political system
depended on the willingness of the elite to participate and the author argues
that, on the whole, it worked well in Sind. This enabled the British to govern
while allowing the pirs to adapt to colonial rule and later independence
without serious damage to their interests. Dr Ansari demonstrates how, only
in the heightened nationalist atmosphere of the 1940s, did the system seri-
ously break down. Then, the most powerfulpir rejected the notion of shared
interests on which collaboration was based and only force could reimpose law
and order.
This is the first major work to explore the relationship between Muslim
religious leaders and the colonial state in a region of India that was distant
from the main centres of British power. It also contributes considerably to our
understanding of the history of Sind - an area of growing historical and
contemporary interest. Sufi Saints and State Poiver will therefore be of
interest to students and specialists of South Asia, of Muslim politics and of the
history of colonialism.

CAMBRIDGE SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES
SUFI SAINTS AND STATE POWER
CAMBRIDGE SOUTH ASIAN STUDIES
Editorial Board
C. A. Bayly, G. P. Hawthorn, Gordon Johnson, W. J. Macpherson,
S. J. Tambiah
A list of the books in the series will be found at the end of the volume
SUFI SAINTS AND STATE POWER
The pirs of Sind, 1843-1947
SARAH F. D. ANSARI
British Academy Postdoctoral Fellow,
Royal Holloway and Bedford New College,
University of London
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© Cambridge University Press 1992
First published 1992
Printed in Great Britain by Redwood Press Limited, Melksham
A cataloguing in publication record for this book is available from the British Library
Library of Congress cataloguing in publication data
Ansari, Sarah F. D.
Sufi saints and state power: the pirs of Sind, 1843—1947 / Sarah
F. D. Ansari.
p. cm - (Cambridge South Asian studies)
Includes bibliographical references (p. ) and index.
ISBN 0 521 40530 0
1. Sindh (Pakistan) — Politics and government. 2. Islam and
politics — Pakistan - Sindh. 3. Sufis — Pakistan - Sindh - Political
activities. I. Title. II. Series.
DS392.S58A57 1992
954.9-dc20 91-16242 CIP
ISBN 0 521 40530 0 hardback
To Akbar

Contents
List of illustrations page x
Acknowledgements xi
A note on spelling xiii
List of abbreviations xiv
Glossary xvi
Introduction 1
1 Sind and itspirs up to 1843 9
2 Creating a system of political control
after 1843 36
3 Challenge to the system: the Pir Pagaro
and the Hur rebellion of the 1890s 57
4 Challenge to the system: the Khilafat
movement, 1919-1924 77
5 A more complex system of political control:
pits and politics under the raj, 1900-1947 101
6 The final challenge: the Pir Pagaro again 129
Epilogue 150
Conclusion 155
Select bibliography 161
Index 171
IX
Illustrations
Maps
1 General map of Sind page 10
2 Location of important Suhrawardi shrines 18
3 Location of important Qadiri and Naqshbandi shrines 21
Plates
1 The Pir Pagaro, Pir Hizbullah Shah (1847-90) 65
2 Shrine and mosque of Pir Pagaros at Pir-jo-Goth, Sind 66
3 Ziarat platform at Pir-jo-Goth, Sind 67
4 The Pir Pagaro, Pir Shah Mardan Shah (1897-1921) 73
5 The Pir Pagaro, Pir Sibghatullah Shah II (1921-43) 131
6 Tomb of Pir Shah Mardan Shah at Pir-jo-Goth, Sind 132
7 Present home of Pir Pagaro at Pir-jo-Goth, rebuilt in the
style of the 'palace' destroyed by the British there in 1943 146