The Historical Guesthouse of Nawab Dulha Darya Khan at Jamshoro

It was during my trip to historic fort Ranikot situated some thirty six Kilometers from Sann, when I came across with another historic place at Gopang Station that falls between Jamshoro and Sann. This is said to the guesthouse of Nawab Dulha Darya a Sindhi warrior of Samma Dynasty. According to Sindhi legends Nawab Dulha Darya Khan fought battle against Arghuns bravely, he led Sindhi forces in two battles against Arghuns.

G M Syed in his booklet “Sindh ja Surma” (Heroes of Sindh) mentions about Dulha Khan as: “Jam Nizam uddin alias Jam Nando son of Jam Bhinbo, of this family became other famous ruler. He sat on the throne in 866 AH or 1462 AD. In his days; limits of government reached to Bahawalpur on one side and to Sibbi on other side, it meant he was ruler of entire present day Sindh. He was a great scholar, loved company of scholars and mystics; he was best administrator, good natured and open hearten man. He reigned for 48 years, due to peace country developed rapidly. Leaving the old capital Sammai or Samma nangar, he established present day Thatta, three miles away from old capital. Which in short time became center due to schools, scholars, factories, trade and commerce. That was golden period of Samma dynasty.  Nawab Darya Khan was prime minister of this pious man and great administrator. It is said about that actually he was a servant of Lakhmir, a minister of Jam Sahib. No one knows about his real family. In early days he was known by the name of Kabulio.”

Nawab Darya Khan got property at Talti, near Gaho, where his sons lived and he too most often used to go and stay there. Mukhdoom Bilawal of Samma clan lived there at Baghban, Nawab Sahib was his follower and companion, so all the disciples of Mukhdoom Bilawal, especially Syed Hyder of Sann, knew and had friendly relationship with Nawab Sahib. It is hard to say that whether Nawab Sahib was influenced by these mystics, or they were influenced by Nawab Sahib's ideas.

At this site I met an elderly man named Ghulam Rasool, an employee in Railway, he narrated that previously this site was considered as shrine of Nawab Dulha Darya Khan, but later on it was known that this not a shrine, as Nawab Dulha is buried at Thatta, that was capital of Sindh during Samma period. This site was later declared as his guesthouse.

The historic record about Nawab Dulha Darya Khan states that in 914 AH or 1508 AD, Jam Nizam uddin died, on his death bed he asked Nawab Sahib to take care of Jam Feroz, his son. After that a dispute between Jam Feroz and Jam Salauddin, grandson of Jam Sanjar took place over throne, with Nawab Sahib's help Jam Feroz succeeded to overcome this dispute, and Jam Salauddin went Gujrat to live with his son-in-law.

 Being young, Jam Feroz was fond of music, dancing girls, loved company of people who amused, and other such deeds. Nawab Darya Khan used to deal all government affairs. Due to abundance of production, members of the royal family and men of court became corrupt, Nawab Sahib took strict actions against them, this brought a conflict between Jam Feroz and Nawab Sahib, so he resigned from his ministry and came to Gaho to take care of his property, now there was no one to keep an eye on Jam Feroz's corruption. To weaken Nawab Sahib's strength, he brought and employed Kibiq Aurghun and others at his court. Jam Feroz built a separate colony for these foreigners, which was called "Mughal Stable".

 Witnessing such conditions, amongst Mughals certain Mir Qasim Kibiq, wrote to Shah Beg Aurghun, that Jam's administration has become weak, Jam is deep lost in his corruption, Nawab Darya Khan has left him, take advantage of this opportunity. Upon this Shah Beg Aurghun started attacking Sindh, he first captured Sukkur, then Sehwan, and in the end attacked Thatta, on this Jam opened his eyes and called Nawab Darya Khan back. Though things were out of control, Darya Khan fought for sovereignty of Sindh till last breath and was martyred. During the battle Jam Feroz fled to Pir Patti, from here he plead Shah Beg for mercy, asked for pardon and agreed to rule small portion under Aurghuns, according to the treaty. Nawab Darya Khan was an important hero, having true vision and patriotism, who gave his life for sovereignty of Sindh. Nawab Sahib's tomb is on Makli Hill, in west of his guardian Jam Nizam uddin.  

This historical site is at the edge of destruction as no one is showing any interest in this historic site, its walls have been damaged, while the roof and dome are about to collapse. It is duty of culture and heritage department of Sindh to look forth into this historic site, before it is lost completely.