Concentration Camp of British period in Dadu, Sindh, Pakistan

Aziz Kingrani

People of Sindh have remained patriotic through the centuries. Patriotism is in

their blood, kith and kin, but unfortunately the collective national perception and vision
has not developed and spread widely among them yet. How ever, when Sindh suffered
or Sindh was kept by difficulties due to invasion and cruelty of foreign invaders, Sindhi
clans resisted individually. Regarding to this history speaks. Here we have to quote a
reference of “Hurr Movement”. The way of it’s fighting and agonies are noted very
differently, in history. Perhaps the world has no any example such type of fighting and
arresting the member tribes with families and keeping them into concentration camps,
as the “Hurrs” fought and as they were imprisoned by British government. It is tragedy
of this moment that it could not reach up to its destination like other movements of
Sindh. Pir Sabghatullah Shah-1 based first hurr movement (1) in this period the
instigations of movement are seemed from 1890 and up to 1898 the operations of
British government remained against the movement. British government imposed
marshal law from 1893 to 1898, to crush first hurr movement (2). British government
continued cruel activities against the movement. Movement remained slowly and
steadily active up to 1930. Second hurr movement which became famous, its leader was
Sayed Sabaghatullah -11, who raised big hindrances before the government. British
government angered and arrested him in 1930.From 1930 to 1936; Sayed Sabaghatullah
alias “Sooryah Badshah” was imprisoned in “Ratnagari” and in other prisons (3) In
October 1936 he returned to Sindh, after releasing from jail(4). But he did not remain
silent. He activated the movement. British government kept vigilances on his activities
and became angry. He was rearrested after 1937. Some historians have mentioned it as
3oth of September 1940 (5) How ever Sooryah Badshah rearrested and movement
became extremely active since 1939. Government started to arrest Hurr fighters and
devotees. Male and female participated in movement and resisted the government at
high level. Government enlarged his cruelties and arrested Hurrs with their families to
harass them, but Hurr devotees did not afraid of the government. The Hurrs were
imprisoned in concentration camps with their families. According to Professor
Mohammad Umar Chand, the concentrations can be separated in two periods. First
period was from 1895 to 1936 and second was from 1941 to 1952 (6) when the Hurr
patriotic devotees were arrested, they were imprisoned in camps, away from their
areas. Such concentration camps were all over in sub continent. The Hurr’s
concentration camps also were in Sind. There were two camps in Sindh. One was in
Warah, district Qambar Shahdadkot and second was in Johi, Dadu district. These are
also called Hurr camps. In Sindhi these camps are remembered as “Huran JA Lorha”.
In the north-east of Johi town, at the distance of 5 or 6 kilometers, near 7th
miner of Johi barrage, there is a concentration camp on the left side of a road which
leads from Johi to Phulji village. It is spread on the area of 20 square acres. The camp
was divided in to two parts. One was separated for imprisoned families and second was
for government officials. The portion for imprisoned families is larger. The base of
compound wall of the camp is constructed with backed bricks. Further construction of
compound wall is with clay. Compound wall has four main and big gates from east,
west, north and south. The pillar of west side of compound wall still exists. Perhaps the
Hurrs were used as labor in the construction of camp. There may be entrenchment at
every angle of the camp, we can not imagine that in the camp, where were the huts or
rooms for imprisoned families. There was a mosque in the camp from north-west angle,
but it collapsed in resent super flood of 2010. There was a street between the portions
of officials and imprisoned families. Near the southern gate of compound wall, a jail is
constructed. The jail and official residence buildings were constructed with baked bricks
and cemented material. Entrenchment over the jail is also built at the north-east side.
The date of construction of the jail is 1946. Later, for some time, the building of jail was
used as primary school Hurr camp. The whole camp was surrounded by the ring band.
There are the remains of pond in the east of the concentration camp. Perhaps the
concentration camp of Johi, district Dadu was established after 1941. Because of, the
resistive insistence in movement seems after 1940. During this period, Hurr act and
marshal law were imposed (7).
In camps the Hurr devotees were in lot of troubles and difficulties. In Johi and
Warah concentration camps, many people died due to hotness, no any doctor was
available and many of them lost their cattle (8) in camps the Hurrs were under
fierceness of government. Attendance was taken daily. Male and female used to stand
in lines before the police guard, then attendant of camp called them number wise. Every
male was tied a belt of copper, written his name and camp, with his arm. A number
plate was also fixed on the door of his house. His name and number of his family
members was written on the number plate. Their cattle were also counted. If they lost
their cattle, they were punished. The pay of police was drawn from the labouring or
earning of imprisoned Hurrs, which was called police fine or punishment (9). The
number of imprisoned families or Hurrs in Johi concentration camp is not confirmed.
According to my late father Soomar Khan and Late uncle Allah Bachayo Kingrani, about
1200 Hurrs were in Johi camp belonging to Sayed, Chang, Rajar, Mangrio, Khaskheli and
other tribes. Here residing in camp under the control and tense circumstances, the
Hurrs became more aggressive and disputatious. Local people were afraid of them and
called them “Hurr Badshah”. Their slogan was “Bhej Pagara”. Late uncle Allah Bachayo
Kingrani was “Darogho” in irrigation department at Johi. He told that ten Hurrs had
worked under his beat on daily wages and remembered only one name, who was Talib
Khaskheli. My father and uncle told me that Hurrs used to care their cattle. Once, a goat
of Hurr died naturally, but he blamed and recovered from Manjhi Khoso of Chinjani
village, due to fear of fine by attendant of camp. According to local legends, Bhooro and
his brother Lal Bux Khaskheli was expert in “Malh” (Traditional sport of Sindh).
In 1943, Sooriyah Badshah, Sayed Sabaghatullah Shah Rashdi-11 was martyred
and marshal law was imposed (10). The hurrs agitated strongly. The government had
started their killings and arresting. They were imprisoned in camps. This story of cruelty
and agonies ended on frst April 1952, when concentrations were ended (11). After
partition, when Britons left subcontinent, regarding to this, Pir Sayed Ali Mardan Shah
“Pagaro” said in his interview, “When I was in England under education, first prime
minister of Pakistan nawab zada Liqat Ali Khan called me and my brother Nadir Ali Shah
at his residence in England. He admired our agitation and said that we restore your
religious status (Gaadi) (12). Hurrs returned to their areas since 1954.
The concentration camp of Johi is completely destroyed now. Except floods of
1976, 1995 and 2010, the local people have also ruined it. Other wise this was a
historical monument of Hurr’s painful time and cruelty of British government period.
Books and Reference

(1) Ustaad Nizamani, Hurr Tahreek, Nara publications Sanghar, 2002, page: 55
(2) Professor Mohammad Umar Chand, Jhoongar series 2001, Nara Publications
Sanghar 1999, page: 37
(3) Same reference, page: 38
(4) Same reference, page: 40
(5) Ustaad Nizamani, Jhoongar series Nara publication Sanghar, 1999, page: 30
(6) Professor Mohammad Umar Chand, Jhoongar series 2001, Nara Publications
Sanghar 1999, page: 42
(7) Ustaad Nizamani, Hurr Tahreek, Nara publications Sanghar, 2002, page: 65
(8) Hakeem Mohammad Yakob Qadri, Jhoongar series, Nara publications Sanghar,
year 2000, page: 41
(9) Malhar Fakir Khaskheli, Jhoongar series, Nara publications Sanghar, year 2000,
page: 12; 13
(10) Ustaad Nizamani, Hurr Tahreek, Nara publications Sanghar, 2002, page: 66

(11) Same reference

(12) Pir Sahab Pagaro, Jhoongar series Nara publication Sanghar, 1999, page: 12