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The ancient settlement of Kotri Muhammad Kabir in the Noshehro Feroz district is said to have been a hub of religious and cultural activity up until the 10th century Hijri. Makhdoom Muhammad Kabir, who belonged to the Naqsh-bandi Suharwardi school of thought, was the pioneer of this township. During its heyday, sufi saints like Hazrat Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai visited it frequently, and it became a meeting ground of sorts for others seeking metaphysical rather than material enlightenment.

Before Makhdoom Muhammad Kabir came on the scene and transformed it into a township of worth, Kotri was called "Sogandh", a Persian word meaning one lakh twenty-five thousand. It was the most densely populated township on the left side of the Indus river in that period, and some of the objects found in its ruins still speak of its beauty and grandeur.

With the dawn of the 21st century, the currents of urbanisation and apathy towards historic monuments have become stronger and now threaten the preservation of our cultural heritage. The fear is that the significant town of Kotri Kabir will soon be relegated to the footnotes of history. Kotri is centered around an ancient shrine, the dargah of the incumbent or the Sajjada Nashin. The current incumbent, Makhdoom Ghaus Muhammad Gohar has, however, done a wonderful job of collecting, preserving and conserving ancient manuscripts of the Quran as well as religious tomes which were used in religious instruction in the days of yore. The learned Pir of Kotri Kabir is a direct descendant of the first Makhdoom Mohammad Kabir, and he has lived up to his illustrious forefather's reputation as a devoted man of religion and of letters. Today, the Quran collection of the Kabir family lies preserved in the small library besides the Makhdoom's grand Haveli.

[Source: Naushahro Feroze: Through the Ages by Momin Billo | Coordinates: EFT]

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