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Pir Jhando, Matiari

Sayyid Rushdullah Shah Rashdi, the Pir of Jhando, died in 1922, there was a dispute between two of his sons over the gadi and its property. The litigation climbed the legal ladder until it eventually reached the Privy Council in London. With no alternatives left, the unsuccessful litigant was forced to accept the failure of his attempt to become sajjada nashin however the two halves of the family remained estranged for years. The ability to appeal to a higher authority provided a 'safety-net' in the event of initial failure as it was often possible to reach a more favourable judgement in a different court room. The appeals procedure was an expensive one, but. pirs with the backing of their murids were well equipped to make the most of it. Their overall acceptance of the processes of British law was also highlighted by their willingness to involve themselves in other aspects of the legal system such as by becoming honorary magistrates. Although this formed part of the overall structure of British patronage, it underlined the fact that pirs had developed a sufficiently healthy respect for the process of law for their appointments not to be regarded as impractical or even farcical, and by the 1940s, many leading pirs.

The British in Sind constructed a system of political control which hinged on the cooperation of landed elites, of whom pirs made up a sizeable proportion. These elites looked after local affairs and represented local interests: they were 'the interpreters between Government and the general body of the population'. Just as the authorities relied on collaboration, local powerholders needed the economic security and social status which the system gave them. In operating and taking advantage of the system, both sides were prepared to be pragmatic: officials used their discretion when applying the rules, while pirs rarely hesitated to take advantage of new ways of increasing their power and prestige. The very section of the elite which, in theory, had most to lose from being too closely associated with the administration, found that there was much to gain from maintaining a good 'working relationship' with their new 'infidel' rulers. Many of them managed to retain an aura of spiritual aloofness at the same time as making the most of the benefits of cooperation. In the long run, their willingness to participate in the British system of political control helped endow pir families with the resilience needed to cope with colonial rule.

(Pir Sain Sayyed Ahsanullah Shah Rashdi Pir JhandeWaro) had majority support of his murids followers because he was Real and both his father and mother was Sayyid Rashdi) Then pir Sayed Ahsanullah Shah Rashdi bin Pir Rushdullah Shah Rashdi, he established his own village nearby to Pir Jhando which called dargah sharif Pir Jhando. Because in gadi of pir pagara and pur Jhandewara ( descendant of pir Rashid shah Rozey dhani) these gadis are selected by murids not by family and Pir ahsanullah Shah rashdi was only one real children of pir rushdullah shah rashdi which was from daddi potti real Sayed and Rashdi. Another his children's wasn't from daddi potti, so murids choose pir ahsanullah shah rashdi well known pir sain sunnat dhani.

[Source: Text and new photographs: Pir Sayed Arham Shah Rashdi | Photographs: Matiari The Cultural Capital of Sindh by Momin Bullo | Coordinates: EFT]



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