Dollah Darya Khan

دولهه دريا خان لاشاري‎Regent of the Samma RulerIn office
1490–1512MonarchsJam Feroz, Jam Nizamuddin II Personal detailsDied1521
Fatehpur, Sindh, Samma DynastyResting placein Makli Necropolis, Thatta District, Sindh, Samma dynastySpouseHemmu RathoreChildrenMahmud Khan Lashari, Motan Khan Lashari, Allaudin Khan Lashari, Sarang Khan Lashari and Ahmad Khan LashariOccupationGeneral, Noble, CourtmanMilitary serviceYears of service1490-1521RankCommander-in-chiefBattles/warsBattle of Jalwakhir
Battle of Fatehpur

Darya Khan (Sindhi: دريا خان) also known as Mubarak Khan was a General, Spokesman, Irrigation Expert and an Expert of Foreign Affairs. He was also regent at the court of Samma ruler Jam Feroz.

There are many speculations surrounding Darya Khans origins but different contradictory views have been written down by the historians of Sindh. In Tareekeh-e-Tahri Syed Tahir Mohammad Nasyani has mentioned Dollah Darya Khan as "Syed". Richard Burton had written about him that he was a son of a shepherd and he further tells that Jam Nindo's wife was in sterility or an in fecund woman, therefore, he decided to adopt a child, and one day when he was on his hunting expedition there he found a shepherd's child who was lying asleep under a tree. Jam Nindo looked at the sleeping child for hours and he realized that the shadow of tree was continuously falling upon the sleeping child thus he thought that it was a good omen of God and he thought that such omen shows that the sleeping child will prove to be a great man of valor and vigor in the time to come thus he took the child into his arms and he adopted him as his son, and called him Doleh Darya Khan.”^[1] Though Dr. Ghulam Mohammad Lakho writes about him that:"According to the record in writing the child was a Syed Zada. According to the local legends of Sindh, this great commander and ambassador of Sindh was related with “Qabolia family. "^[2] Dr. Nabi Bux Baloch has stated that Doleh Darya Khan was Lashari Baloch and he had also given his lineage. He has fully rejected the reference wherein it has been said that Doleh Darya Khan was a Syed. According to Dr. Nabi Bux, Doleh Darya Khan was the descendant of Fateh Khan Lashari the lineage which he has provided for the clarity of that lineage he gives many suitable reasons as well. Dr. Nabi Bux Baloch has given many family traditions as well according to those traditions it becomes clear that Doleh Darya Khan was Lashari by caste.In the books of history of Sindh one can find a reference as well according to which reference it is told that in the reign of Mir Guhram Khan Lashari two brothers and some other youths came to Sindh with the purpose of finding a job in Sindh, among them, Doleh Darya Khan reached the palace of King Jam Nindo by his wisdom and intrepidity who later adopted him as his son.

Dr. Nabi Bux Khan Baloch had stated in the light of some of the historians have written down that he was by three traditions that Doleh Darya Khan was Lashari by caste. Some of the historians have described that he was by caste “Qabolio” and some of the historians have described that he was by caste a Sayed Zada and some of them have narrated that he was by caste Samma. We have reached the conclusion by all this exploration that apart from those two reasons and references it becomes crystal and clear that Doleh Darya Khan was by caste Lashari. The traditions on the basis of which it has been said that Doleh Darya Khan was a Syed or a Samma by caste such traditions lack solid ground. For those who have called him "Syed" among them some are of the opinion that he was a slave of Lakhmeer Diwan. The other historians are of the opinion that he was the son of Kabir Shah and he became orphan in his early age and he grazed the bison of Bala Rathore. It is an acknowledged fact that in Sindh Syed is highly respected and no Syed ever had been kept as a slave in Sindh rather no matter how much poor a Syed is everybody in Sindh thinks it is his duty to honor him. There is an old adage in Sindhi that: "Syed Mero Tadahn Bhi Panj Sero" "No matter how dirty a Syed is yet he is considered better than anyone else." People of Sindh pay great respect and honor to anyone who belongs to the Syed community it is a common phenomenon in Sindh and the general psychology of Sindhi people . Sindh is a land where the descendants of the holy prophet are highly respected therefore, one cannot agree upon the point that Doleh Darya Khan being a "Sayed Zada" was a slave of someone here in Sindh this is really unbelievable. And if Doleh Darya Khan had been a Samma by caste then his son might not have grave the words "s/o Jam Nizam al-Din" inscribed upon his We get many different traditions and various references regarding the name of Doleh Darya Khan. According to some traditions it is said that his real name was Mubarak Khan and he was Qabolio by caste whom they called "Abdar" as well. Many of the historian has given the meaning of word "Abdar" they say it means "The boy who serves water" but indeed he was an expert of irrigation. It is surely possible that because of his great efforts taken for the development of irrigation system in Sindh and digging of new canals out of Indus river and making certain modifications in this regard he was entitled with the name of Darya Khan because he had also brought into being a canal by this name. He was called Doleh as well, which means brave man and there is no doubt that he was a great warrior and fearless person. His other titles are "Madar al-Maham", "Amir al-Umrah", "Khan-e-Khana" and "Khan-e-Azam" etc. In the light of all those titles given to him, we can say that his real name was Mubarak Khan because it is not a title awarded to him like other titles given to him. So the other names as mentioned above were not his names rather only titles that were conferred upon him by the masses^[3]

Darya Khan belonged to the cousin oriented generation of Mir Guhram Khan Lashari. When their was a tribal fights between the Lasharis & Rinds, the Sardar of Rinds Mir Chakar sought help and sent the young man Beebrag to Qandhar for that purpose. Whereas on the other hand the Lashari Sardar Mir Guhram Khan Lashari sent a couple of Lashari young men for the jobs to Thatta in order to have mutual relations with Jam Nindo of Sindh. Darya Khan was a younger buy who went to become servant. Eventually he stepped up to become the exclusive slave of Jam Nindo on account of his abilities. He did job in military and became Commander in Chief to help his tribe. Entire the distinguished Baloch tribes who were close to Jam like Lashari, Magsi and Chandia got part of the Sindhi military. Then Darya Khan invaded Mughals (Arghuns) in Sibi with the Sindhi military. The power and robustness of Lashari Sardars and their Allied tribes remained intact till the time Darya Khan. Lashari tribes from Thatta combated Mughals and alot of them were killed. But ultimately their leaders headed to Gujarat leaving Sindh^[4]

This is the ancedote of those segments of the Lashari tribe who were too close to Darya Khan segment. Other people of that branch also subscribe to that. On the whole the narration is like here: "Mir Fateh Ali Khan was the ruler of a state towards Seestan and Makran. In the wake of his death his Sardarhood divided into two parts. His two sons Mir Moeen Khan and Mir Abdul Razzaq took over this ruling affairs. Darya Khan was from pedigree of Mir Moeen. Darya Khan and Sarang Khan were brothers. The name of their father was "Laung Khan". Darya Khan, Sarang khan and Muhammad Khan the employees at Thatta under the kingdom of Jam Nindo. The actual name of Darya Khan was Qubool Khan. Jam Nindo awarded him with the title "Darya Khan" firstly and later on added him with another one "Mubarak Khan" and called him his son. Darya Khan became the Major Commander in chief of the military and he defeated Mughals (Arghuns) and made them flee in sibi and chandki (Larkana & Dadu). Jam Nizamuddin one eve of his death gave the charge of Jam Feroz to Darya Khan and delivered the ruling powers to him. Till the time he got capability to govern, he got indulged in reveries and luxuries and his people troubled the common masses. Darya Khan tried to make him understand but Jam Feroz didn't pay heed to his advice. Darya Khan resigned and dwelled at his feoffment Kahaan. Then Jam Salahuddin captured Thatta. Jam Feroz came again to Darya Khan. The entire army of Baloch tribes got together on his call. The broher and son of Darya Khan hleped Jam Feroz too. Jam Feroz regained the Kingdom of Thatta. But Jam Feroz provided the stay to Mughals at Thatta. Darya Khan forbade him but no avail and Mughal invaded and intruded in Sindh again. Darya Khan & Sarang Khan bravely fought with them. Darya Khan got martyred. Then his son and Sarang Khan kept battling. The pedigree of Darya Khan is as below:

Mir Fatah Ali Khan

Mir Moeen Khan ---------- Mir Abdul Razaq

Mir Khizar Khan ----------

Mir Gola Khan ----------

Mir Khizar Khan ----------

Mir Sarang Khan ----------

Mir Laung Khan ----------

Sarang Khan ---------- Qubooliyo Khan

Sarang Khan and Darya Khan both got their offsprings. Mehmood Khan and Mithan Khan got martyred while battling. There were other sons of Darya Khan aswell. Mughals kept their feoffment intact. Ali Muhammad Khan Ganj maintained a tiny state at "Abaa" (Gandawa). His son Murad Khan took over the kingdom after his demise. The son of Murad Khan was Darya Khan Junior which was name of Darya Khan senior. His son Dilawar Khan declared sovereignty of "Malooh". The offspring of Sarang Khan settled in Sindh. At present that is a huge territory. To the name of their grandfather they are called "Sarangani Lashari".^[4]

Doleh Darya Khan was married to a girl named Hammu/ Hemmu she was Rathore by caste and she was famous for her beauty and charm. The Father of Hemmu whose name was Bali Rathore was the owner of Kalan Kot. From different sources of history, it is stated that Hemmu was engaged with the brother-in-law of Jam Nizam al-Din whose name was Kahu Dhanwar. This engagement was made by the wife of Jam whose name was Madinah or Eidda or Ramki and she was Machi by caste. Edda usually disliked Doleh Darya Khan because she feared that after the death of her husband King Jam his son who was a legal heir to his throne might be replaced by Doleh Darya Khan. Such clues were made by Jam before many times. Madinah Machi has strived during the lifetime of his husband Jam Nindo to kill Darya Khan. She had made a plan to kill Darya Khan and in she had sought opinion from one of his maid. She had given the horse of Doleh Darya Khan something creating addiction. As usual as Doleh Darya Khan when rode upon his horse so as to see the surrounding areas his horse went out of control but Doleh Darya Khan hold full control over his horse and then his horse sat down near a pond. As a matter of chance, Hemmu was taking a bath there along with her girlfriends and looking at the sight of her dazzling beauty Doleh Darya Khan's heart was injured by the arrow of the beauty of Hemmu and the strongest and powerful warrior who had killed and wounded many other brave and fighting soldiers himself was wounded in the love of this lady and Hemmu reacted in the same way and accepted him as his beloved and she hid her beautiful face in the wide chest of Doleh Darya Khan and in this way story of love was written on the hearts and souls of two lovers. When Jam Nizam al- Din knew about this story of love between the two lovers and although he was well aware of the fact that Hemmu was engaged with Dhanwar he didn't care about it and he immediately sent a messenger along with one of his companion to the father of Hemmu and asked him give hand of Hemmu to Doleh Darya Khan who accepted his proposal wholeheartedly and he announced that he is ready to give the hand of his daughter Hemmu for marriage with Doleh Darya Khan, and then Jam Nizam al-Din organized and celebrated with great joy the marriage ceremony Darya Khan. Doleh Darya Khan had five sons from Hemmu but in some books of history it is said that he had three sons but Pir Hissam al-Din Rashdi has given names of his five sons such as Allaudin, Mehmood Khan, Mithan Khan (Motan Khan), Sarang Khan, and Ahmed Khan. All his sons were also brave warriors and patriotic like their father Doleh Darya Khan. They owned Jagirs near Sehwan. Two of his sons namely Mehmood Khan and Motan Khan were closely associated with Makhdoom Bilawal and after the martyrdom of their father when the bad days of Sindh started they waged war against the Arghun army and they also died fighting for the liberation of their motherland Sindh. In some books of history, it is written that when Arghuns sent messages to strongest men in Sindh so as to make an agreement with them in this connection such type of message was sent to the sons of Doleh Darya Khan but they rejected their offer and they rather chose fighting against their illegal occupation of Sindh and they fought with bravery and courage until they breathed their last in this great cause. From the tombstones of the grave of Doleh Darya Khan becomes crystal clear that his grave was constructed by his younger son Ahmed Khan. His grave is made right inside four walls wherein there are many other graves as well. In the southern wall of his grave is attached a tombstone upon which are written the words as follows:

هذا المقام بامر خان االعظم مبارک خان بن سلطان نظام الدی ن شاه بن صدر الدين شاه بن صالح الدی ن شاه بن سلطان ركن" ل الدين شاه وهو المظفر ع مغالن الهري والقندهار كتبه قطب الدين بن محمود - احمد بن دريا خان غفر هللا له ^[5]

A few scholars are of that views that after the martyrdom of Doleh Darya Khan his younger son met with the Arghuns and remain in normal terms with them, while his other son Motann Khan fought with the enemies and martyr for the country. According to Dr. Baloch, one of his sons owned a Jagir in Gandawah where he lived with his family members with great honor.

Doleh Darya Khan was a brave and lionhearted one. He was an army chief in the times of Jam Nizamuddin. Dr. Ghulam Muhammad Lakho writes: "Darya Khan occupies a prominent place amongst the great warriors and martyrs of Sindh. He occupies a prominent place in carrying and leading military expeditions on behalf of Sindh and he was a wise diplomat."^[2] As Darya Khan was Lashari and he played a great role in Rind-Lashar War. His bitter enemies were Rind and Arghuns. Chakar Khan Rind said: QANDHAR POZAN MUN SARE ZERAN AZ PAZA CHAK CHAIN-W-MUGHAL ROKH BAAN TANE GUWANZGHI PULANA NA PARDACHAN (I will bring forces from Qandhar and I will genocide Sindhis like Mughal armies did it before and I will show no mercy even for your babies swinging in their cradles). 8 On the other hand, was Mir Gehram Khan who said: SHAH MANAN BARI EE BA DAS ROSHA (MAN) SAMMA-W-BHATI ANI CHARI AAN THATTA EE POZAN MAN SARA RESHAN ASA PA CHAPWAN MAN DARAN HUNGRAN GIRANI LOG MOGHIMAN NI TOSALA DELHI TURK-W-LEKHI BAAN. (May God give me a chance for I am waiting for the armies of Sammas and Bhattis to reach, I will assault with the help of the Thatta army and I will set on fire everything, I will burn the homes of my clever and brave enemies, Such a fire I will set which none will extinguish not even the Turks of Dehli (the friends of Chakar Khan)."(12) Doleh Darya Khan fought many battles in his lifetime. His biggest war achievement is the war of Sibi in which he fought with courage and defeated the Arghuns forces dreadfully who were the discontented enemies of Sindh. According To Richard Burton, "The Khan soon becoming a great chieftain and a doughty warrior, conquered many of the regions round about Sindh, and at last resolved to attack Candar. He succeeded, and informed his Foster-father of the glad tidings by means of a line of beacons which he had erected along the road. Sindh rejoiced with exceeding joy."(13) In this war, he killed the son of Zulnun and the brother of Shah Baig Arghun and compelled them to run away from the battlefield, and in this way, he wrote a new history of the victory of the Sindhi army. After the death of King Jam Nindo King Jam Feroze ignored Doleh Darya Khan continuously because of this Doleh Darya Khan resigned from his service for the army of Sindh and he settled in his own Jagir. Finding a good opportunity another so-called appellant of the throne of Sindh attacked Thatta and he banished King Jam Feroze who along with his mother came to seek help from Doleh Darya Khan and Doleh Darya Khan obliging his request collected a disunited force of Sindh and fought against the enemy Jam Salahuddin but he didn't succeed he historian of Sindh has described the reason for this failu of Doleh Darya Khan because he recruited inexperienced Sindhi youth who were totally lacked enough experience to fight. Despite that luck favored Doleh Darya Khan and he detained the emissary of the compelled him to threatened the Jam Salahuddin, He did the same and Jam Salahuddin freed the city of Thatta out of the hands of occupant forces and then he handed over the power and authority of the throne of Sindh to King Jam Feroze. He breathed his last fighting for his motherland Sindh on the bank of Khanwah. The pages of the history of Sindh are full of the stories and narratives of his bravery and fearlessness.

In the days of Mongol, Sultan Hussain Mirza Baiqra, of Khurasan, on complaints of the merchants of Central Asia (Herat and Qandhar), that they were looted by Sindhis, the Sultan sent an armed expedition to the Sind border which, after initial raids returned to their country. A declaration of victory was issued in Herat in 892 A.H. (1487 A.D.). It states that the infidels (Sindhis), aware of Mongol movements, collected a large army and wanted to make a surprise attack. Still, the Islamic forces (Mongols) learned of it and made offensive attacks, killing many of these Hindus (forces of Jam Nizamuddin). As a result of this success, a declaration of victory was issued.

This may have been an attack on the Sindh border without any results. Amir Zul Noon Arghoon was then Herat's Naib at Qandhar. He seems to have despatched his son Shah Beg on this expedition. The latter captured the Sibi Fort from Jam Nizamuddin's agent Bahadur Khan and installed his brother Sultan Mohammad, who later on was defeated and killed by Mubarak Khan (Darya Khan Dullah) near Jalwagir in Bolan Pass, close to Bibi Nani.

After this incident, the Mongols did not turn up in Sindh during the life of Jam Nizamuddin. At that time, the Mongol troops had advanced as far as Chanduka, Sardecha, and Kot Machhi. Still, after being expelled by Darya Khan, they never returned during Jam Nizamuddin's lifetime.

Jam Nizamuddin Samma died after 48 years of rule of Sind and was succeeded by his son Nasiruddin Abul Fatah Feroz Shah-II. At that time, Jam Feroz had neglected the affairs of the state and refused the advice of Darya Khan, who had to retire to his Jagir in the village Ghaha (Kahan near Sehwan and these failures brought his defeat at the hands of Salahuddin who thus became the ruler of Sind. Feroz Shah, along with his mother Madina Machhani went over to Ghaha to Darya Khan, who at the request of Madina agreed to help, and collected troops from Sehwan, but got the first setback at the hands of Haji, the Minister of Jam Salahuddin. As luck would have it, the Minister's letter about the success of the initial battle addressed to Jam Salahuddin fell in the hands of Darya Khan, who had it replaced, conveying Salahuddin that the Minister's forces had been defeated. Darya Khan then moved Feroz Shah to Thatta and installed him on 1st Shawwal, 918 A.H. (2 October 1512 A.D.). Salahuddin then returned to Gujarat. He had remained in possession of Thatta for about eight months and must have collected a large sum of money from Thatta and organized another battle.^[6]

There are different versions of the last days of his life.

Tahiri states:

that the courtiers being jealous of his power and position persuaded Feroz Shah to crush him, but the latter finding himself incapable avoided any direct conflict; so they approached Feroz's mother Madina Machhani advising her to invite the Mongols and Arghuns to free Sindh from the power of Darya Khan. According to this plan, Madina invited Shah Beg from Qandahar. Shah Beg took the Baghban-Sehwan route and encountered Darya Khan near the 'Khan Wan' canal which he had himself built to irrigate the lands of village Sankorah (Sakro) and other areas (of Thatta and Sakro Talukas). Darya Khan was killed while fighting bravely when an arrow hit him in the throat. Feroz Shah kept aloof.^[7]

Masumi on the other hand reports:

Some Mongols had migrated to Thatta and entered the service of Jam Feroz who had assigned a separate quarter to them called Mongol Pura. One Mir Qasim Kaibakian Arghoon encouraged and induced Shah Beg to undertake the conquest of Thatta and, therefore, Shah Beg made reparations and was first opposed near Talhati (Talti) by Matan Khan (Motan Khan) son of Darya Khan, but avoiding them Shah Beg reached Khanwah located 6 miles north of the city of Thatta, crossed the river at a point where it was shallow and reached near Thatta. Darya Khan left Feroz Shah in the city and came out to fight a fierce battle, which he lost, and was captured by Tingari Birdi Qabtasal and put to sword along with the other Samma soldiers. Jam Feroz took to flight.

Beglar Nama states that:

he was captured and killed.

Zafar-ul-Walih states:

he was called by the Arghoons to discuss peace terms and treacherously murdered.

The shrine of Dollah Darya Khan Sammo is in Makli graveyard in Thatta, the grave is near to the grave of Jam Nizamuddin Samma. An inscription at the north oi Mubarak Khan's grave calls him Al Khanul Azam Wa Shahid Mubarak Khan Ibn Sultan Nizamuddin.^{[citation needed]}

• Jam Mubarak Khan