Unarpur | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 25°38′36″N 68°21′21″E / 25.643352°N 68.355715°E [1] | |
Country | Pakistan |
Region | Sindh |
District | Jamshoro |
Taluka | Manjhand |
Population (2017)
[2] | |
• Total | 4,092 |
Time zone | UTC+5 ( PST) |
• Summer ( DST) | UTC+6 ( PDT) |
Unarpur is a village and deh in Manjhand taluka of Jamshoro District, Sindh. [3] It is located close to the west bank of the Indus river, across from Matiari, on the main road from Kotri to Sehwan. [4] As of 2017, Unarpur has a population of 4,092, in 891 households. [2] It is the seat of a tappedar circle, which also includes the villages of Belo Unerpur, Budhapur, Nai Jetharo, and Wachero. [2]
Unarpur has a significant forested area, which was planted by the Talpur Mirs during the 1780s for the purpose of hunting. [4] Once one of the largest forests in Sindh, [4] it has since been severely deforested as the trees standing on some 10,000 acres of land were cut down to clear kachha land for cultivation. [5]
During the Mughal era, Unarpur was the seat of a pargana in the sarkar of Chakar Hala. [6] Its dependencies included the villages of Khasa'i Shura and Budhapur. [6]
In April-June 1592, Unarpur [note 1] was the site of a siege between Mirza Jani Beg, the rebellious governor of Thatta, and Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, representing the Mughal forces loyal to Akbar. [6] After being defeated in battle near the Lakki pass on 11 April, Mirza Jani Beg sailed downstream to Unarpur, where he set up a makeshift fort: the sails of the boats he had sailed here on were converted into sacks and filled with sand, which were then stacked on top of each other to form battlements. [6] A large moat, both deep and wide, was dug around the whole thing. [6] The Khan-i-Khanan arrived on 15 April and laid siege to the Mirza's makeshift fort. [6]
Although the Mirza's forces were numerically stronger, their morale was soon sapped by news of imperial victories elsewhere in the region. [6] Later they ran out of supplies and were forced to eat their own animals to avoid starvation. [6] The Mirza's son and father also both died during the siege, causing him personal distress. [6] Meanwhile, disease broke out in the Khan-i-Khanan's camp. [6] In an attempt to bring the siege to an end, the besieging army prepared to storm the fort from all sides: they dug tunnels, filled the moat, and put up mounds of sand; but the Mirza's troops undid all these attempts and made the whole effort useless. [6]
At last, with the rainy season fast approaching and both sides' troops suffering, the Mirza and Khan-i-Khanan exchanged emissaries to discuss a peaceful agreement to end the siege. [6] [note 2] [6] After some negotiations, Mirza Jani Beg formally surrendered on 16 June and the Unarpur "fort" was dismantled. [6]
Around 1874, Unarpur's population was estimated at 1,633 people, including 1,281 Muslims (mostly Shoras) and 352 Hindus (mostly Lohanos). [4] Most residents worked in agriculture. [4] Although not a significant industrial centre, Unarpur did have "a small local trade in grain, ghi and oil." [4] It was the seat of a tappedar and had a school, dharamshala, and small police thana. [4] Part of the road between Unarpur and Petaro was washed away by the Indus in 1869. [4]