Medieval Era of Sindh

Medieval Era

With the process of the decline of Indus Civilization started around 1650 B.C., the Indus Valley had lost its script (Panhwar: 1988). The Aryans  soon  evolved  Brahmi  script  from Hebrew  (or  the Indus  script?)  for  writing  of  Vedas.  This  gave  birth  to  Sanskrit  language about  1000  to  800 B.C.  In  its  aftermath,  a number  of  ancient  scripts  have  been discovered  from  various  sources indicating  to the  evolution  of  scripts  for  numerous vernaculars  of  South  Asia.  They  include Kharosthi  (300  B.C.),  Sui  Vihar  Script  (50 A.D.),  Gupta  Script  (4rth  Century  A.D.),  Old Nagra  Script  (9th  Century  A.D.),  Sanskrit Bhasha  (7-8  Century  A.D.),  Devanagri  (8th Century A.D.),  Ancient  Script  (Bhambhore), Sindhi Script (written by George Stack), SindhiArabic  Script (1020-1030  Hijra),  and  Khuwajki Script (1209-1290 A.D.), etc. During  the  period  of  Rai Dynasty  (6th Century A.D.) in Sindh, some letters written by Raja Dahar in the Sindhi language are on the record.  The  history  of  this  period  is  mostly untraceable more so because the invasions of Sindh  that  followed  brought  about  destruction resulting  in  disappearance  of  historical evidences. 

The  Sindhi  language  was  written  in Devanagari Script up to the period of Soomra dynasty  (1011-1351  A.D.)  in  Sindh.  A specimen  of  this  script  is  a  verse  of  Qazi Qadan written in Devanagari in 1636 A.D. The record of the 40-lettered Khuwajki-Sindhi script (1209-1290  A.D)  is  also available.  An  early Sindhi  script  similar  to  Devanagari  was  found written  on  potshards excavated  from Bhambhore. 

Arab  Rule:  During  the  Arab  period some  indigenous  scholars  developed  SindhiArabic script, in 187 Hijra. A single line written in  this  script  is  available  on  record.  An  earlier scholar of Sindhi Abul Hasan used in his early writings the Sindhi-Arabic script a few centuries ago. According to  Dr  N.A.  Baloch,  Sindhi developed  further  more  in  terms  of  its morphology and grammatical texture during the Arab  rule.  Its  orbit  was  widened  up  under centralism of its sway. The alphabet of Sindhi enhanced  with  loan  words from  Arabic, and  a solid  base  was  provided  to  it  with  the 

publication  of  Islamic  literature  and  medieval poetry. From 950 to 1050 A.D., the individuality 

and  international  status  of  Sindh  was enhanced  under  Arabs  while  the  trade flourished  with the  Arab  world.  The  famous Sindhologist Al-Beruni visited Sindh during this era  and  immortalized many  aspects  of  the history of Sindh. 

Local  Rule:  Despite  constant  turmoil which rivalry for power brought to the country, it  remained under  Arab  control  till  1010  A.D., after  which  they  began  to  lose  their  grasp.  A bitter struggle for  supremacy  in  Sindh  took place  between  local  tribes  and  eventually  the Soomras  emerged as  the  most  powerful  of them. 

The Soomras ruled Sindh during 11th to mid-14th  Century  A.D.,  followed  by  Sammas,  Arghoons, Tarkhans,  Mughals,  Kalhoras  and Talpurs, who ruled during 14th to 19th Century A.D.  During  the Soomra  Rule,  the  folklore  of Sindhi gained impetus. Being the vernacular of the  rulers,  Sindhi was  patronized  by  the government  of  the  day.  This  era  had  also proved  itself  as  continuity  of the  Arab  policies about  the  development  of  Sindhi.  Thus,  there was  transition  from  Devanagari to  the  Sindhi Arabic script while still the echo of Persian had not subsided fully well. 

The  rule  of  Soomras  was  followed  by Samma  dynasty  (1350-1520).  The  Samma rulers extended  their  power  very  rapidly, especially during the reign of Jam Nindo (1461-1508). This era was known as the ‘Golden Age of Sindh’ during which the economy flourished, and  a  strong  state was  created  which, however,  maintained  intellectual  freedoms. (Bughio: 2001: 12). 

During this period, the Sindhi-Arabic script became  somewhat  universal  in  Sindh.  The Sindhi language  produced  literature  on standardized  pattern,  and  the  tradition  of classical poetry in Sindhi was consolidated. The boundaries of Sindhi were expanded to Kuchh in the southeast and to Las Belo in the southwest as a result of the conquests of the Sammas, and the  age-old  interaction between  Balochs  and Sindhis.  A  new  ‘Jadgali’  dialect  also  came  into being  as  a  result  of linguistic  contact  of  Sindhi with Eastern Balochi and Western Balochi. The dialects  of  Kuchhi and  Laasi  besides  SindhiSiraiki  took  their  roots.  The  Sammas  of  Kuchh moved to Kathiawar and Gujrat taking influence of Sindhi along with them. The use of Sindhi as an official language of Sindh, besides academic and  educational  use,  started  systematically  for the  first  time  in  Sindh.  Since Sindhi  was  the mother  tongue  of  Samma  rulers  who  were  first established  in  the  Central Sindh,  the  ‘Vicholi’ dialect of Sindhi got impetus during the Samma dynasty (Baloch: 1999: 157-170).