Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro

Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro (Sindhi: ميان غلام شاه ڪلهوڙو ), was famous ruler of the Kalhora Dynasty whose rule began in 1762, when he was appointed ruler of Sindh by a royal decree, with the title of Shah Wardí Khan. He brought stability in Sindh after the rule of Main Noor Mohammad Kalhoro; he reorganized the country and defeated the Marathas and their prominent vassal the Rao of Kuch in the Thar Desert and returned victoriously.

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Early life

Mian Ghulam Shah was son of Mian Noor Muhammad Kalhoro who fought the forces of Nadir Shah when latter had invaded Sindh and taken the sons of Mian Noor Muhammad Kalhoro as hostage to Persia. Ghulam Shah remained the only legitmate heir of the Kalhora Dynasty.

The founding of Nerunkot

Upon his return to Sindh he ordered the construction of the tomb of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai and nearby he established Nerunkot (modern day Hyderabad, Sindh). He had commenced the construction of a strong fort the Pucco Qillo with the view of turning that city into his future capital.

He also commanded Murad Fakir Nizamani as the administrator of the port city of Thatta. Among his most famous military commanders were Atur Khan, Sardar Jahan Khan.

Campaign against the Marathas

In the year 1762, Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro and 8,000 Sindhi Sowars ventured into the inhospitable Thar Desert in order to defeat the forces of the Rao of Kuch a prominent vassal of the Marathas after had been threating the loyal subjects of the Kalhora Dynasty.

Due to his cannons and superior firepower, Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro and his 8,000 army under his command successfully defeated the Rao of Kuch and returned victoriously. Mian Ghulam Shah Kalhoro celebrated his return by constructing a mausoleum upon the grave of the great Sufi poet and saint Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai.

Attempts to Conquer Multan

In 1769 he sent Sardar Jahan Khan to gain Multan but later the Sindhi and Multani forces had to confront the threat posed by the Sikh forces led by Ranjit Singh that began to conquer Multan. However the campaign did not succeed beyond Dera Ghazi Khan.

See also