Concentration Camp: History of Oppression

It remains a powerful symbol of the Hurs’ sufferings and the brutal legacy of colonial rule

• The Johi concentration camp is completely in ruins, destroyed not only by floods in 1976, 1995, 2010 and 2022, but also by local neglect and destruction.

Aziz Kingrani

The people of Sindh have historically exhibited a deep sense of patriotism. This patriotic spirit is deeply ingrained in their heritage and familial traditions. However, despite this innate sentiment, a unified national consciousness has not fully matured or disseminated among the people. Nevertheless, in times of foreign aggression and oppression, individual Sindhi clans have consistently demonstrated resistance. Historical evidence supports this assertion.

One of the most significant instances of such resistance is the “Hur Movement,” which stands apart in its method of struggle and the unique suffering endured by its participants. Rarely in world is the history there an example comparable to the Hurs, who, along with their families, were detained in concentration camps due to their resistance against the British colonial regime.

The first phase of the Hur Movement was initiated by Pir Sabghatullah Shah-I. Historical records trace the inception of this movement back to the 1890s, with British counter-operations continuing until 1898. During this period, the British administration enforced martial law from 1893 to 1898 in an effort to suppress the movement (1) (2). Despite the suppression, the movement maintained a slow yet persistent presence until 1930.

The second and more prominent phase of the Hur Movement was led by Sayed Sabghatullah Shah-II, popularly known as Sooryah Badshah. His leadership significantly challenged British authority. He was first arrested in 1930 and imprisoned in Ratnagiri and other jails until 1936 (3). After his release in October 1936, he resumed leadership of the movement with renewed vigor (4). Following his intensified activities, British authorities rearrested him, with some sources recording the date as September 30, 1940 (5). From 1939 onward, the movement gained momentum, prompting mass arrests of Hur fighters and supporters, including women.

To demoralize the movement, the British authorities began imprisoning entire families of Hurs. Professor Mohammad Umar Chand divides the history of Hur concentration camps into two periods: from 1895 to 1936, and from 1941 to 1952 (6). These camps, designed to isolate and punish Hur activists, were established across British India, including within Sindh. Three notable camps in Sindh were located in Warah (District Qambar Shahdadkot), Hyderabad and Johi (District Dadu), known locally as “Huran ja Lorha.”

The Johi concentration camp, situated northeast of Johi town near the 7th minor of the Johi barrage and approximately 5–6 kilometers from the town, was constructed on a 20-acre site. The camp was divided into two sections: one for detainees and another for government officials, with the detainee area being significantly larger. The compound wall was initially built with baked bricks and continued with clay. Four main gates provided access from the east, west, north, and south. The western gate pillar still remains. It is possible that the Hur prisoners themselves were used as labor for construction. While the exact arrangement of dwellings for families is unknown, a mosque once stood at the northwest corner, destroyed in the 2010 floods. A Street separated the detainee and official quarters. Near the southern gate, a jail and several official buildings constructed from baked bricks and cement were located. The jail was built in 1946 and later temporarily functioned as a primary school. The site was surrounded by a protective embankment, with a pond located to the east.

It is believed that the Johi concentration camp was established after 1941, coinciding with the escalation of the Hur Movement and the imposition of martial law and the Hur Act (7). The detainees in the camps endured severe hardships. Many perished due to extreme heat, lack of medical care, and loss of livestock (8). The detainees were subjected to constant surveillance, with daily roll calls requiring men and women to stand in lines for headcounts. Each male prisoner wore a copper arm band inscribed with his name and camp, and his home was marked with a numbered plate listing all family members and livestock. Loss of livestock resulted in punishment. Additionally, police salaries were deducted from the labor wages of the imprisoned Hurs, a system referred to as “police fine” (9).

While exact figures are unknown, oral histories from my late father Soomar Khan Kingrani and my late uncle Allah Bachayo Kingrani suggest that approximately 1,200 Hurs were detained at the Johi camp. These included members of the Sayed, Chang, Rajar, Mangrio, Khaskheli, and other tribes. Under oppressive conditions, the Hurrs developed a fierce reputation. Local residents, fearful of their bold defiance, referred to them as “Hurr Badshah.” Their rallying cry was “Bhej Pagara.” My uncle, who served as a Darogha in the irrigation department in Johi, recalled that ten Hurs worked under him, including one named Talib Khaskheli. My father and uncle also recounted incidents involving disputes over livestock, driven by fear of camp penalties. According to local lore, Bhooro and his brother Lal Bux Khaskheli were celebrated wrestlers (malh) of the time.

In 1943, following the martyrdom of Sooryah Badshah, martial law was re-imposed, and state violence against the Hurrs intensified (10). Mass killings and imprisonments ensued, lasting until April 1, 1952, when the concentration camps were officially dismantled (11). After the Partition of British India, Pir Sayed Ali Mardan Shah “Pagaro” stated in an interview that while studying in England, he and his brother Nadir Ali Shah were invited by Pakistan’s first Prime Minister Nawabzada Liaquat Ali Khan. The Prime Minister acknowledged their resistance and pledged to restore the Hurs’ religious leadership (gaadi) (12). The Hurs began returning to their native areas by 1954.

Today, the Johi concentration camp is completely in ruins, destroyed not only by floods in 1976, 1995, 2010 and 2022, but also by local neglect and destruction. Nonetheless, it remains a powerful symbol of the Hurs’ suffering and the brutal legacy of colonial rule.

References

(1) Ustaad Nizamani, Hurr Tahreek, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 2002, p. 55

(2) Professor Mohammad Umar Chand, Jhoongar Series 2001, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 1999, p. 37

(3) Ibid., p. 38

(4) Ibid., p. 40

(5) Ustaad Nizamani, Jhoongar Series, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 1999, p. 30

(6) Professor Mohammad Umar Chand, Jhoongar Series 2001, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 1999, p. 42

(7) Ustaad Nizamani, Hurr Tahreek, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 2002, p. 65

(8) Hakeem Mohammad Yakob Qadri, Jhoongar Series, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 2000, p. 41

(9) Malhar Fakir Khaskheli, Jhoongar Series, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 2000, pp. 12–13

(10) Ustaad Nizamani, Hurr Tahreek, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 2002, p. 66

(11) Ibid.

(12) Pir Sahab Pagaro, Jhoongar Series, Nara Publications, Sanghar, 1999, p. 12 

Read – The Hurs: Once a Criminalized Tribe in Sindh

_______________