Linguistically, ‘Dadu’ is a word in both Sindhi and Hindi meaning ‘elder brother’
- A tradition claims that Dadu Shah resided in a village called Dadu-Ja-Bhan, located near the city, but there are no traces of such village
- Dadu Dayal, a renowned saint and poet from Gujarat, is believed to have traveled to Sindh
Aziz Kingrani
The historical antiquity of Dadu City, the district headquarters of Dadu, remains largely undocumented. Compared to other ancient towns and villages in the district, Dadu appears to lack the same historical depth. Historical records make no mention of Dadu up to the Kalhora dynasty. When Mian Yar Muhammad Kalhoro returned from Qalat, he settled in the village of Gaha, acquiring the villages of Markhpur, Gahi Jamshed, Fatehpur, and other localities from his opponents (Mahar, 1996: 190).
Fatehpur is still located northeast of Dadu, while Markhpur—now incorporated into the city as a neighborhood (muhalla)—lies to the southwest. Had Dadu existed during the Kalhora period, it is likely that it would have been mentioned alongside these villages. According to local traditions, the city’s name derives from an individual referred to as Dadan, Dad Muhammad, or Dadu Shah. However, no historical or archaeological evidence supports the existence of a figure by the name of Dadu Shah in the area. Ustad Bukhari stated that there is no confirmed grave of Dadu Shah in Dadu City. Personal investigations, including field visits to the city and surrounding regions, failed to uncover any grave or mausoleum attributed to Dadu Shah. This absence of physical evidence casts doubt on the belief that the city was named after him.
An alternate tradition claims that Dadu Shah resided in a village called Dadu-Ja-Bhan, located near the city. However, field investigations yielded no trace of such a village in the vicinity. Linguistically, “Dadu” is a word in both Sindhi and Hindi meaning “elder brother” (Baloch, 2006: 274).
Dadu Dayal (1544–1603), a renowned saint and poet from Gujarat, is another possible namesake. Dr. Abdul Jabbar Juneja, referencing Dr. Nabi Bux Baloch in Sindhi Adab Ji Mukhtasir Tareekh, asserts that Dadu Dayal spent a considerable period in Sindh. He was well-versed in Sindhi and composed poetry in Rajasthani, Hindi, and Sindhi. While in Sindh, he was notably influenced by Qazi Qadan. Dadu Dayal’s poetry is also included in Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai’s Sur Berag (Juneja, 1994: 255).
Dhani Bux Magsi notes the presence of two Hindu spiritual figures in Dadu, namely Dayo Ram Daduvansi (1836–1906) and Sanat Bhagat Ram Daduvansi. He describes them as Hindu saints from the Daduvansi lineage, indicating that temples in Dadu, particularly those dedicated to Jagannath, were places of Hindu worship during their time (Magsi, 2005: 480). The Daduvansi name suggests that Dadu may have gained significance during the British colonial period due to this family’s religious and cultural activities. In both Sindhi and Hindi, the word “vans” denotes lineage or descendants (Mewaram, 1976: 633).
Historically, Dadu Dayal is believed to have traveled to Sindh, potentially visiting Sehwan, the home of Qazi Qadan. During his travels, he may have also visited the Veernath Ashram and Temple near Khairpur Nathan Shah. It is plausible that he stayed at the Jagannath Mandir in Dadu with his followers as part of his preaching of the Dadupanthi tradition. From 1836 to 1906, the Daduvansi saints may have continued this spiritual lineage.
The worship of Jagannath in Dadu and the presence of the Daduvansi family suggest that the city’s name may derive from the Daduvansi saints. Geographically, Dadu was historically located near a water channel known as Ghaor Wah or Ghari Wah, which flowed westward from the Indus River. The city also lay on an old route leading from the present-day location of Ustad Bukhari Degree College to Doabo, Talti, and Sehwan.
Dadu experienced notable growth during the British colonial era, becoming a taluka headquarters under the jurisdictions of Karachi and later Larkana districts. It achieved the status of district headquarters in 1931 (Abbasi, 2011: 24), though substantial urban development and population growth did not occur until the 1980s. In 2004, administrative reorganization divided the Dadu district into two: Dadu, Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah, and Mehar talukas remained part of Dadu district, while Sehwan, Kotri, and Mahal Kohistan were incorporated into the newly created Jamshoro district.
References
* Mahar, Ghulam Rasool (1996). Tarikh Sindh: Kalhora Period, Vol. 1. Culture Department, Sindh.
- Baloch, Dr. N.A. (2006). A One Volume Sindhi-to-Sindhi Dictionary. Sindhi Language Authority, Hyderabad.
- Juneja, Abdul Jabbar (1994). Sindhi Adab Ji Mukhtasir Tareekh.
- Magsi, Dhani Bux (2005). Dadu Munhjoon Yadoon. Kachho Publications, Karachi.
- Mewaram, Paramanand (1976). Sindhi to English Dictionary. Institute of Sindhology.
- Abbasi, Dr. Naiz (2011). Dadu at a Glance. District Government, Dadu.
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Aziz Kingrani, hailing from village Haji Manik Kingrani, Johi, Dadu District, Sindh, Pakistan, is poet, short story writer, playwright and a researcher. He has been contributing in the fields of history and literature. He has served as a professor as well. His 17 books are published in English and Sindhi language.
