Neroon Fort should not be confused with the old and controversial name of Hyderabad city in Sindh
Neroon, discussed here, was a fort and administrative division of the Sehwan Sarkar during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan
Aziz Kingrani
The Neroon Fort discussed here should not be confused with the old and controversial name of Hyderabad city in Sindh. Rather, it was a fort and administrative division (pargana) of the Sehwan Sarkar during the reign of the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan. It is my contention that the historical identification of Neroon Kot or Fort as Hyderabad is erroneous. Instead, I propose that Neroon Fort was the earlier name for Rani Kot Fort, as mentioned in the “Chach Nama”. The name “Neroon” likely derives from the compound of Nai and Roon, where “Roon” refers to an ancient name for the present-day Nai Raini or Rani, a stream which flowed through the fort up until the Arab invasion of Sindh.
This paper investigates the location of Neroon Fort and its administrative division within the boundaries of present-day Dadu District, as referenced in Tareekh-e-Mazhar-e-Shah Jahani by Yousif Merik (1994). During the Mughal period, Sindh was administratively divided into three sarkars—Bakhar, Sehwan, and Thatta.
Historical confusion has arisen due to the repetition or ambiguity of place names, and over time, physical traces of many such locations have vanished. This has also affected our understanding of Neroon Fort and its associated division.
The Neroon Fort and its division are mentioned only in Tareekh-e-Mazhar-e-Shah Jahani, translated from Persian to Sindhi and published by the Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro (Merik, 1994). However, the translation lacks analytical commentary or critical geographical assessment, resulting in considerable confusion about the exact locations of the mentioned areas. The author, Yousif Merik, does not provide precise geographic coordinates but offers indicative descriptions.
Merik notes: “In old days, it was called ‘Wahi’ (now Wahi Pandhi); here an aqueduct (karaiz) of water flows from the mountains into a desert area and divides into four brooks or canals used for agriculture. Initially, it was a village of the Machhis (Solangi tribe), who resisted paying land tax. Bakhtiar Baig Turkman subdued them, renamed the village Akbarabad, and granted it to the Panhwar tribe. The four water channels were assigned to Moosa, Essa, Daud, and Jalal, all of the Panhwars” (Merik, 1994, p. 163).
Previously, Wahi was part of the Baghban division (Now area of Makhdoom Bilawal). Merik further states, “During the rule of Shamsher Khan Uzbek, the area was named Neroon Fort and was separated from Baghban and annexed to Sehwan division. During the tenure of Ahmed Baig, it fell into ruin” (Merik, 1994, p. 239). He also writes: “Mirza Yousif intended to attack the Panhwar villages, such as Arari (now Araro, a deh of Johi Taluka near Patt Suleman village along the Wahi-Johi road) and Akbarabad, as these areas were not under his control” (Merik, 1994, p. 239).
Regarding the fort’s defense, Merik notes: “The second division (of Sehwan) is Neroon Fort; it is advisable to appoint twenty cavalrymen and ten gunmen for its protection” (Merik, 1994, p. 281). Further, he mentions: “The sixth division (of Sehwan) is Neroon Fort. Its boundary ends two miles from Sehwan and is bordered by Sehwan Hawaily, Boobak, and Gaaha (modern-day Sayyid Bahar Shah near Johi)” (Merik, 1994, p. 285).
Historian M.H. Panhwar suggested that the aqueduct might refer to the River Gaj and that the four water channels were located in the border regions of Gaaha and Sehwan, near Lake Manchhar (Merik, 1994, p. 20). However, this interpretation is debatable. Merik mentions only the possession of land and the allocation of four brooks to individuals, not four villages. Furthermore, he only names two Panhwar villages: Wahi (Akbarabad) and Arari. Wahi was not originally a Panhwar settlement but was granted to them by Bakhtiar Baig. Additionally, during that time, the River Gaj flowed eastward, not south toward Lake Manchhar.
There may have been a branch of Gaj flowing toward Lake Manchhar via the Nai Shole stream, but anciently, Gaj’s direction was toward the Western Nara Canal or the Indus River via Suk Nai. Only after the construction of the Johi Barrage in 1932 was its flow diverted south to Lake Manchhar. Thus, it is implausible that Gaj spring water could reach Lake Manchhar due to the distance.
The author may have mistaken a natural spring stream for an aqueduct (karaiz), a system not historically common in Sindh during the Mughal period or earlier.
Merik gives three names for the area under discussion: the original name Wahi, renamed Akbarabad by Bakhtiar Baig, and later, Neroon Fort during the rule of Shamsher Khan Uzbek. He also writes: “This village [Neroon/Wahi] is 50 miles away from the Sehwan fort” (Merik, 1994, p. 281). M.H. Panhwar confirms: “The fort was 50 miles from Sehwan, situated in the mountains. The division included mountainous terrain and Lake Manchhar and was bordered by Gaaha, Boobak, and Sehwan Hawaily” (Merik, 1994, p. 31).
Additionally, Merik notes that “Othal (Thul Village?) And Arari (near Patt Suleman, Johi) are 32 miles from Sehwan” (Merik, 1994, p. 285).
From these references, three points become evident:
- The original name of Neroon Fort was Wahi. Bakhtiar Baig renamed it Akbarabad. During Shamsher Khan Uzbek’s rule, it became known as Neroon Kot or Neroon Jo Qilo.
- The present-day village of Wahi still exists in Taluka Johi, District Dadu, about 50 miles from Sehwan. Water from springs flows through Nai Nalli into the desert area of Kachho, supporting cultivation by Laghari, Lashari, Brihmani, and Rustamani tribes. The fort lies to the west of Wahi in the nearby mountains.
- Arari, now known as Araro, still exists as a deh in Johi Taluka near Patt Suleman. Its ruins and ancient graveyard (Butta Quba) lie north of Patt Suleman along the Wahi-Johi road, approximately 32 miles from Sehwan.
In conclusion, based on the above, Neroon Fort corresponds to what is now known as Mian Jo Kot, situated along Nai Nalli in the mountainous region west of Wahi Pandhi. Neroon was both the name of the fort and a pargana (division) of Sehwan Sarkar during the Mughal period. Its central village was Wahi (Pandhi), with boundaries extending to Baghban (Makhdoom Bilawal), Gaaha (near Johi), Sehwan, and Lake Manchhar.
The fort spans approximately 176 square feet, with walls 4 feet wide and about 8 feet high. The southwestern section rises like a hillock. Although largely ruined, the fort area is still irrigated via Nai Nalli by local farmers. The water flows in a manner similar to a karaiz or channel.
Researcher Badar Abro suggests that Neroon Fort was Ranikot Fort. However, this hypothesis is unconvincing for four reasons:
- No four brooks emerge from Nai Raini at Ranikot into a desert region.
- The original name of the division was Wahi.
- The region was near Baghban (Makhdoom Bilawal’s area).
- Arari village, mentioned by Merik, lies north of Sehwan in Taluka Johi of Dadu District, Sindh.
Therefore, equating Neroon Kot with Ranikot, as referenced in Tareekh-e-Mazhar-e-Shah Jahani, is speculative. Yousif Merik clearly refers to Mian Jo Kot and Wahi Pandhi when mentioning Neroon Kot Fort and Division.
Reference
Merik, Yousif (1994). Tareekh-e-Mazhar-e-Shah Jahani. Sindhi Adabi Board, Jamshoro. Second Edition.
Read: Exploring the Sisum Fort of Sindh
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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.
