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Sirni Fort – A Decaying Archaeological Site of Sindh

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Sirni Fort – A Decaying Archaeological Site of Sindh
General view of Sirni Kot - Photo by author

There are different stories behind the word ‘Sirni’. According to a local saying, Sirni is named after a beautiful woman who was in love with the ruler of that time. Another assumption is that since the structure is made of bricks, and Sindhi word Sir is used for brick, this fort is called Sirni Kot. However, in archaic Sanskrit language, the word ‘Sirn’ means ‘shelter’ or ‘refuge’.

Zahoor Dahri

Sindh’s history and its past can be explored through the magnificent forts located in different areas of province. Some of the well-known forts are Rani Kot, Kot Diji, Umerkot Fort, Pakka Qila of Hyderabad, Sehwan Fort and Naukot Fort beside many other historic but lesser known forts including Dahleel Kot Fort, Kalan Kot Fort, Nind Kot Fort, Kherien Kot Fort, Fort of Karachi, Ratto Kot Fort, Ranno Kot Fort, Malaaki Kot Fort, and others. Forts were very important, rather indispensable in medieval times, as they offered great help in protecting territory or in establishing rule in the new territory after winning from enemies. That is why the attackers first used to target enemy forts.

Sirni Kot- Sindh Courier-2
Plan map of Sirni Kot – Photo courtesy: Book ‘Sindh Ja Kot Qila’.

Sirni Kot, which is said to be a Buddhist Stupa, is also one of the historical sites of Sindh, situated in Union Council Manahi (Survey no.444), Taluka Moro of District Naushahro Feroze. Although it is in very deplorable condition, the ruins can be seen near a watercourse known as Doti Shakh, at a distance of some four kilometers from national highway at New Jatoi Road. There are some villages in its surroundings including Kalhora Village in the east and Burira Village in the south.

The Sirni Kot ruins are situated at a mound-like place higher than the surface level of surrounding agricultural lands. Spread over seven acres, Sirni Kot, almost in rectangle shape, has its east-western stretch length smaller than north-south stretch. The elevation of mound goes in four stages, each stage with 4 feet height. It has a crude rectangular wall in north-south, which is around 390ft large while the wall in its east-west is 270ft large. It is said that before the construction of its walls, the land was widely excavated about 24ft which was filled with coal and other material to make it more stable. However, in its center, there also lies the foundation of a 10ft wide wall, which can be seen narrow at the top. Today, the height of this wall is approximately 15ft.

Sirni Kot - Sindh Courier-3
Elephant design of brick
Sirni Kot- Sindh Courier-4
Human skeleton found from Sirni Kot

There are different stories behind the word ‘Sirni’. According to a local saying, Sirni was a beautiful woman who was in love with the ruler of that time. As per dictum, ‘Sirni was a beautiful fisher-woman and a king loved her and their affair was famous in the region. The king later married the fisherwoman and she became the queen, and the king named the fort ‘Sirni’ after his beloved.’

Another assumption is that since the structure is made of bricks, and Sindh word Sir is used for brick, this fort is called Sirni Kot. However, in archaic Sanskrit language, the word ‘Shirn’ means ‘shelter’ or ‘refuge’ while ‘Sarin’ or ‘Saran’ means the place of protection or sanctuary. Thus the Sirni Kot or fort could be the ‘fort of Shelter’, where one can seek protection.

Sirni Kot- Sindh Courier-5Sirni Kot- Sindh Courier-6In view of the old courses of Indus River, it can be concluded that the Sirni fort in was located near the Indus River in olden times.

We can find certain information about this archaeological site in history books but unfortunately no systemic research has been carried out on it by our researchers nor has the antiquities department of Sindh taken measures for its protection and preservation, which seems in deep slumber as usual.

It is direly needed to undertake studies and disseminate information for the knowledge of young or future generation who would learn about their historic heritage of these areas. Much more work needs to be done to preserve the heritage and save it from encroachment and decay.

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Zahoor DahriThe Author is Conservator at Tomb of Mian Noor Muhammad Kalhoro Complex Shaheed Benazir Abad. He can be contacted at: zali59191@gmail.com