Historian and researcher M. H. Panhwar writes in his book that the grave inside the lake was built by irrigation department in 1959.
Aziz Kingrani
The folk love tale of Noori Jam Tamachi has been popular in Sindh since centuries. This love legend is related to the rule of the Sama dynasty in Sindh (1353-1521). Sama ruler Jam Tamachi fell in love with a girl named Noori from a family of Mallah (fishermen) living on the shores of Lake Keenjhar in Thatta district.
The poor families of fishermen had no other means of livelihood except fishing and selling fish on the banks of the Keenjhar Lake.
The men used to bring fish catch and the women would sell the fish near the lake. Once, Sama ruler Jam Tamachi’s eyes fell on the young and beautiful girl Noori and he fell in love with her. Noori also fell in love with her. Their love spread like wildfire in the area.
Sama ruler Jam Tamachi respected all the fishermen due to the love of beautiful Noori. The entire Keenjhar Lake and its products were handed over to the fishermen by Jam Tamachi. And like ordinary fishermen, he started fishing in the shackles with Noori, which is described in the poem by the great Sufi poet of Sindh, Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai as follows:
مئي هٿ ۾ مڪڙي، ڄام هٿ ۾ ڄار،
سڄو ڏينهن شڪار، ڪينجهر ۾ ڪالھ هو.
(The girl sailed the boat and Jam had a net in her hand
The fishing went on in Keenjhar all the day)
Thus, this love tale is a supreme example of a ruler’s love and public service as well. Noori Jam Tamachi’s folk love story is not only a supreme example of love but it also sheds light on the ruler’s public friendliness.
This story is still very popular among the people. According to some traditions, Jam Tamachi and Noori had married but according to some other traditions, they did not marry.
Noori is said to be buried in the mid of Keenjhar Lake, but there are contradictions over her burial at this place.
According to historians, Noori and Jam Tamachi are buried near the mausoleum of Jam Nizamuddin alias Jam Nando at Makli necropolis. The graves of both are in a mausoleum. The grave of Noori built inside Lake Keenjhar is alongside the grave of Hondal Shah, who is said to be Noori’s mentor but there is no evidence of existence of the character of Hondal Shah in the love tale nor his name is mentioned anywhere in whole story.
One can certainly say that this grave of Noori in Keenjhar Lake must had been built just to promote tourism. In this regard, the famous historian and researcher of Sindh MH Panhwar writes on page 157 of his book “An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom” that the grave of Noori in Keenjhar Lake was made by the irrigation department of Sindh in 1959.”
In view of the opinion of Muhammad Hussain (MH) Panhwar it can be said that Noori’s grave in Keenjhar Lake is fake. Further, if it was original, Jam Tamachi would also have been buried inside the lake.
The historians must carry out research and bring the historic facts to the fore.
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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.
