Call for Papers

International Conference on : History and Culture 23-25 November 2015

National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, Centre of Excellence, Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad & Shah Abdul Latif University, , Sindh

Introduction of the Organizers

National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, QAU Islamabad

The National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research, Centre of Excellence, Quaid-i- Azam University Islamabad (NIHCR) is one of the pioneer and leading institutes of research in . Its contribution in terms of research and publications in social sciences is extra-ordinary. One of the regular activities of the NIHCR is to organize conferences on various issues related to the history and culture of Pakistan. The objective of the project is to highlight and explore new avenues of research about different provinces and regions of Pakistan. In this series the first international conference was organized in November 2012 on the topic of “: History and Culture” in collaboration with the Pakistan Study Centre, University of Peshawar. In April 2014 another conference was organized on “Balochistan: History and Culture”. The proceedings of both the conferences are in the process of publication by the NIHCR. Because of the rich historical and cultural landscapes of the province of Sindh the NIHCR intends to hold the next international conference on the topic of “Sindh: History and Culture”. Our collaborator in this conference is Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur, Sindh.

Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur This great seat of learning in Khairpur has been named after the great poet Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. SALU is providing higher education facilities in various modern and scientific fields to the people in the northern part of Sindh, which had a rich tradition of producing highly educated and intelligent people. In 1986, the Sindh provincial assembly passed an act to make the campus a full-fledged and independent University. The act came into force in 1987, making the university functional. Its campus covers an area of 307 acres of lush green lawns, playgrounds and trees. Shah Abdul Latif University, Khairpur is located in the heartland of Upper Sindh, i.e. Khairpur, a former state that joined Pakistan in 1955. The main campus is located near National Highway and is easily approachable by Air, Railway and Bus services. The Sukkur Airport is at half an hour drive and Khairpur Railway station is 5 kilometers away from the main campus. It is surrounded by famous Archaeological Sites including Mohenjo-Daro, Kot Diji fort, Rohri Hills, Nara Desert, shrines of Sadhu Bello and of Hazrat , barrages and bridges.

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Brief History of Sindh The province of Sindh has been designated after the river Sindh (Indus) which literally created it and has been one of its biggest means of sustenance. Sindh has thousands of years’ history. The Indus valley civilization is the farthest visible outpost of archeology in the abyss of prehistoric times. It flourished between the year 2500 BC and 1500 BC in the Indus valley sites of Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa.

At the time of Alexander’s invasion, Sindh was being ruled by the Hindu Rajas and the dynasty of Raja Sahasi ruled the area for a long period. Afterwards, the Persian monarchs invaded the area and defeated the local Hindu Raja and plundered the kingdom before going back to Persia. The Arab conquest of Sindh by Muhammad Bin Qasim in 712 AD gave the Muslims a firm foothold on the sub-continent. The description of Hiun Tsang, a Chinese traveller, leaves no doubt that the social and economic restrictions inherent in the caste differentiations of Hindu society had however, gradually sapped the inner vitality of the social system and Sindh fell without much resistance before the Muslim armies. The famous city of Al-Mansura was founded during the reign of Mansur (754-775 AD). Khalifa Harun-al-Rashid (786-809 AD) was able to extend the frontiers of Sindh on its western side. In the 10th century, a number of local dynasties emerged who replaced the Arab rule in Sindh. Among them, Samma and Soomra dynasties ruled Sindh for long. In late sixteenth century Sindh fell into the hands of the Mughal Emperor Akbar. Later on the Kalhora clan claiming descent from the house of Abbas and long settled in Sindh produced religious leaders of whom Mian Adam Shah attained prominence in the 16 th century. His descendants continued to capture political power in the north western Sindh.

In 1843 Sindh lost its independence falling prey to the British Empire. Charles Napier became the first Chief Commissioner of Sindh which was afterwards merged with . It was after a long struggle that the demand of Sindh Muslims, supported by the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah who first brought it into the notice of parliamentarians in the Delhi-Muslims Proposals (1927) and then in his famous 14-points, demanded separation of Sindh from Bombay Presidency. Abdul Majid Sindhi, G.M. Syed, Hyder Bux Jatoi, Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah, Sir Abdullah Haroon and many other Indian Muslim leaders played their respective roles in separating Sindh from Bombay. Consequently, Sindh became a separate province in 1936. After the passage of the Pakistan Resolution (Lahore 1940) Sindh assembly became the first Muslim majority province which passed the Pakistan resolution in 1943. In this International Conference all the aforementioned aspects will come under the domain of discourse in the light of the present day time and space to march forward towards development and progress of the people of the Sindh in particular and the country in general.

Conference Themes 1. Sindh through Ages 2. Sindh Ancient Narratives 3. Archeology and Museology 4. Sufis and Saints 5. Role in Freedom Movement 6. Press and Media 7. War on Terror and Sindh 8. Sindhi art and Literature 3

9. Sindh ethnic Bouquet 10. Sindh Cultural landscape 11. Power and Politics 12. Civil Society 13. Folklore and Oral Tradition 14. Gender Issues 15. Industrial Development 16. Local Games and Hobbies 17. Women Contribution in Development

The conference invites academics around the globe to send their abstracts on any topic related to the history, politics, culture and any other theme not mentioned above.

Last date for submission of abstract: July, 31, 2015 Last date for article submission: September 20, 2015

Conference Organizing Committee NIHCR Prof. Dr. Sayed Wiqar Ali Shah (Principal Organizer) Director 051-2896151 — [email protected] Dr. Farah Gul Baqai (Secretary) Senior Research Fellow 0334-5125819 — [email protected] Dr. Himayatullah Yaqubi (Focal Person) Research Fellow 0333-9269986 — [email protected] Mr. Hazoor Bux Channa (Coordinator) Librarian/Information officer 0300-5385466 — [email protected]

SALU Prof. Dr. Yousaf Khushk (Focal Person) Dean Faculty of Social Sciences & Arts, SALU 0243-3130972 — 0300-3130972 yousuf [email protected]