Siege of Karachi

In about 1792-93 Mir Fateh Ali sent an army in number of 15,000 men for the capture of Karachi. These came well armed with cannon and shell, and encamped on the other side of the Lyari and along the gardens (to the north-east of the town). Karachi was then subject to the Khan of Kalat, but it was ill-garrisoned. The inhabitants lived all within the fort, which was on the outside surrounded by a jungle of timar and thuar trees. The invading army of the Talpurs was led by Mian Fakiro and Palia. Cannon were fixed against the fort, the walls of which were manned by the ryots and 500 fishermen, and mariners belonging to the ships of my ancestors, under the guidance of one of my forefathers, Seth Balramdas. The cannonballs and gunpowder made use of in the defence of the town by Seth Balramdas were obtained from the city's own godowns, where in there always lay a store of ammunition for the use of some of the merchantmen. The invading army lay before Karachi for exactly two and a half months; all the inhabitants kept within the fort walls. They had ample provisions within; and the entrance to the town from the sea-side being moreover left open to them, they did not experience any stress on that account. During the period, however, the people could not obtain water from the bed of the Lyari, either for culinary or drinking purposes; and they had to be content with the brackish water of the wells within the fort. After the expiration of two and a half months the Talpur army got wearied of the siege and withdrew.

Again in 1792-3 Mir Fateh Ali Khan sent another force against Karachi, which also encamped along the Lyari, and the garden quarter, and opened their guns on the fort of Karachi. Then, too, Seth Balramdas as before defended the town at the head of the ryot and the mariners belonging to his own ships, and answered the fire of the enemy with the ammunition in store for his vessels. This time the siege lasted three months, after which the Talpur soldiers withdrew as before, and returned to Hyderabad.

Again in 1794–95 in the month of Srawan, a third army composed of about 20,000 fighting men were sent by Mir Fateh Ali for the capture of Karachi. Mir Karamali and Seth Dharianamal were (as has been stated) on terms of friendship. He therefore wrote to say:

"It has come to our knowledge for certain that the Khan of Kalat has no garrison in Karachi. He is too weak to carry on warfare. We have learnt with regret that you have opposed our men, and that it is you who have employed the ammunition intended for your ships against our troops, whom you have thus twice defeated in their purpose and whom you have compelled to retire disappointed. We, too, have long been old friends and belong to the same part of the country. It does not therefore behoove you to act against us."

The letter went on to say much more to the same effect. Seth Dharianamal thereon dispatched two or three messengers to the Khan of Kalat, and informed him that the Mirs had sent armies twice for the capture of Karachi, and that on both occasions with much toil and trouble he had succeeded in driving them back in discomfiture and saved Karachi; that the Mirs had sent a third army against the town and the people felt themselves unable to hold out longer, that the town was subject to him, and he should send more troops for its defence. The Khan wrote in reply to say: -

"I am unable to carry on any warfare, nor can I command any army for the purpose. If you can defend the town well and good, or else you are not to blame."

Thereupon Seth Dharianamal sent a letter to the address of Mir Karam Ali and entrusted it for delivery to his confidential servant, Fakira. The epistle stated:

"It is true we have long been friends. I shall be glad to respect your letter, but I would request you to agree that when Karachi is surrendered, no Talpur soldiers, who are a wild and unruly class of people, shall enter the town, and that the Nawab, whom it shall please you to appoint shall act with our advice and shall not oppress the ryots."

Mir Karam Ali wrote in reply that he agreed to the conditions proposed by Seth Dharianamal, and promised to direct the Nawab, likely to be appointed to represent the Amirs at Karachi, to take his advice in all matters and consider him as the de facto master.

In 1793-94 Shafee Ali Khan ruled Karachi as the Nawab of the Khan of Kalat. He once attacked a Hindu temple, known as the Daria Than, and erected a mosque between the Daria Than and Hindu houses. This led to a scuffle between the Hindus and the Muslims. After this event, Seth Dharianamal wrote to the Khan of Kalat informing him of the tyranny exercised by Shafee Ali Khan, whereupon Shafee Ali Khan was dismissed by the Khan of Kalat, and Haji Sadu was placed in his stead. He was in office in 1794–95, when the Amirs sent their force the third time for the capture of Karachi. Haji Sadu expressed his inability to fight, and desired to be sent to Kalat in safety. Seth Dharianamal gave him a strong escort, and let him go to Kalat. The army of the Amirs continued all this time firing shells into the town. A few balls did some mischief, but the Commanders, Mian Fakiro and Palia, soon received instructions from Mirs Fateh Ali Khan and Karam Ali Khan to desist from fighting, and to act in consultation with Seth Dharianamal, as they had come to an understanding with him.

Thereafter in 1794–5 on the 11th of the month of Badh (12th Bares) Seth Dharianamal took the keys of the fort gates to the Commanders of the army of the Amirs. Seth Dharianamal sent his servant, Fakiro Khan, the headman of the Bahramee clan, in advance to Fakiro and Palia to inform them of his intention to visit them, and they therefore went out to meet him and received him with great respect. Seth Dharianamal handed over the keys of the Mitha and Khara Gates to Mian Fakiro and Mian Palia, who promised to let no soldier enter the town, as they had received orders to that effect. Mian Fakiro and Palia accompanied Seth Dharianamal back to the town, and after inspecting for a short time the "raised platforms" erected for Government sepoys, they visited Seth Dharianamal's otaks and there partook of sherbat, and refreshed themselves with rose water, and then returned to their camp.^[6][7]

Mirs Fateh Ali and Karam Ali were much pleased when they heard of the surrender of Karachi, and Mir Fatehali proposed to Mir Karam Ali that Seth Dharianamal might be allowed to receive a fixed share of the revenues of Karachi, as a mark of distinction, or that he might be granted a remission of duty on all merchandise imported by him. Seth Dharianamal was accordingly written to by Mir Karamalikhan, but he declined to take any share of the revenue, saying that people in general, or the Khan of Kalat might think that he had betrayed the town from considerations of personal benefit. Mir Fateh Ali, however, gave orders for the remission of one-third of all excise duty on the Seth's trade, and of the land tax on his gardens, and permitted him to extract liquor for his private use at his own distillery, a privilege which his family had enjoyed from the time of the Kalhoras and even during the rule of the Khan of Kalat. The intercourse between the Amirs and the Seth was gradually strengthened, and after a short time the Mirs asked the Seth to visit Hyderabad. He was received with great distinction and numerous valuable presents were exchanged. The Seth remained at Hyderabad for a month and then returned to Karachi.^[6][7]