Truth of the Land: Karachi’s Sindhi Roots and Historical Dehs

It is often portrayed that Karachi is a new city, developed only after the partition of 1947. However, when we look into the official revenue records, a completely different reality emerges. Every area and every Deh (traditional Sindhi administrative and agricultural unit) of Karachi still carries its original Sindhi name. These names, recorded for centuries, are not just administrative details but clear evidence of Karachi’s historical and cultural roots in Sindhi civilization.

The Sindhi Deh System

The term Deh represents the oldest agrarian and revenue unit of Sindh. Each district consisted of dozens of Dehs, forming the basis of land ownership and taxation. Even during the British colonial period, when Karachi was expanded as a major port, the Deh system remained intact and the names were carefully preserved in official records. The Sindh Gazetteer (1919) and the revenue documents compiled by Lawrence Jacob explicitly show Karachi’s Dehs with their original Sindhi nomenclature.

“The villages and Dehs of Karachi district retain their Sindhi nomenclature, such as Lyari, Malir, Manghopir, and Kimari, each representing the indigenous population and their historical settlements.” (Sindh Gazetteer, 1919)

Examples of Karachi’s Dehs

Some of the most well-known neighborhoods of Karachi have evolved directly from these Sindhi Dehs:

• Deh Ghufran – near Malir
• Deh Dumlottee – once home to historic wells supplying water to the city
• Deh Ibrahim Hyderi – one of the oldest fishing settlements
• Deh Manghopir – named after a revered Sufi saint
• Deh Songal – an ancient settlement in Gadap
• Deh Kimari – the original base of Karachi’s seaport trade

These names are not random. They reflect the deep connection of Karachi to Sindhi culture, land, and identity.

Post-1947 Reality

Even after the creation of Pakistan and the arrival of large waves of migrants, the revenue maps continued to show the original Sindhi names. They were neither erased nor replaced, and can still be seen today in official land records and even on satellite imagery. This is a testimony that Karachi is not an alien settlement but an integral part of Sindh, deeply rooted in its history and culture.

The Role of Sindhis and Their Missteps

While Karachi remains historically Sindhi, there is also a social reality that must be acknowledged. Among Sindhis, especially Baloch or Baroch Sindhis who have lived in Sindh for centuries, certain mistakes have occurred. Many have continued to show favoritism toward others rather than prioritizing their own community’s cultural and political strength. This tendency has sometimes weakened the Sindhi claim over Karachi in practical terms, even though the historical and legal evidence strongly supports it.

Conclusion

The Sindhi names of Karachi’s Dehs are more than words in a document; they are living proof that the city’s land, identity, and culture are inseparable from Sindh. Acknowledging this truth is essential for understanding not only the past but also the future of Karachi’s society, language, and politics. The challenge remains for Sindhis themselves—particularly the Baloch Sindhis—to safeguard this heritage with unity and vision rather than letting it slip through in the name of misplaced favoritism.

Written by: Mehmood Ansari

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