AN UNIQUE MAZAR OF LAILA MAJNU IN SANGHAR SINDH;
RARE ILLUSTRATION OF LEGEND ON WALLS OF MAZAR.

Sindh is a land full of surprises. Like all civilizations, romantic legends are part of its history. For our living memory, the love of Qasim and Ladi is legend for us.

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But that is not all. The romance of Laila and Majnu swept all over the Islamic world, and the derivatives of the story are many. It was indeed surprising to know that in Sanghar Sindh, there exists a mazar of Laila and Majnu.

Manuscripts and story tellers as well as poets sing the song of Laila and Majnu all the time. And many generations highlight same in their own way. Interesting we discover many mazars in Sindh with romantic tales painted on their walls.This mazar in Sanghar Sindh cannot be clarified as there are no documents about it. It exists in a large graveyard with many mazars in it. It is unique in many ways. The architecture is old and Persian, Central Asian and Arab in many ways, but it cannot be dated. It could be anything from 200 to 800 years old. But the inscriptions are written on marble which suggests a later date of say 250 years or so. There are faded inscriptions but the ones readable take the name of AMIR UMAR, ALI HAIDER and SAQT HUSSAIN MIMAR (which means constructed by Hussain architect). If one reads history, Amir Umar could be the son of Muhammed bin Qasim, who was at one time Governor of Sindh.

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But who is buried there, as we can see remnants of a grave in it. Anything to do with real Laila and Majnu. Who knows? No real documents are available.

The most remarkable feature is a number of paintings on the inside wall of the Mazar. It is difficult to access same and we have to do with conjectures. The paintings tell a tale full of camels, and horses, and thrones, and musicians as well as food. But the style is not Persian or Punjab Hills. The costumes are different, the waists naked means a certain reference to the times. But facial expressions are of high value. Ralph Pinder Wilson of British Museum once published an illustrated Sindh manuscript and we see closeness of same to these paintings. Certainly research is required. Our job was to let people enjoy the most unique mazar in the world with its illustrated history. There are others but many are collapsing with loss of artistic history. Saving even one will be great. Make an effort. Well done!