Like Arabs, Soomras were also the sons of desert. Arabs were nomad tribes of the Arabian desert which comprised of vast areas of huge sand dunes, dry hills and rugged mountains with no rivers of sweet water flowing anywhere. Scattered Oasis and wells were the only source of water for them. Similarly, Soomras were also the desert people of Thar Desert of Sindh, but they had the advantage of the waters of the mighty River Indus which then flowed along the western ridge of the Thar Desert.
The Arabs and the Soomras had the temperament of desert people and were great warriors.
The Arabs conquered Sindh in 711-712 A.D. from Hindu Rajas and established the rule of Sharia of Islam, throughout Sindh. A vast majority of Sindhis who were idol worshippers, embraced Islam and those who chose to follow the religion of their forefathers, were allowed to do so but according to Sharia, they had to pay Jazia which was a tax for their protection etc.
Many Rajput clans who became muslims, intermarried their sons and daughters in Arab families. The women of these families, along with their muslim names, called their children with local Sindhi names also.
The Arabs ruled Sindh from A.D. 711 TO 1011 A.D. Their rule was well established. They had built their Capital City and named it Mansoora. They built mosques, Madarsas, Qazi Court for rendering justice, Army Garrisons, Roads and Caravanserais etc. They built Sea Ports and improved agricultural system. The foreign and local trades flourished.
However gradually their hold on Sindh became weaker and weaker due to the intrigues of cunning Hindu tribes to get rid of the Arabs and stop the flow of grains, cattle and other commodities to Arabia.
Ultimately Sardar Khafif Soomro, a great warrior tookover Sindh from the last Habari Arab ruler son of Ali bin Umar in 1011 A.D. And became the first undisputed king of Soomra Dynasty of Sindh.
The system of government already established by Arabs remained intact except that the Soomra kings had realised that the people of other religions i.e .Hindus, Budhists, Jains and the people of other cults needed relaxation as minorities. So as a compromise, some local customs and names were adopted for smooth governance. The decisions of their Panchaits (system of justice) and similarly the decisions taken by Jirgas of Muslim tribes were respected and accepted.
These efforts brought peace and tranquillity among the populace.
For the women, it was their golden period as they enjoyed all the rights under Islamic Sharia and were revered as mothers, daughters, sisters and housewives. The women of the Royal families were educated especially in Arabic, Sindhi and in local dialects. They were trained to rule and fight in wars to defend their Country. Even the common women were sturdy and brave, helped the warriors in the battle and treated the wounded. They excelled in Arts and Crafts. The government protected their property, trade and merchandise. They were bestowed with the highest honours when we find that the Princess Zainab Tari was made the first ever- Muslim Queen of Soomra Dynasty of Sindh, when her father King Asamuddin Daula Dodo-I retired from kingship to live a pious peaceful life.
Queen Zainab Tari Soomro ruled Sindh wisely and bravely as an independent Sovereign queen for 10 years without any interruption. In the subsequent period also, there were Soomra Queens who held the reins of the Kingdom for short periods and they ruled with the assistance of their kinsmen and the council Ministers.
The Sindhi women were undaunted, brave and patriotic. They maintained their high moral standards. They stood side by side with men in every walk of life and never shrank from their duties and sacrificed their lives for their families and their Country.
Since those times, Sindhi women have never enjoyed such freedom, power and reverence under the rule of any subsequent ruling Dynasty of Sindh, even up to this most civilised 21st Century they do not have the absolute independent equality with men in Sindh and elsewhere in the Islamic World.
In the History of Sindh, the period of the Islamic Kingdom of Soomra Dynasty, was, therefore the Golden period for the women of Sindh.
References
- Chronological Dictionary of Sindh by M.H.Panhwar. 1983.
- An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Soomra Kingdom of Sindh (1351 – 1011 A.D.) BY M.H Panhwar.
- "Salient Features of the rule of Soomra Dynasty in Sindh". Research articles (Queen Zainab Tari / Golden Period of Sindhi Women / Renaissance etc.) by Research Scholar Qamar Din M. Hayat Soomro. 2009.
- “Tareekh-e-Sindh” (History of Sindh). By Allama Syed Sulleman Nadvi 1947.
