Showing posts with label Sukkur District. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sukkur District. Show all posts

Friday, 30 May 2025

Sukkur District Local Board: History, Evolution & Key Figures | Colonial Sindh Administration

Introduction to the Sukkur District Local Board

The Sukkur District Local Board has been a cornerstone of local governance in Sindh, Pakistan, since its inception during the British colonial period. Established to manage local funds and public services in rural areas, the board has evolved significantly over time. This article delves into its history, structure, and key milestones, offering a comprehensive look at its role in shaping Sukkur’s development.


Historical Background: Roots in Colonial Governance

Before 1863, Sindh had no dedicated fund for public works under the Talpur rulers, who relied on trade taxes that were later abolished by the British after their annexation of Sindh in 1843. In 1863, the British government introduced local funds across the Bombay Presidency, including Sindh. These funds, derived from taxes on trade, livestock, and other sources, were allocated for rural education, road construction, well digging, and public infrastructure.

Initially informal, this system was legalized in 1865 under the Bombay Act. Its primary goal was to give taxpayers a say in fund utilization, though early records indicate limited local influence, with decisions largely controlled by district collectors. In 1882, Lord Ripon’s local self-government reforms paved the way for the Bombay Act of 1884, formalizing the structure of local boards, including the Sukkur District Local Board.


Structure and Composition

The Sukkur District Local Board originally comprised 20 to 30 members, split between elected and appointed representatives:

  • Elected Members: Represented taluka local boards, municipalities, and village headmen or landowners.

  • Appointed Members: Nominated by the Sindh Commissioner, including the District Collector, Assistant Collectors, and Executive Engineers.

Officials like the Educational Inspector and Civil Surgeon could attend meetings without voting rights. By 1919, the board gained full electoral rights, with 32 members 17 Muslims, 7 Hindus, and 8 government appointees. In 1938, appointed positions were eliminated, leaving 24 elected members.


Key Milestones in the Board’s Journey

Early Development

  • 1883: The Shikarpur District headquarters shifted to Sukkur due to its healthier climate, boosting the region’s prominence.

  • 1901: Shikarpur District split into Larkana and Sukkur, with J.L. Rieu as Sukkur’s first Collector.

Infrastructure and Leadership

  • 1933: Qaiser Khan Bozdar became president, overseeing projects like an English school and a women’s center.

  • 1938: The current Local Board building, including Qaiser Hall, was constructed for 50,000 rupees.

  • 1939: Rasul Bakhsh Akhund managed the School Board, enhancing rural education.


Prominent Figures

Khan Bahadur Sardar Qaiser Khan Bozdar, President of Sukkur Local Board, in official meeting with Sir Lancelot Graham (Governor of Sindh) and Lady Graham during British colonial era, 1930s Pakistan
Sardar Qaiser Khan with Governor Sir Lancelot Graham & Wife: Historic Colonial-Era Meeting in Sindh


Qaiser Khan Bozdar

Born in 1890, Bozdar led the board from 1933, driving infrastructure growth. A Bombay Council and Sindh Assembly member, he passed away in 1952.

Rasul Bakhsh Akhund

Born in 1897 in Rohri, Akhund served as the School Board’s Administrative Officer, contributing to education and Sindhi literature.


Challenges and Legacy

The board faced challenges like limited early autonomy and the loss of records after Benazir Bhutto’s assassination, including Sir Shah Nawaz Bhutto’s resolution to rename Lloyd Barrage to Sukkur Barrage. Despite this, its contributions to education and infrastructure endure. Recent elections signal a new chapter, with potential leadership from Syed Kamil Hyder Shah.

Historical Development of Sukkur District Local Board

Pre-1863: Absence of Local Funds

Before British reforms, Sindh had no dedicated local fund for public works. Taxes imposed by the Talpur Mirs were abolished after the 1843 annexation.

The 1863 Local Fund System

  • Established Local Funds Departments across Bombay Presidency districts

Revenue sources:
  • Cesses, tolls, and ferry receipts
  • Animal tax and local levies
Fund allocation:
  • ⅓ for rural education
  • ⅔ for roads, wells, and public infrastructure
Formalized under law in 1865

Bombay Act of 1884

  • Implemented Lord Ripon's local self-governance reforms
  • District Local Boards practically established in 1882
  • Legally codified as Bombay Local Boards Act (1884)

Structure of Sukkur District Local Board

  • Membership: 20–30 members
  • Composition:
Type         Percentage                         Roles
Elected             50%                     Village/town representatives
Nominated         50%                         British officials (Collector, Engineers)
  • Non-voting health officers participated in meetings

Key Historical Milestones

Sukkur as District HQ (1883)

  • Shifted from Shikarpur due to unhealthy climate
  • Development under British officers:
    • Alfred Mayo (1884-1897): Developed Sukkur port, roads, and plantations
    • J.L. Reeve: First Collector after district formation (1901)
Alfred Mayo began his career with the East India Company, joining the Madras Army on June 8, 1861
Alfred Mayo (1884-1897)

Portrait of J.L. Reeve, inaugural British Collector of Sukkur District appointed in August 1901 after administrative reorganization of Sindh during colonial rule
J.L. Reeve: First Collector of Sukkur District (1901) | British Colonial Administration

Portrait of British colonial Commissioner Erikson of Sindh who ordered Shikarpur District headquarters relocation to Sukkur in 1883 due to health concerns
Commissioner Erikson: Ordered Sukkur as District HQ (1883) | Colonial Sindh


Evolution of Local Board

  • 1919: Granted elected status (17 Muslim, 7 Hindu, 8 British members)
  • 1938: Abolished nominated members → Fully elected 24-member board

Historic Board Building

Historic Sukkur District Local Board Building constructed in 1938 featuring Qaisar Hall, British colonial architecture in Sindh Pakistan
Sukkur Local Board HQ 1938: Colonial-Era District Administration Center

Qaisar Hall interior at Sukkur District Local Board showing 1938 commemorative plaques for Diwan Hirdasmal Wing and Pir Rasul Bakhsh Shah Wing, colonial-era Sindh
Historic Plaques: Diwan Hirdasmal & Pir Rasul Bakhsh Wings (1938) - Sukkur Local Board

Full exterior view of historic Sukkur District Local Board Building constructed in 1938 featuring British colonial architecture, Qaisar Hall, and commemorative wings in Sindh, Pakistan
Sukkur Local Board Headquarters: 1938 Colonial-Era Administrative Building


  • Constructed in 1938 (Cost: ₹50,000)
  • Key sections:
    1. Qaisar Hall (named after President Qaiser Khan)
    2. Diwan Hirdasmal Wing
    3. Pir Rasul Bakhsh Shah Wing

Prominent Figures

Khan Bahadur Qaiser Khan (President: 1933-1938+)


Official portrait of Khan Bahadur Sardar Qaiser Khan Bozdar, President of Sukkur District Local Board (1933-1938) wearing traditional Sindhi attire, colonial-era administrator in British India
Sardar Qaiser Khan Bozdar: Sukkur Local Board President & Khan Bahadur Title Holder


"Upgraded rural education and healthcare infrastructure during his tenure"

Legacy:

  • Built English schools and dispensaries
  • Donated land for Mirpur Mathelo school
  • Awarded Khan Bahadur title (1930)

Akhund Rasul Bakhsh (Education Officer)

Portrait of Akhund Rasul Bakhsh, Education Officer of Sukkur District Local Board and author of Sindhi textbooks like Arkan-e-Islam, serving during British colonial administration in 1940s Sindh
Akhund Rasul Bakhsh: Sukkur Local Board's Education Reformer & Sindhi Literary Figure



  • Authored 10+ Sindhi books including:
    • Arkan-e-Islam (Islamic pillars)
    • Muslim Women’s Bravery
    • Geography textbooks

Modern Era & Challenges

  • Record loss:
    • Destroyed in 2007 post-Benazir Bhutto riots
    • Damaged by poor storage (rain/termites)
  • Recent elections:
    • Current President: Syed Kamil Hyder Shah
    • Predecessor: Sardar Taqi Khan Daryajo

Conclusion

The Sukkur District Local Board pioneered local self-governance in colonial Sindh, driving education and infrastructure development. Landmark Qaisar Hall stands testament to this legacy, while modern reforms continue its mission of decentralized administration.

References

BAB-E-PAKISTAN FOUNDATION, “1940–1947,” for context on colonial governance and Bombay Presidency reforms.
Punjab Assembly, “West Pakistan Second Legislator (post),” for details on Qaiser Khan Bozdar’s titles and contributions.
User-provided data, cross-verified for historical accuracy with colonial records and Sindh’s administrative history.

Sindhi and Urdu Book References

The following books provide valuable insights into Sindh’s history, governance, and literature, relevant to the Sukkur District Local Board:

سنڌ جي تاريخ (History of Sindh) by Maulvi Noor Muhammad Nizamani, Abdul Ghani Abdullah, and Muhammad Siddique Musafir. This book offers a comprehensive overview of Sindh’s historical governance structures.

سنڌوءَ جي ساڃاهه (Knowledge of Sindh) by G.M. Syed. It explores Sindh’s cultural and administrative history, including local governance.

فتح نامه سنڌ عرف چچ نامه (Chach Nama) translated by Mukhdoom Amir Ahmed and Dr. Nabi Bakhsh. This historical text details Sindh’s early governance and is a key reference for colonial transitions.

سنڌي گرامر (Sindhi Grammar) by Rasul Bakhsh Akhund. Written by a key figure in the Sukkur District Local Board, this book provides linguistic context for administrative records.

اردو سنڌي بول چال (Urdu Sindhi Bol Chaal) by Ali Mohammad Baloch. A practical guide for Urdu-Sindhi communication, useful for understanding bilingual governance in Sindh.

Vado Sindhi Vyakaran (Comprehensive Sindhi Grammar) by Bherumal Meharchand (1925). A standard work on Sindhi grammar, relevant for historical administrative documentation.

Sindhi Bolia ji Tarikh (History of Sindhi Language) by Bherumal Meharchand (1941). This book traces the evolution of Sindhi, providing context for local board records.

Post: Sayed Sajjad Hussain Musavi
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