# Mir Bijar Khan Talpur

Mir Bijar Khan Talpur (Sindhi: مير بجار خان ٽالپر) was a leader, Chief Minister of Sindh and the son of Mir Bahram Khan and the brother of Mir Sobdar Khan Talpur. He is best known for his role in Sindh's political and military history during the 18th century. His life was marked by battles, conspiracies, and political intrigue, culminating in his assassination.

## Early life

Mir Bijar Khan was born in 1730, When Mir Bahram Khan discovered a conspiracy against him, involving Mian Sarfraz Khan and Raja Lekhi, he sent his son, Mir Bijar, to the holy cities of Mecca and Medina for his safety. During his absence, Mian Sarfraz Khan had both Mir Bahram Khan and Mir Sobdar Khan assassinated, paving the way for his own rise to power.

## Return

After performing Hajj, Mir Bijar returned to Sindh. He was warmly received by the ruler of Qalat, Mir Nasir Khan, who offered military assistance, which Mir Bijar declined, stating that he trusted only in Allah and would not raise an army against his own homeland. Mir Bijar's arrival reinvigorated the Baloch tribes, who were eager to retaliate against the Kalhoras. Mir Bijar returned to Sindh, where Raja Lekhi, fearing Mir Bijar's return and potential revenge, committed suicide by poisoning himself. Tajo Lekhi, Raja Lekhi's son, succeeded him and sought to avenge his father's death. He enlisted Mian Ghulam Nabi to launch a campaign against Mir Bijar, resulting in the Battle of Lanyari.

## Leadership

As Chief Minister of Sindh, Mir Bajar was responsible for managing the region's affairs, including military strategy, governance, and diplomacy. He also focused on strengthening Sindh's defenses, including constructing fortifications and implementing reforms to improve the region's economy. Mir Bajar's leadership in times of crisis helped maintain the stability of Sindh for a period, though his tenure was marked by political challenges and intrigue.

## Battle of Lanyari

In the region of Lanyari, near Shahdadpur, a bloody battle took place between the 30,000-strong army of Mian Abdul Nabi and the 6,000 soldiers of Mir Bijar Talpur. This event has been detailed in Frer Nama and Fath Nama, though it is only briefly mentioned here to move forward with the narrative.
Death of Mian Ghulam Nabi
Seeing the dire state of his army, Mian Ghulam Nabi sent a message to Mir Bijar through one of his men, swearing upon the Quran that he had not approved of this war. He claimed it was forced upon him and begged Mir Bijar to rescue him from his captors.
The messenger was intercepted by Tajo Lekhi, who took him to Mian Ghulam Nabi. There, Tajo mercilessly killed Mian Ghulam Nabi with a sword, tearing him apart.
Escape of Tajo Lekhi
After killing Mian Ghulam Nabi, Tajo Lekhi fled to Shahgarh by river along with his men.
Mir Bijar's Noble Conduct Towards Enemies
When Mir Bijar learned of Mian Ghulam Nabi's martyrdom, he immediately reached the site of his body. Grieved, he ordered the preparation of a proper coffin and ensured its respectful transport to Hyderabad. He also sent men after the killers of Mian Ghulam Nabi.
During this time, Allah Bakhsh and Mehrab Jatoi presented themselves before Mir Bijar, seeking forgiveness. Mir Bijar, in his noble manner, pardoned them.

## Battle of Shikarpur

While Mir Bijar was still occupied with efforts to stabilize Sindh, complaints about the region's instability and the failure to pay tribute for several years began to surface in the Afghan court. These complaints were fueled by Izat Yar Khan, the son of Ahmad Yar Khan, who was at the Afghan court. Upon hearing these concerns, the Afghan ruler, Timur Shah, summoned Izat Yar Khan and said, "You have long been a candidate for the governance of Sindh, and now you should take charge of its rule."
Following this, Timur Shah granted him an elephant and a cloak of honor (khilat), and sent him with a force of 10,000 soldiers from the Babrins and Daranis along with 1,000 Turkish cavalry, under the leadership of his agent, Mahfooz Khan, to assist him. A letter was also sent to the governors of Multan, Shikarpur, and the ruler of Qalat, Nasir Khan, as well as to the Daudpotra chiefs, urging them to support Izat Yar Khan in his mission. The commander of the religious centers, Qamaruddin, was also instructed to send Afghan and Baloch forces to aid Izat Yar Khan in his quest to take over Sindh.
Letter from Izat Yar Khan:
When Izat Yar Khan gathered an army of thirty thousand soldiers, he wrote a letter to Mir Bijar stating that Mian Abdul Nabi had been removed from the governance of Sindh, and that he was now the administrator of the region. He further stated that if Mir Bijar submitted to him, he would make him the deputy and entrust all affairs to him. He also asserted that he was not an outsider, and that he was the grandson of Yar Khan.
Response from Mir Bijar:
Mir Bijar replied, thanking him for his respectful words. He acknowledged that Mian Abdul Nabi was his uncle, and that he had no intention of fighting against him. He stated that Mian Abdul Nabi was his long-time patron, and that loyalty to him until his last breath was his life's purpose.
After this, Mir Bijar, with eighteen thousand soldiers, marched to Rohri. From there, he crossed the river via a boat bridge and met Izat Yar Khan's army in the central fields of Shikarpur. A fierce battle ensued between the two forces, and in the initial strike, many of Izat Yar Khan's soldiers were killed. As a result, he, along with Mahfooz Khan, was forced to abandon their weapons and flee.
Siege of Shikarpur:
Some Afghan soldiers, after being defeated in the field, took refuge in the fort of Shikarpur and began preparing for another fight. However, Mir Bijar stationed his forces around the fort and issued an order that if any soldier were to enter the city and drink even a drop of milk, their hand would be cut off. The Afghan forces, under pressure, were forced to open the gate of the fort. The next day, the captains among the prisoners were brought before Mian Abdul Nabi, who provided them with clothing, horses, and travel expenses before sending them on their way.
The history of this battle was recorded as "In the end, peace prevailed.".

## Timur Shah's invasion

The Afghan king, Timur Shah, learned of the defeat of his army through returning soldiers, who reported how the Sindhis had humiliated the Afghan forces severely. They mentioned that when news of their defeat and disgrace spread to Iran and India, their reputation would be ruined. If the Sindhis were not punished, it would embolden other rulers as well. Therefore, the king decided to focus on addressing this issue himself.
Upon hearing these reports, Timur Shah became very angry and immediately began preparing a large army to march towards Sindh.
Mahfuz Khan, who had developed sympathy for Mir Bijar due to his kind treatment, sent a message to Mian Abdul Nabi, warning him that Timur Shah was advancing toward Sindh with an army as relentless as a storm. He advised him to find a way to negotiate, or they would face severe consequences.
Mir Bijar's Strategy:
Mir Bijar learned that a 30,000-strong Baloch army had reached Rohri, and with Mian Abdul Nabi, crossed the river by boat and sent a letter to Timur Shah. In the letter, he claimed that he had been misinformed by certain enemies and was unaware of the full truth. He requested the honor of presenting himself at the court to explain everything clearly.
By the time Timur Shah reached Shikarpur, he received Mir Bijar's letter, and other facts came to light, including the construction of a boat bridge over the river by Mir Bijar for the army's passage. This calmed the king's anger, and when Mir Bijar personally appeared to offer his explanations and show his allegiance, Timur Shah's respect for him grew.
Meanwhile, Mahfuz Khan also arrived with the Sindhi leaders, swearing by the Quran and begging for mercy on behalf of their people.
Timur Shah's Retreat:
After all these discussions, Timur Shah decided to retreat and handed over the governance of Sindh to Mian Abdul Nabi. According to Faryar Nama, Timur Shah ordered that the expenses for his campaign in Sindh be recovered from Mir Bijar and Mian Abdul Nabi. In return, they accepted the offer without objection.
In the Fath Nama-e-Azeem, it is mentioned that Timur Shah wrote a letter stating that he forgave the Sindhis and requested them to pay their taxes promptly so that the army could be paid. He also hoped this payment would shame their enemies.
Robes and Titles:
In Molana Ghulam Rasul Mehr's history of Sindh, it is written that Timur Shah granted Mian Abdul Nabi the title of "Mu'tamid-ul-Dawlah Shah Nawaz Khan Feroz Jang," and gave him golden jewelry, an elephant, and Iraqi horses. This historical moment is referred to as the "Robe of Peace" in 1194 Hijri.