# Allah Bachayo Talpur

Mir Allah Bachayo Talpur (Sindhi: الهه بچايو ٽالپر) was a political figure in Pakistan, Sindh's first agriculture expert, and one of the pioneers of modern farming. He participated in Pakistan's independence movement, held a variety of roles within the legislative capacities, and also introduced "Sarsabz" wheat variety. In Mirpurkhas, his name is attributed to colonies and roads.

## Early Life and Education

Mir Allah Bachayo was born in 1913 in Jhuddo, Mirpurkhas District in the prominent Talpur family of Haji Fateh Khan Talpur. His roots originate from Khairpur Mirs, where the locality called "Luqman Para" is named by his great-grandfather, Luqman Khan Talpur. The Talpur family migrated to Jhuddo around 150 years ago.
Mir Allah Bachayo had his early education at the hands of the grand scholar Shams-ul-Ulema Dr. Umar Bin Muhammad Daudpota at Sindh Madressatul Islam, Karachi. He later went to study at Aligarh University and completed his B.Sc. degree from Reading University, England, in 1936. In 1938, he obtained his M.Sc. in Agriculture from the University of Texas, USA. He was the first agricultural expert from Sindh. He also underwent special training in fruit farming and poultry management in London.

## Agricultural Innovations

Mir Allah Bachayo was the pioneer of modern agriculture. He was a pioneer in mechanised farming in Sindh. He began supervising his lands and mechanised about 3000 acres. He was elected MLA at Sindh Assembly in 1953. He established Sindh's first fruit farm and poultry farm in Mirpurkhas. He brought modern farming techniques and conducted successful experiments with modern equipment. He kept herds of livestock, including cattle, goats, sheep, and oxen, and owned high-breed horses from Marwar and Gujarat, which were often exhibited in Lahore.
His agricultural achievements include the introduction of a superior variety of wheat, known as "Sarsabz", and hosting delegations from the USA, UK, and Australia. He also became a member and panel judge of the All-India Cattle Show Committee.

## Opposition to One unit

In 1967, opposition against Ayub Khan began to intensify, primarily due to his imposition of the One Unit policy, which amalgamated all provinces into a single unit and led to the exploitation of Sindh's resources. This policy caused significant unrest, especially in Sindh, where local leaders felt that their resources were being unfairly exploited.
As discontent grew, many politicians and leaders rallied behind Fatima Jinnah, the sister of Pakistan's founder, who was a vocal critic of Ayub Khan's authoritarian rule. Talpur, along with several other key political figures, joined the movement in opposition to the regime.
Key supporters of Fatima Jinnah's cause included prominent leaders such as Alhaj Mir Ali Ahmed Talpur, Mir Rasool Bux Talpur, Fazil Rahu, Mir Allah Bachayo Talpur, Nabi Bux Khan Bhirgari, Comrade Nazir Hussain Haidari, Maulana Haji Ahmed Mallah, Mir Ali Bux Talpur, and feudal lords from the Thar region, including Pir Malook Shah Jilani. These leaders formed a coalition that became instrumental in galvanizing the masses against Ayub Khan.

## Public Service and Political Career

Mir Allah Bachayo was very active in the Pakistan Movement and remained very close to his father and worked for Allama Inayatullah Mashriqi in the Khaksar Movement. He also held several legislative offices, which include the following:
* Honorary chairman of Commerce Bank and Muslim Commercial Bank.
* Member of American Soybean Association
* Member of Central Cotton Committee
* Member of the Food Agriculture Council of Pakistan
* Member of the Pakistan Central Committee
* Chairman of Zamindari Co-operative Bank of MirpurKhas
* Member of All-India Cattle Show Committee
* Member of the Imperial Council of Agricultural Research
* Member of the Sindh Legislative Assembly
* Member of the West Pakistan One Unit Assembly (1953)
* Member of the Majlis-e-Shura
He also represented Pakistan in many international conferences and important positions, which included membership to the State Bank of Pakistan's Cotton Committee and Syndicate of Agricultural University Tando Jam. He was a Member in the American Soybean Association lifetime member and honorary chairman of Commerce Bank and Muslim Commercial Bank.
In recognition of his contribution to agriculture, the Agricultural University in Tando Jam established the "Allah Bachayo Talpur Chair."

## Legacy

As a testament to his legacy, a colony in Mirpurkhas was named Mir Allah Bachayo Talpur Colony, and is often referred to as Mir Colony. The main road that passes through this locality is called Mir Allah Bachayo Talpur Road and is situated in Mir Colony, Mirpurkhas, Sindh, Pakistan.

## Later Life and Death

Mir Allah Bachayo Talpur died, aged 92 years, on 23 May 2005 after long eight years of illnesses and was laid to rest in his ancestral graveyard in Jhuddo.