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    Al-Mansura: An Ancient City of Pakistan

    Written by: Sirat Gohar Daudpoto
    Posted on: February 23, 2024 | | 中文

    Al Mansura (Brahamanabad)

    In Pakistan, a number of ancient of sites have been discovered as the result archaeological explorations in different parts of the country. In the inventory of ancient sites of Pakistan, some cities of the bygone civilizations are also inscribed. And these cities date to different phases of ancient period, which is the longest period of the history of Pakistan, starting from the stone age (2.5 million years before present) to the arrival of Muslims (early 8th century CE). The ancient cities of Pakistan are famous all over the world. The most famous amongst these are Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Taxila, Barikot, Aror, Bhanbhore and Al-Mansura. This article is about the ancient city of Al-Mansura, more specifically on the archaeology and history of its foundation.

    Signboard at the ancient city of Al-Mansura in Sindh (Photograph taken by Prof. Dr. Intesab Hussain Sadhayo)

    The ancient city of Al-Mansura, also known as Mansura, is situated about eighteen kilometers away from Shahdadpur town in Sanghar District of the Sindh province of Pakistan. According to the information provided on the website of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Archaeology, Culture, Tourism, Antiquities and Archives Department, Government of Sindh, the archaeological site of Al-Mansura is “spread over an areas 6.4 km in circumference near the modern city of Shahdadpur”, and is “usually known as Brahmanabad, and locally as Dalu Raja-ji-Nagri in Sindh”. On the website of the Directorate General of Antiquities and Archaeology, the names Brahmanabad and Mansura are used interchangeably for the site. About the local nomenclature of the site, H.T. Lambrick writes in his book titled “Sindh: A General Introduction”, that the site “is to this day called locally “Brahmanabad” or “Bhambhra-jo-Thul”. He further writes, “it is natural to assume a priori that Mansurah was built actually on the site of the older city”.

    Title page of Ahmad Nabi Khan’s book, “Al-Mansura” (Photograph by the author)

    Founded during the Umayyad rule in Sindh, according to Ahmad Nabi Khan, historical accounts are provided in, “al-Baladhuri, al-Mas’udi, al-Istakhri, Ibn Hauqal, al-Maqdasi, Buzurg ibn Shahriyar, Ibn Hazm, al-Idrisi, Yaqut al-Hamvi, Qazwini, Ibn Asir, al-Beruni, Ibn Khalladun, Ibn Wardi and others”. The following quote from S. Jabir Raza’s article titled, “Mansurah: A city in the age of urban decline”, informs how the city got its name: Al-Mansura or Mansura.

    Several Arab geographers believed that the city derived it[s] name from the last Umayyad governor of Sind, Jamhur al-Kalbi. Among the Arab geographers, there was also the view that Mansurah received its name after the second Abbasid Caliph, Abu Jafar al-Mansur, and for one Arab geographer at least, it was styled, Mansuriya thani, that is the second Mansurah. Interestingly, Al-Biruni has a different take on the matter, and argues that the name of the city was not coined after any caliph or governor, but was adopted by its founder, to signify ‘victory’. The word Mansurah is, derived from the root word, nasr, meaning ‘victory’. He is supported by Abul Fida, who informs us that numerous cities were named during the period as Mansurah, signifying victory and success.

    Door Knocker discovered from the ancient city of Al-Mansura, on display in Islamabad Museum (Photograph taken by the author).

    Similarly, there are conflicting opinions about the founder of this city. S. Jabir Raza writes that “Al-Idrisi and Ibn al-Wardi inform us that the founder of Mansurah was the second Abbasid caliph, Abu Jaafar al Mansur. Yaqut, on the other hand, is of the opinion that the city was founded by Amir ibn Hafs al-Hazarmard al-Muhallabi. In the opinion of al-Masudi, however, the real founder of Mansura was Mansur ibn Jamhur al-Kalbi. Baladuri tells us that the city was founded by Amr, son of Muhammad bin Qasim, during the governorship of Hakam ibn Awanah al-Kalbi in the reign of the Umayyad caliph Hisham ibn abd al-Malik. Baladuri is supported, amongst others, by Yaqubi, Ibn Khaldun and Ibn al-Athir. Among most of the modern scholars, Baladuri’s evidence is treated as the most reliable. For example, Ahmad Nabi Khan in his book on Al-Mansurah, and Abdul Aziz Farooq in his excavation report titled “Excavations at Mansurah”, referring to al-Baladhuri write, that the city was founded by Amar (Amr) Bin Muhammad Bin Qasim. Ahmad Nabi Khan places the date of the foundation of the city between 728 CE and 737 CE.

    Early Islamic period (8th century CE) pottery from the ancient city of Bhanbhore in Sindh on display in Lahore Museum (Photograph taken by the author)

    There is a popular view that the city of Al-Mansura was built on the remains of the city of Brahmanabad by Muslim rulers. They destroyed the existing city and built their capital, Al-Mansura on it. However, the archaeological evidence proves that Al-Mansura was built on a vacant land that prior to Al-Mansura’s construction, was not in use for decades or probably for centuries. Archaeologically speaking, twenty-five layers have been excavated at the site. Abdul Aziz Farooq in his excavation report writes: “The layers (1 to 10), represent the period of Muslim occupation, based on the study of pottery found on the site, has yielded four distinct building phases. The layers (11 to 17), consist of river silt and sand, but the layer (18) contained cultural material of a pre-Muslim settlement. Again layers (19 to 25) comprised a thick sandy deposit. The pre-Muslim occupation indicates no connection with the Muslim era as the river deposit, about 15 inches in thickness, separated the two main occupations, viz. Pre-Muslim and Muslim”.

    Structural remains at the ancient city of Al-Mansura (Photograph taken by Prof. Dr. Intesab Hussain Sadhayo).

    Overall, the archaeological excavations carried out at the site brought to fore that the ancient city of Al-Mansura was not constructed on top of the existing city of Brahmanbad. In fact, archaeological evidence suggests that it was founded on a vacant piece of land covered with river silt and sand by Muslim rulers in the early 8th century CE.

    Early Islamic period (8th century CE) glazed pottery (bowl) from the ancient city of Bhanbhore in Sindh on display in Lahore Museum (Photograph taken by the author)


    As the new year begins, let us also start anew. I’m delighted to extend, on behalf of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and in my own name, new year’s greeting and sincere wishes to YOULIN magazine’s staff and readers.

    Only in hard times can courage and perseverance be manifested. Only with courage can we live to the fullest. 2020 was an extraordinary year. Confronted by the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Pakistan supported each other and took on the challenge in solidarity. The ironclad China-Pakistan friendship grew stronger as time went by. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects advanced steadily in difficult times, become a standard-bearer project of the Belt and Road Initiative in balancing pandemic prevention and project achievement. The handling capacity of the Gwadar Port has continued to rise and Afghanistan transit trade through the port has officially been launched. The Karakoram Highway Phase II upgrade project is fully open to traffic. The Lahore Orange Line project has been put into operation. The construction of Matiari-Lahore HVDC project was fully completed. A batch of green and clean energy projects, such as the Kohala and Azad Pattan hydropower plants have been substantially promoted. Development agreement for the Rashakai SEZ has been signed. The China-Pakistan Community of Shared Future has become closer and closer.

    Reviewing the past and looking to the future, we are confident to write a brilliant new chapter. The year 2021 is the 100th birthday of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan. The 100-year journey of CPC surges forward with great momentum and China-Pakistan relationship has flourished in the past 70 years. Standing at a new historic point, China is willing to work together with Pakistan to further implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, connect the CPEC cooperation with the vision of the “Naya Pakistan”, promote the long-term development of the China-Pakistan All-weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership with love, dedication and commitment. Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father of Pakistan said, “We are going through fire. The sunshine has yet to come.” Yes, Pakistan’s best days are ahead, China will stand with Pakistan firmly all the way.

    YOULIN magazine is dedicated to promoting cultural exchanges between China and Pakistan and is a window for Pakistani friends to learn about China, especially the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. It is hoped that with the joint efforts of China and Pakistan, YOULIN can listen more to the voices of readers in China and Pakistan, better play its role as a bridge to promote more effectively people-to-people bond.

    Last but not least, I would like to wish all the staff and readers of YOULIN a warm and prosper year in 2021.

    Nong Rong Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of
    The People’s Republic of China to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan
    January 2021









    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir



    Video message by Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed on Black Day of Indian Occupation of Kashmir, 27 October 1947, when Indian military troops forcibly occupied Kashmir illegally, claiming a fraudulent ‘Instrument of Accession’ which never existed as documented by eminent British historian Alastair Lamb! Kashmir & Palestine are examples of illegal occupation & continued Resistance to Repression! There are so many commonalities in Kashmir & Palestine: both under brutal military occupation of foreign powers, both are facing an indigenous, popular, spontaneous & widespread Resistance & Uprising, both are in violation of UN Resolutions which haven’t been implemented, both are witnessing an attempted change in the demographic balance, both are facing the use of rape as a weapon of war, both are testimony to double-standards & hypocrisy of Western powers on human rights & fundamental rights, and both conflicts have an element of racism and Islamophobia, while enduring peace, security and stability will remain elusive in both regions, South Asia & Middle East, until these issues are resolved in accordance with popular aspirations.