Shoro (tribe)

This article is about the tribe in Sindh. For the village in Kyrgyzstan, see Shoro.

Shoro

شورو
Regions with significant populations
Pakistan
Languages
Sindhi
Religion
Islam
Related ethnic groups
Sindhi people

Shoro (Template:Lang-sd) is a Sindhi tribe found in Sindh, Pakistan and parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan states of India. Shoros are pure Sindhis with Rajput origin and have been known to be warriors in history. Shoros are believed to be the descendants 'Shoro', an estranged son of a Rajput chief in ancient Sindh from whom they derived heir name. According to Tarikh Mazhar-e-Shahjahani' written by one of Mughal Emperor Shahjahan's ministers Abul Qasim Meerak, Shoros constituted a major portion of Samma Army during Samma dynasty (1336 to 1524) particularly around Thatta, then capital of the Kingdom of Sindh. Other tribes who constituted Samma army were Samejos and Dalls. As recorded by Meerak, after Mughal invasion of Sindh and rule by Arghuns and Tarkhans under Mughal tutelage (1524-1591) which had brought end of the Samma dynasty, Shoros went into a long insurrection led by Ismail Shoro. The repeated attacks by Shoro insurrectionists on Arghus/Tarkhan army and frustration over failure to suppress their ambushes led Meerak to brand Shoros as 'terrorists' and 'miscreants'. Ismail Shoro was killed in an attack by Tarkhan forces on congregation of Shoros offering Eid prayers in his village near Jhimpir. In the battle that ensued son of Thatta ruler Mirza Jani Beg Tarkhan leading Tarkhan forces was also killed. During the protracted insurrection Shoros left fertile plains of Sindh and retreated to less accessible areas like hills of Thatta, Dadu, Malir and deserts of Rajisthan and Gujarat. These became their permanent habitats with the result that unlike other tribes they were deprived of fertile agricultural lands and also lagged behind in education during the British rule. In present day Pakistan Shoros are found mostly in lower Sindh especially Thatta, Sujawal, Jamshoro Dadu and Malir. In Thar desert of Pakistan and India Shoros are known by their distinct branch name of Aresars. Population of Shoros has never been enumerated but it is believed to be around half a million.