Khipro Local Customs

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Pir Pagaro or Pir Pagara is the title given to the leader of Muslim Sufi order of Hurs in Sindh province of Pakistan. It comes from Persian word Pir (Chief) and Sindhi word Pagara (Chiefton's Turban).

Per legend, the first Pir Pagaro was such a high scholar that he won many scholarly debates. As per Sindh's tradition, the defeated scholar would submit his turban. With so many turbans on his head, he was declared Pir Pagaro or Chief with Many Turbans.

The current Pir Pagaro is Shah Mardan Shah II he became Pir Pagaro in 1954. His father Pir Syed Sabghatullah Shah Pagaro was hanged on 20th March, 1943 by the British colonial government after armed uprising of Hurs.

The people of this area calls themselves Hurs and are followers of Pir Pagara.

During the British rule of India, Pir Pagaro declared his community "Hur" (free from British slavery). The British tried to crush the uprising and that started an armed resistance by Hurs. Ultimately the British passed the infamous law "Hur Act" where the entire Hur community was declared criminals and were ordered to be shot to death on site. Hurs were ultimately defeated and Pir Pagaro was hanged to death. The elder son is now the current Pir Pagaro.

In Pakistan short history, Hurs have played an important role in defending Pakistan borders, however various political parties have also persecuted them one way or another this community.

Some text taken from wikepdia