The origins of Mankera according to tradition go back one thousand
years BC, it is believed that Mankera was originally Malkherkot,
founded by a Rajput called
Mal Khera. There is evidence that suggests that a state by this name
existed during Alexander's invasion of the sub-continent. The Arabs
however called it Manker Kot, and during Muhammad
bin Qasim's rule in greater Sindh, the conquest of Mankera by
one of his generals, Abul Asswad bin Zahar is recorded. The first
Muslim governor of Mankera was Ahmed bin Khuzema who died in Mankera
and is buried in Mankera fort.
Following the downfall of Arab rule in Sindh, the Hindu king of Kanauj took
possession of Mankera followed by the Mekan.
Makens ruled Mankera for five hundred years. Their conversion to the
faith is recorded during the time of Ghias-ud-din Balban, courtesy
of Baba Farid Ganj Shakr. Towards the end of the fifteenth century,
the Baloch from Makran flocked into the country in and around
Mankera, and subsequently ruled this state for the next three
hundred years. The Abdali kings annexed Mankera and the adjoining
areas and the Baloch gave way to Saddo Zai Pathans. The Pathan rule
of the state ended with the famous siege of Mankera by Ranjit
Singh which resulted
in the forfeiture of Nawab Surbuland's claim to Mankera and his
retreat to Dera
Ismail Khan.
Mankera fort, the principal feature of the town lies half a
kilometre to the left of the Bhakkar highway. The fort was
constructed in two phases. The initial construction of the brick
fort was carried out during the time of the Baloch rule, and further
fortification in the form of a thick mud wall was undertaken during
the Pathan rule. Today the fort and its fortification is mostly in
ruins. (Much to my surprise, Mankera's historical sites have never
been considered worthy of any official recognition.) The major part
of the mud wall still exists, however decay and neglect is
abundantly clear. The main fort is mostly in ruins except for a
well, a tomb, and a few signs of masonry. The outer walls of the
citadel are however intact. During the dying days of the Mughal
empire, Mankera's Saddo Zai rulers with the help of their Abdali
benefactors emerged as a force to reckon with in this area. Mankera
was the seat of their dominions. Nowadays the Tomb of Mankera is not
in the good condition and is broken at all the places and the walls.
The Sikh occupation of Mankera is abundantly evident. Next to the
Jamia Masjid of Mankera are the ruins of a temple built during the
Sikh rule, and even the tomb of Nawab Surbuland Khan, just outside
the main citadel has a Hindu aura about its construction.
The Sikh annexation of this area began in 1821, and was completed
with the fall of Mankera in the autumn of that year. Ranjit Singh
personally led the troops that besieged Mankera. The siege lasted
for twenty-two days and at a great cost to the invaders. Mankera,
fortified by the brick wall had a distinct advantage of its position
being in the middle of a desert. The besieging army had not only to
deal with the gallant musketry of the Mankera troops but had to find
out ways to deal with the natural difficulties as well. Water had to
be carried for the troops from considerable distances. Ranjit
Singh's ingenuity saved the day, as he ordered his army to dig
several wells. Twelve such wells were dug.
The siege dragged on for twenty-two days during which time the Nawab
held his own; however the desertions of his sardars and the
demolition of one of the minarets of Jamia Masjid—taken as a bad
omen—forced the Nawab to surrender the fort to the Sikhs. The iron
ball shot from the big guns, including the Zam Zama employed by
Ranjit Singh during the Mankera expedition is still preserved in the
mosque's compound. Following the surrender, the Muslim population of
Mankera was expelled and replaced by Sikhs and Hindus, and the area
was put under the direct control of the Lahore empire. The Sikh rule
of Mankera ended in 1847 and for the next one hundred and forty
years Mankera existed as a non-entity.
Mankera's other claim to fame is the incident, which took place in
1794 when Prince
Hummayun Shah, son of Taimur
Shah, the Abdali King
and a claimant to the throne of Kabul,
made a vain attempt to overthrow his brother, Zaman
Shah. His brother comprehensively defeated him and Hummayun fled
to Thal Sagar. The Saddo
Zai Nawab
of Mankera, Nawab Mohammad Khan, apprehended him at Leaih.
Hummayun's son was killed in the scuffle that followed his arrest,
and at the behest of Zaman Shah, Nawab had Hummayun's eyes put out.
Hummayun spent the rest of his life imprisoned in Mankera fort. A
tomb in the middle of the fort is believed to be that of Prince
Hummayun, and is considered a minor saint by the locals. On the
other hand, the Nawab received the title of Surbuland Khan and the
territory of Dera Ismail Khan from the King. It was the same
Surbuland Khan who had to surrender to Ranjit Singh some
twenty-and-seven years later, and retreat to Dera Ismail Khan.
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