Hazrat Pir Syed Mardan Shah II (Pir Pagara)
Pir Pagara is the title given to the leader of Sunni Muslim Sufi order of Hurs in Sindh province of Pakistan. It comes from Persian word Pir (Chief) and Sindhi word Pagara (Chieftain's Turban). The turban that Pir Pagara's used to adorn was thought to belong to Prophet Muhammad.
Per legend, the first Pir Pagara 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 Pagara or Chief with Many Turbans. But on the other hand, the original Pir Pagaro benefitted from the civil war in Sindh. During his time, Kalhora were the kings of Sindh, and they were also Pirs - religious head of the Sindh. They had waste followers from D.I.Khan, and Sibbi to Thatta. A civil war erupted against the Kalhora - Kings-cum-Peers. The revolting forces, over-thrown the Kalhora kingdom, and established their own Kingdom in Sindh. At that time, Peer Muhammad Rashid saw an opportunity. He with his excellent intelligence, created his own gaddi (A religious shop), and trapped a large number of important personalities from the new ruling elite of Sindh. As, a significant number of new Sindhi ruling elite became his religious followers (Murreed), his influence multiplied, and his gaddi flourished.
The current Pir Pagaro is Hazrat Pir Syed Mardan Shah II, who became Pir Pagara in Feb.1952. His father Hazrat Pir Syed Sibghatullah Shah II was hanged on 20 March, 1943 by the British colonial government after he was found guilty, in a sham trial, of inciting an armed uprising of Hurs followers.
