| Unarpur | |
| Settlement Type: | Deh |
| Pushpin Map: | Pakistan Sindh#Pakistan |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in Sindh |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Pakistan |
| Subdivision Type1: | Region |
| Subdivision Name1: | Sindh |
| Subdivision Type2: | District |
| Subdivision Name2: | Jamshoro |
| Subdivision Type3: | Taluka |
| Subdivision Name3: | Manjhand |
| Population As Of: | 2017 |
| Population Total: | 4092 |
| Coordinates: | 25.6434°N 68.3557°W[1] |
| Timezone: | PST |
| Utc Offset: | +5 |
| Timezone Dst: | PDT |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +6 |
| Pushpin Relief: | o |
Unarpur is a village and deh in Manjhand taluka of Jamshoro District, Sindh, Pakistan.[2] It is located close to the west bank of the Indus river, across from Matiari, on the main road from Kotri to Sehwan.[3] As of 2017, Unarpur has a population of 4,092, in 891 households.[4] It is the seat of a tappedar circle, which also includes the villages of Belo Unerpur, Budhapur, Nai Jetharo, and Wachero.[4]
Unarpur has a significant forested area, which was planted by the Talpur Mirs during the 1780s for the purpose of hunting.[3] Once one of the largest forests in Sindh,[3] it has since been severely deforested as the trees standing on some 10,000 acres of land were cut down to clear kachha land for cultivation.[5]
During the Mughal era, Unarpur was the seat of a pargana in the sarkar of Chakar Hala.[6] Its dependencies included the villages of Khasa'i Shura and Budhapur.[6]
In April-June 1592, Unarpur was the site of a siege between Mirza Jani Beg, the rebellious governor of Thatta, and Abdul Rahim Khan-i-Khanan, representing the Mughal forces loyal to Akbar.[6] After being defeated in battle near the Lakki Pass on 11 April, Mirza Jani Beg sailed downstream to Unarpur, where he set up a makeshift fort: the sails of the boats he had sailed here on were converted into sacks and filled with sand, which were then stacked on top of each other to form battlements.[6] A large moat, both deep and wide, was dug around the whole thing.[6] The Khan-i-Khanan arrived on 15 April and laid siege to the Mirza's makeshift fort.[6]
Although the Mirza's forces were numerically stronger, their morale was soon sapped by news of imperial victories elsewhere in the region.[6] Later they ran out of supplies and were forced to eat their own animals to avoid starvation.[6] The Mirza's son and father both died during the siege, causing him personal distress.[6] Meanwhile, disease broke out in the Khan-i-Khanan's camp.[6] In an attempt to bring the siege to an end, the besieging army prepared to storm the fort from all sides: they dug tunnels, filled the moat, and put up mounds of sand; but the Mirza's troops undid all these attempts.[6]
At last, with the rainy season fast approaching and both sides' troops suffering, the Mirza and Khan-i-Khanan exchanged emissaries to discuss a peaceful agreement to end the siege.[6] [6] After some negotiations, Mirza Jani Beg formally surrendered on 16 June and the Unarpur "fort" was dismantled.[6]
Around 1874, Unarpur's population was estimated at 1,633 people, including 1,281 Muslims (mostly Shoras) and 352 Hindus (mostly Lohanos).[3] Most residents worked in agriculture.[3] Although not a significant industrial centre, Unarpur did have "a small local trade in grain, ghi and oil."[3] It was the seat of a tappedar and had a school, dharamshala, and small police thana.[3] Part of the road between Unarpur and Petaro was washed away by the Indus in 1869.[3]