As Abu Bakr Sahb takes you from one historical site in Sindh (Thar, Achhrho Thar, Umerkot, Bhambore, Keenjhar, Jungshahi, Sahib Mahal in Tando Bago, Odero Lal Shrine, Thatta, Jam Nindo) to another in the Punjab and Khyber-Pukhtunkhwa (Jauliyanwala, Taxila) he paints their pictures so deftly on a canvas of their rich history and the characters that made up their story that you are left spellbound by the historical significance and grandeur of those places in their hey days. Many of the stories (of these places) have a tragic or catastrophic end (they are all real mind you) but they make one realise that its present dilapidated form hides a long story full of complex characters and events behind it engaged in the same tussle for riches, power and glory that will eventually one day fade away.
Some of the characters, like Mir Ghulam Muhammad Talpur Sahab, who built the Lawrence Madressah, Gibson Boarding School and Women's School in Tando Bago (Badin, Sindh) also emerge to inspire one and at the same time admire the work people like Mir Sahb have done for Sindh. All in all, this work by Abu Bakr Shaikh Sahab is truly admirable, he has condensed the rich history and cast of characters that make up the historical story of each site or personality in such a way that it has a lot of feel in it.
Abu Bakr Shaikh Sahab truly loves Sindh and our history and he actually feels happy or sad when he uncovers the story behind each site or personality associated with it. This book is a must read and I highly recommend it to anyone interested to learn more about the history of certain cities, ruins and monuments in Sindh, Punjab and KPK.
