In Sindh, Jhulelal Qalandar is a revered Sufi Saint who preached Islam and the oneness of Allah. He is also known as Lal Shahbaz Qalandar.
Among the Mohannas, a tribe of boat people, he is known by many names: Zinda Pir, Sheikh Tahir, Khawaja Khizar, Udero Lal, and Amar Lal.
Historical accounts indicate that Jhulelal lived in the 17th century. Mirkh Shah, the tyrannical ruler of Thatta, sought to convert Hindus by force to Islam. They prayed to the River God Varuna upon the banks of the Indus.
A child was then born to an aged couple in Nasarpur. He grew up to be capable of miracles and began to preach Islam. He also confronted Mirkh Shah, making the ruler recognise his mistake and allow the Hindus to live peacefully.
Panjaras (5-lined poems) are sung in his honour even today, and Jhulelal is revered by Hindus and Muslims alike. He is often featured in Sufi poetry.
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