Along river Indus is spread the splendour of Sind. River Indus has ruled and regulated Sind socially, culturally, economically and politically. It has decided the fate of Sind in war and in peace.

In history, Sind has had more to do on its own or with countries on its west than with India (Hind). Hind and Sind were separate territories. Sind had greater contact with Arabia, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan than with India.

The Indian hold on Sind began from the days of Delhi Sultanate but always remained casual, precarious and uncertain. Greek historians debated whether river Indus was the dividing line between Hind and Sind. The Persian and Arabian travellers and historian and geographers always emphasised that Indus valley formed the buffer zone between India and western countries. Moen-jo-Daro civilization is a non-Aryan civilisation and so different from other civilisations in India.

Sind is an archeological oasis. In the history of Sind there appears to be a vacuum between 2500 to 2000 B.C.; and it is only after that we come to the more reliable and more dependable portion of Sind history. History of Sind begins form 520 to 515 B.C. when Darius I sent forces and annexed Sind to the Persian Empire. Two centuries later, Sind was visited by Alexander the Great whose marches, sojourns and bevouacs through the valley have been recorded by Greek historians. Sehwan is said to have been founded by Alexander the Great, and his return march to Greece took him to Kharan Baluchistan.

Sind remained under Greek-Mangolian influence for sometime as is evident from the finds of Moen-jo-Daro. For sometime the rulers of Sind lived under the suzeranity of Mauryan dynasty. Greek rule was re-established by Bacterian Greek Conquest in 195 B.C.

The Greeks were followed by Scythians who were Turks by race. Later about 100 B.C. Buddhist influence worked and prevailed as is found from material discovered in Moen-Jo-Daro. Scythians had their centre of activity in Bambhore, and they advanced along the coast of the Arabian Sea. The Scythians and Kushans were of Turkish descent and this brought Sind under the influence of Turkish culture One of the great emperors of Kushan dynasty, Kanishka became the protector of Buddhism which had spread in Sind form 100 B.C. to 100 A.D. One of Kanishka's successors ruled Sind and his coins have been found at Moen-jo-Daro.

Turkish influence increased under the Parthian kings and evidence of their rule is found in Seistan, Kandhar and Sind. At this stage Brahmanism had established its foothold in Sind among the ruling classes, but the masses of people continued to follow Buddhism. Turkish influence got some ascendancy under the Huns and thus Buddhism received a set back. The Huns dominated Persia and Sind. Under Naosherwan, Sind was annexed to the Persian empire. The rise of Sassanid empire in the third century brought Sind under the sway of Persia. Hun influence increased after the death of emperor Feroz and over-powered Persia. They defeated Gupta power in 495.

In the sixth century Sind became independent of Persia. Persian influence waned after the death of Khusrow Pervez. With the weakening of Persia, Chuch the ruler of Sind emphasised independence and tried to invad the Makran province of Persia. This brought him in contact with the Arab forces in Makran.

A period of hostility between Arabs and Chuch began and this got worsened during the reign of Dahar, the son of Chuch. Arabs tried to follow the policy of peace and co-existence but Dahar made it impossible, and Hujjaj Bin Yusif the Umayyad Governor of Iraq was forced to send Arab forces under Muhammed Bin Qassim to chastise Dahar. A policy of restraint was followed by pious Caliphate and Ummayads, and only when peaceful efforts failed, Sind had to be conquered and made part of the Ummayed rule in 712.

For about 400 years from now on, Sind remained an integral part of Ummayed and Abbasid dynasties. The Provincial Governors were appointed by the Arab Central Governments, and history had recorded some 37 names of these governors. By the end of 9th century the Saffarids administered Sind of Baghdad. After the weakening of the Central Arab Authority, local Arab dynastic rule continued for nearly 130 years which included the Fatamid influence from Egypt. Sultan Mahmood and his son Masood came next. The Sumras of Sind came under Fatamid influence, but they subsequently revolted and established their independent rule in Sind.

Arab Rule brought Sind within the orbit of Muslim civilization. Sindhi as a language developed further and Naskh was introduced. Sindhi scholars began to play their part in various Arab and Muslim empires. The evidence of Mansura, the Capital of Arabs in Sind, testifies to the greatness of Arab administration.

Sumaras (1060-1350) were the native sons of Sind and they fraternized with the Arabs. They accepted Islam and grew strong and established independent rule in Sind. Names of 21 Sumra rulers are recorded in history. They ruled Sind for about 300 years. The great Sindhi romantic stories of Doda Sumra and Alauddin inform us of the invasion of Alauddin and the resistence put up by the Sumras. Tharri, Muhmmad Tur and Rupah were centres of their activities. This is considered to be the most romantic period in Sind history which gave birth to patriotic literature and folk songs. In this period lived Qalandar Lal Shahbaz at Sehwan.

The Sumras were followed by Summas (1350-1520) who had accepted Islam in the 8th Century. They called themselves Jams. They made Thatta their capital. The tomb of Jam Nizamuddin the 17th ruler at Makli is a great architectural beauty. It was during this period that Sind came in direct contact with Delhi and Persian became the official language in place of Arabic. This period marks the beginning of Sufistic thoughts and teaching in Sind.

At this time lived Shah Abdul Karim of Bhurai the Poet Saint of Sind. He was grandfather of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. At this time also lived Makhdoom Nooh of Hala. He was the first man to translate the Holy Quran into Persian in the Indo-Pakistan sub-continent.

On the death of Mirza Hassan, Sind was divided into two parts. The kingdom of Thatta under Mirza Isa Turkhan and kingdom at Bakhar of Sultan Mahmood Khan. The Turkish rules (1555-1592) never pulled together well and this facilitated the Portuges incursions in Sind. The Portuges sacked Thatta in 1557, burning the city and massacring its population. This invasion increased further hostility among the sons of Mirza Isa in which Mirza Baqi won and he ruled with high handedness and terror. Peace returned to Sind in the reign of Mirza Jani Beg. During his time Mughal armies marched against Sind and Mirza Jani Beg surrendered to Khane-Khanan.

Sind was thus conquered by Emperor Akbar but is was still administered as a Jagir by Mirza Jani Beg and his son Mirza Ghazi Beg. After his death, Sind passed under the direct control of Mughal Emperor. Nearly 40 governors were appointed during the Mughal period (1592-1773) who served in Sind.

Sind was a new real change by the second half of the 16th century when Kalhoras established their authority in territories of Dadu and Larkana. The Mughal rule was confined to Thatta and its surrounding area. Kalhoras conquered Thatta, soon after they had consolidated their authority in the north.

During this period (1700-1780) the Kalhoras designed their administrative system on the lines of Mughals and took great interest in architecture and built a number of mosques and monuments at Rohri, Sukkur, Thatta and Sehwaan. Kalhoras claimed their lineage from Hazarat Abbas and produced some famous men. By the end of the 17th century Kalhora rule was firmly established and had received Mughal Imperial recognition during the reign of Farrukh Sayair. Mian Noor Mohammad Kalhora was able to carry Kalhora administration to Thatta and his son Ghulam Shah was one of the most illustrious rulers of that dynasty. He founded Hyderabad. This is when Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai lived and gave us his poetry. This is the period in which Makhdoom Mohammad Hashim Thattavi Shah built the tomb of Shah Abdul Latif Bhitai. After his death the Kalhora power weakened and under the leadership of Mir Fateh Ali Khan Talpur the Baloch tribes revolted against the Kalhoras and defeated Mian Abdul Nabi in the battle of Halani.

The Talpuras of Sind soon after captured Karachi, Khairpur and Umarkot. They ruled Sind for about 60 years (1782-1843) and on account of their tribal dissensions, rivalries and weaknesses they made it possible for the British to come in. In the year 1843 Sind was conquered by Sir Charles Napier and the Mirs of Sind were defeated in the battles if Miani, Dabo and Kunri. The British began their attack on Sind from their establishments in Mumbai and Gujrat and that is way Sind was annexed to the Mumbai Presidency.

In the beginning of the 20th century struggle was started for separation of Sind from the Mumbai Presidency, and this demand gained concrete shape in the Round Table Conference of 1931-32 when it became a real issue.

Sind was a very small territory in area and in population but in history it has played its part in educational, Literary, administrative, political and international spheres out of all proportions to its size. Sindhi scholars, sufis and administrators have left their mark in history from North Africa to India form the 9th century to date.

As a result of the Round Table Conference and promulgation of the Government of India Act 1935, Provincial Assembly Elections were held and Sind became an autonomous province of India form 1936.

Sind continued to be a separate province of Pakistan till the year 1955 when by administrative orders it was merged into One Unit of west Pakistan. It created many amount of ill-will and had blood resulting in many tragedies. The artificial scheme of One Unit had to be abandoned and it was undone, and all the old Provinces of Pakistan were re-established in 1970.