Pakistan's Last Hindu Kingdom: A Royal Family That Refused to Leave

Pakistan's Last Hindu Kingdom: A Royal Family That Refused to Leave

Picture this: In the middle of Pakistan, a Muslim-majority country, there's a Hindu king who flies a bright orange flag—the sacred color of Hinduism—right out in the open. It sounds impossible, but it's real. Welcome to Umerkot, a dusty town in southern Pakistan's Sindh province, home to the country's only surviving Hindu royal family.

Ancient Warriors Who Built a Kingdom

The story begins almost a thousand years ago. The Sodha Rajputs, a tough warrior clan from Rajasthan's deserts, conquered the area in the 11th century and made it their home. They built the massive Umerkot Fort around 1226 and ruled the surrounding desert villages as local kings.

This place has serious history. In 1542, the great Mughal Emperor Akbar was born here. His father, Humayun, was running from enemies and the Sodhas gave him shelter. For centuries, these Hindu kings ruled their land through Muslim empires and British colonization, keeping their traditions alive through it all.

The Decision That Changed Everything

Then came 1947—the violent split between India and Pakistan. Umerkot was 80% Hindu, so everyone expected it to join India. India's Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru even personally visited Rana Arjun Singh, the king at the time, begging him to choose India.

But Arjun said no.

Why? His family had protected this land for 900 years. He couldn't just abandon it. Plus, Pakistan's founder, Muhammad Ali Jinnah, promised the local kings they could keep their power and land. Nehru's talk of socialism scared the princes—they worried they'd lose everything. So Arjun joined Pakistan and kept his 48 square kilometers of land, the fort, and his palaces.

The family has never regretted that choice.

The Political Powerhouse

Arjun's son, Rana Chandra Singh (1931-2009), became a political giant. He was Pakistan's only Hindu federal minister and won elections to the National Assembly seven times between 1977 and 1999. He served as Agriculture Minister and headed the Minorities Commission, working closely with Prime Ministers Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and his daughter Benazir.

Here's how bold Chandra was: In 1990, he started the Pakistan Hindu Party and flew a saffron flag decorated with Hindu symbols—the "Om" and a trident. In Pakistan. That party failed, but the flag? It still flies at family events today, a proud reminder of who they are.

The government couldn't touch him. His influence over both Hindus (now 52% of Umerkot) and Muslims made him too powerful. Messing with the Sodhas could spark riots in this sensitive border area.

The Current King

Chandra's son, Rana Hamir Singh (born 1957), became the 26th king in 2009. He's served in the provincial assembly three times and was Agriculture Minister. He practices Hindu rituals at home but works with Muslims too, keeping peace in a diverse region.

Hamir's son, Karni Singh, now the 27th king. When Karni married a princess from Jaipur's royal family in 2015, 100 family members crossed the border from India for the wedding—a rare moment of India-Pakistan unity. Karni's mother is Indian, his sisters married there, and the family travels to Rajasthan for religious pilgrimages.

But there's pain too: 900 Sodha family members are blacklisted by India and can't visit relatives across the border.

Why the Government Leaves Them Alone

The answer is simple: power. The Sodhas command deep loyalty from both Hindus and Muslims in a politically sensitive area. They protect Hindu temples, fight against forced conversions, and vote as a unified bloc. In a Pakistan where religious minorities often face discrimination and violence, this family's strength—built on centuries of history, political connections, and sheer courage—keeps them safe.

What It All Means

The Sodhas prove something important: borders may divide countries, but courage and roots run deeper. In one of the most unexpected places on earth, a Hindu kingdom survives and thrives, flying its saffron flag high as a reminder that respect, history, and bravery can overcome even the deepest divisions.