Umerkot 5.81

Umerkot, formerly known as Amarkot, is a town in Umerkot District in the Sindh province of Pakistan. The city was the birthplace of the Mughal Emperor Akbar.EtymologyThe name of the city is said to be after the name of a local ruler, Umer, who is part of the legend of Umar Marvi. The story also appears in Shah Jo Risalo and is one of the popular tragic romances from Sindh.HistoryThe province was ruled by Sodha clan of Hindu Rajputs. The city held prominence during the Mughal Empire and the British Raj. Mughal Emperor Akbar was born in Umerkot 14 October 1542 when his father Humayun fled from the military defeat at the hands of Sher Shah Suri. Rana Prasad, the Sodha Rajput ruler of Umerkot, gave him refuge. Later on, Akbar brought northwestern India, including modern day Pakistan under Mughal rule.Umerkot princely stateBefore 1947, the present day Umerkot was a princely state named Amarkot, ruled by Sodha clan of Hindu Rajputs. It joined Pakistan due to being surrounded by Pakistan and the population of Sindh Valley, while population of India was 400 km away across the desert.