Multan, 19th century

Multan, one of the five largest metropolises in Pakistan, is situated near the confluence of the Indus and Chenab rivers. It boasts a rich history that predates the Hellenistic conquests of the Punjabi lands in the 4th century BC. However, its prominence reached its peak during Alexander the Great's campaign when the Malava or Malli tribe raided the Greco-Macedonian armies on the Hydaspes (Jhelum) river. It is believed that Alexander established a colony named Alexandria, which has shifted its course over time. This theory, however, is not entirely accurate, as the settlement of Mulasthanapura, visible during the Mauryan period (6th to 3rd centuries BC), is at the correct location of present-day Multan, slightly north of where Alexandria was located.

In the country of Panchananda, Mulasthanapura was the home of the Malavas who drained Alexander's army to the point of exhaustion, leading to a revolt and their return to Macedonia. Sui Vihar and Naagramma were two ancient Buddhist sites in the vicinity of Mulasthanapura, dating back to the 3rd century AD. Between the 6th and 8th centuries AD, Mulasthanapura was surrounded by Takka (modern-day Punjab, Pakistan), Sindhu (Sind), and Kaikanan (in Afghanistan) to its north, south, and west, respectively. Puranic sources claim that Janpadas such as Ambastha, Sudra, Sindhu, and Kala Toyaka neighbored Mulasthanapura. The city also had other ancient names like Kashyapapura and Adiyasthana, mentioned in the Vedic age, and their sites may have changed as the river shifted its course over time.

Although the exact time when the city's name changed from Mulasthanapura to Multan is not mentioned, it likely occurred during the arrival of Islam on the Indian subcontinent between the 8th and 10th centuries AD. In 711-713 AD, the last Hindu ruler of Sindhu, Chach, was defeated by the Arabs under Muhammad ibn-Qasim, marking the beginning of the Islamic era in Multan. In the following centuries, the last surviving Buddhist community of Karmati was conquered and converted to Islam by the Ghaznavids in 1011 AD, solidifying Islamic dominance in the region. After the annexation of Lahore by the Ghaznavids in 1186 AD, the entire Punjab came under Muslim rule.

Between 1290 and 1390, Multan was one of the 24 provinces under the Tughluqs, witnessing political intrigue involving the Tughluqs, Timurids, and Langahs until 1437. The Langah Sultanate acted as a buffer between the declining Delhi Sultanate and the emerging Mughal Empire. The Langahs were succeeded by the Arghun Dynasty, which submitted to Babur in 1527, marking the beginning of Mughal influence in Multan.

Multan faced the wrath of Nadir Shah in 1739 during his raid on northern India, leading to the cession of remaining parts of Sindh to the Mughal Empire. In the 1750s and 60s, Multan became part of the Sikh Kingdom, formed in response to Afghan invasions, and was annexed in 1818 along with Daudputras of Bahawalpur. The death of Maharaja Ranjit Singh in 1839 resulted in political instability in Punjab, leading to the interference of the East India Company and the start of British rule after the Anglo-Sikh war of 1845-46.

During the British era, Multan (spelled as Mooltan) became a district in the Punjab province, with Gogaira, Chung, Khangur (Khangarh), Bahawalpore (Bahawalpur), and Leiah as its neighbors. Centuries of Mughal, Durrani, and Maratha raids had diminished Multan's stature from an international commercial center to a regional trading city. In the 1857 mutiny, although Punjab as a whole did not witness chaos as much as Awadh, United Provinces, or Bengal did, there were reports of rebellion in Multan. Warrior nations like Sandal Bar, Neli Bar, and Ganji Bar unabashedly sided with the mutineers against the British, leading to the disarming of the 69th Regiment in the city. However, apart from these incidents, not much of the independence movement took place in Multan, possibly because the British did not focus much on the city, as Lahore emerged as the flag bearer of the independence and Pakistan movement. Multan has always been a quiet, peaceful city of shrines and saints, boasting picturesque mausoleums and gardens.

In addition to the various Islamic shrines and pilgrimage centers, Multan boasts a number of temples and shrines associated with the Hindu religion. Notable among them are the Sun Temple, Suraj Kund, Prahladpuri Temple, Narsinghpuri Temple, and the Shwetambar Jain Temple. The Prahladpuri Temple features the narrative of Lord Narasimha, Prahlad, and the demon Hrinakashyap. Its existence is believed to span centuries, predating its destruction in 1992. The demolition of the temple was a consequence of the destruction of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya, India, although it was not technically its first destruction. The initial reconstruction occurred in 1881 when a Hindu-Muslim riot led to the temple's dismantling. In the same year, it was reconstructed once again. However, the current state of this site is in utter despair and requires immediate attention.

Below here is a section of map of a 19th century map of Multan, spelt as Mooltan.