Remembering Nawabshah’s icon Hakim Muaz Pirzado on his 56th death anniversary

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The 56th death anniversary of Hakim Muhammad Muaz Pirzado, the inventor of the famous ‘Muaz Thadal’ of Nawabshah, was celebrated earlier this month. He was recognized as a distinguished physician, scholar, and social and political figure. 

He was known to be a man of great character who, through his words, actions, and integrity, became a source of inspiration and guidance for society. He was considered as a role model, leading the community towards the path of progress. 

Hailing from the intellectual tradition of Dar-ul-Irshad at Pir Jhanda, he was a student of the great scholar Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi. He was originally named Muhammad Panah Pirzado, but at a later stage, he was renamed as Muhammad Muaz Pirzado by his teacher, who had made him a central figure in his circles. 

He was born in 1896 in the village of Chhatan Shah near Qatal Shah in Sakrand Taluka, into the home of a hardworking man, Haji Muhammad Arif Pirzado. He received his early education from a local teacher, Akhund Walidad, and later graduated from Dar-ul-Irshad in Pir Jhanda, where he studied Persian, Arabic, and Sindhi under Maulana Ubaidullah Sindhi. 

Following his teacher’s advice, he went to Lucknow to study traditional medicine (Tibb), where he earned a four-year degree. Later, he served as a teacher at the Tibbiya College in Delhi under the renowned physician Hakim Ajmal Khan. 

He returned to Sindh and opened his clinic in Kharadar, Karachi, in 1917. He actively participated in the Khilafat Movement, which led to the closure of his clinic and his imprisonment for one year in 1921. After his release, he moved to Tando Adam and opened another clinic, which was also confiscated by the authorities. Eventually, he settled in Nawabshah, where he established his permanent residence and clinic, which became famous as ‘Muaz Dawakhana.’ 

Hakim Pirzado possessed a dynamic personality. Alongside his medical practice, he actively participated in political and social movements. In 1919, he joined Jamiat Ulema and played a significant role in the Khilafat Movement. He also contributed to the struggle for the separation of Sindh from Bombay. 

He was a strong advocate of non-violence, inspired by the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi, and actively promoted Hindu-Muslim unity. He was actively involved in Nawabshah’s local politics and social affairs. He contested municipal elections and won, serving as a member of Nawabshah Municipality for four consecutive terms. 

When Jawaharlal Nehru visited Nawabshah, Hakim Muaz Pirzado, as a municipal member and district president of Congress, presented him with a welcome address. Being the son of a laborer, he strongly advocated for the rights of workers and farmers. After the partition, he joined the Sindh United Front due to his progressive ideas. He was imprisoned under the Safety Act in 1951. 

After his release, he actively participated in the movements of Hyder Bakhsh Jatoi’s Hari Party and the National Awami Party. However, in the 1960s, he withdrew from politics and focused entirely on his medical practice. 

Hakim Muaz Pirzado was a compassionate and generous person, who often treated poor patients free of cost and provided shelter, food, clothing, and education to orphaned and needy children. He also played a historic role in the establishment of the well-known madrasa ‘Tafheem-ul-Quran’ in Nawabshah in 1953. 

He was not only a great religious scholar but also a highly skilled physician. He invented several herbal medicines, syrups, and remedies. Among his most famous creations was ‘Thadal’ later named ‘Muaz Thadal’ by his son Hakim Muhammad Munir Pirzado. 

This drink created waves to be recognized as ‘Mashroob-e-Mehran’ and it became popular in different corners of the world. He also authored a book on medicine titled ‘Bayaz-e-Hikmat’ which was preserved in manuscript form with his descendants. He passed away on May 15, 1970. He is buried in Haji Naseer Graveyard in Nawabshah.