Marris: The Victim of British Empire
“The pen is more destructive than a bomb”
The Fort of Gunbaz
“They saddled their horses and their turbans flowed around their shoulders. Suddenly the British appeared along with their fighter planes. The brave Marris stood like a solid rock with their girdles and tussles tied with one another. They were martyred for protecting their honour. The clouds sent rain and they were blessed by God.”
Raham Ali Marri (1876-1933)
Indeed it was just one stroke of the pen when Lord Aukland the governor-General of India signed in Simla the plan to invade Afghanistan in order to re-instate Shah Shuja-ul–Mulak on the throne of Kabul. At the same it was further decided that the British troops should pass through the river Indus via Bolan Pass to Kandhar.
Of course, it was the darkest moment which destroyed the “Golden Era” of the Baloches of Balochistan and the TalpurBaloches of Sind into a new era of destruction, sad , suffering and bloody new history of Baloches.
“ Baloches did not want the British Army to pass through the regions of Sind and Balochistan.They, therefore, caused heavy losses to the British in men and material. In 1839 the Northern Baloches gave the British Army sufficient trouble on their way to Kandahar, particularly by Marris, Bugtis, Dombkis, Jakharanis and others. From Sind border and in Bolan Pass many battles were fought. causing considerable loss of life and baggage of British.”
E. B. Eastwick Ex-Political Agent
This article is related to the sad story of endless armed resistance of many battles fought between the furious, bold and brave Marris and the mighty British forces from 1839 till the emergence of Pakistan in 1947.
Marri’s have been the most turbulent element among the the Baloch tribes and vanguard of the armed movement for resistance against the British rule. They fought many battles against the mighty armed and well trained forces of the British Empire right from 1839 to 1947 on a daily basis. It was a very long suffering and bloody story strecthing approximately 120 years.Undoubtedly the mountains and deserts of Balochistan are the witness of their unending armed struggles against the Brtish forces.
“On the outbreak of the first Anglo-Afghan War the Bengal column of the Army of the Indus under W. Cotton marched through the Bolan Pass and it was followed by the Bombay Column. The Pass was perpetually infested bands of marauders and parties of Hill Tribes (Marri & Bugti) often appeared and proved very troublesome causing much blood shed, and great loss of cattle and property”
District Gazetteers of Balochistan. Bolan District
However, below is a list of the major events of battle which took place between Marri’s and British Troops.
1) First expedition of British forces against Kahan (1840)
2) Battle of Sartaf and Nafusk Passes; Major Clibborne, August 31, 1840
3) Battle of Mawand; 1859 & 1862
4) Kuchali raid in August 6,1880. (The Expedition of MacGregor in September 1880)
5) Third Anglo Marri war; 1917
6) The Battle of Gunbaz; 1918 – 1919
1) The First Expedition of British forces against Kahan
In order to subdue the Hill Tribes (Marris & Bugti’s) the British forces were despached under the command of Major Thomas Richard Billamore. Those forces were further divided into two columns. One under the command of Major Thomas Richard Billamore who moved on to Dera Bugti the capital of Bugti tribe and another under the command of Captian Rait was marched to Kahan, the headquarters of Marri tribe.
After the fierce, harsh and ruthless fight Dera Bugti was occupied. However, after the fall of Dera Bugti, and before the arrival of the British forces moved to Kahan, but before the arrival of Major Thomas Richard Billamore, Sardar Doda Khan Marri left Kahan along with his tribesmen including their families. Thus, it was occupied without any resistance in 1840.
E. B.Eastwick, An Ex-Political Officer expresses his views as under;
“Our troops had also visited Kahan, the stronghold of the Marris,who, whether taken by surprise, as is most likely, or for some reason, did not oppose us.”
Dry leaves from Young Egypt; p-108
2) Battle of Sartaf and Nausk Passes; 1840
In 1839 the invasion of Kalat and the Martyrdom of Khan Mehrab Khan by the British Army along with the slaughtering of his followers, no doubt, intensified the anger of all Baloches.The Baloches of Hill Tribes (Marri and Bugti’s), plains of Kachi and of whole of Kalat from Sarawan to Jhalawan declared an open war against the British interests. Marri’s revolted against the British.
In ordered to suppress the uprising of Marris. Ross Bell in April 1840 ordered to occupy Kahan permanentaly.Thus, a detachment was sent under the command of Captian Lewis Browne and an other under the command of Lieutenant Walpole Clarke. They left Phulji in May 1840. Eventually after the furious fight British forces occupied Kahan on May 12, 1840. Captian Lewis Browne with sipahis and guns remained in the fort of Kahan.
On the way back the troops of Lieutenant Walpole Clarke were persued and attacked at Surtaf Pass by Marri’s. After a persistent struggle the Marri’s killed him along with nearly all his troops; only a handful escaped to the plains.
“The Marris waylaid our detachment on their return from Kahan, encumbered, as usual, with a long line of camels. Clarke saw the hills in rear, and in front covered with armed men…………………………
He drew up his men on a step ascent, at a place called Sartaf ……….., from which he several times repelled the fierce onslaught of the Biluchis (Baloches): but at last a body of them came down in his rear from a still higher eminence. After a gallant struggle he was thrown on the ground and his throat gashed with a knife of the sort that all Biluchis wear in their girdles for such gentle deeds as these, or for the more common place business of their meals. Of the force under his command, about 160 men, only the irregular horse, between thirty or forty in number, escaped and six or seven sipahis, most of whom were wounded…..
This was the first severe loss we suffered coupled with defeat, since the army crossed the Indus; the effect was great, and the Marris were elated with success, and thenceforth no detachment could enter the hills without danger”
Dry leaves from Young Egypt; pages 117-118;
E.B.Eastwick; An Ex Political Officer
This was actually the first bitter taste of defeat the British suffered in 1840 at the hands of Marris.
However, after the murder of Lieutenant Walpole Clarke and his party it was decided to attack Kahan with the intention to rescue Captian Lewis Browne and his men. Thus, in August 1840 a force consisting of 464 bayonets of the 1st Bombay Grenadiers, 3 guns and 200 sabers of the Poona Horses with Sinde Horses under the command of Major Clibborn left for Kahan. The forces were attacked at the Nafusk Pass by the resisting forces of Marris. During the day long fight the British forces were defeated and finally abandoned their stores, treasures and the guns. 4 British officers, 2 native officers along with178 men were killed and about 92 were wounded. However, Major Clibborn accepted the deal terms of Sardar Doda Khan Marri and left Kahan with the little garrison and reached Phuleji in Octomber 1840.
(Record book of the Sindh Irregular Horses; 1840)
This was the second great blow to the Britsh forces within four to five months by the radical Marris.
The bravery and courage of Marri tribe was priased even by their bitter enemy and British Officers as below;
“One of the most distinguished chief of the Marris actually thrust his shield against the mouth of a gun as it was about to be fired and was blown away from it. Others seized the muskets of the sipahis and threw themselves on the bayonets. They fought like madmen or wild beasts….”
Dry leaves from Young Egypt; page 146; E.B.Eastwick; An Ex Political Officer
After the war in Sind and the annexation of Sind by the British Forces under the command of General Charles Napier in March 1843, the Marris once again continued their uprising against the British forces and they gave much trouble. The Marris continued their raids throughout Kachi and plundering the whole area. It is worth mentioning here that after the Sartaf and Nafusk battles and the war of Sind the Marris organised themselves for a full scale fight and raised rebellion aginst the British Raj. They continued their activities from the borders of Punjab, Sind and the plains of Kachi…
“The Marris were considered absolutely incorrigible, and were proclaimed out lawed and blockaded on all sides. A proclamation was issued on the Sind Frontier offering a reward of ten rupees for the capture of any Marri”.
Richard Isaac Bruce The Forward Policy
“The whole province of Kachi was being run over by the Marris and the displaced inhabitants are faced leaving the country with their families and property to reside in Sind. The tract of country in the Nali is almost entirely deserted. ”
. John Jacob; 1845
3) The Battle of Mavand (Maiwand); 1859 and 1862
In 1859 and again in 1862 The Marris fought decisive battles against the joined troops of Mir Khudad Khan of Kalat and the British forces. In 1862 under the command of Major (later Sir) Henry Green. The joined forces, about 8000 soldiers along with several field guns, took part near Maiwand. After a vigorous fight both forces were defeatd and abandoned their guns, thus leaving the undaunted Marris triumphant. Indeed the Marris not only defeated Khan’s forces, but also the well equipped and mighty British forces.
4) Kochali Raid; 1880.
The Marris continued their activities and made frequent raids on the British lines of communication ending with the plundering of a treasure convoy and looted about 150,000.00 Rupees near Kochali. Due to this and other raids the British authorties decided to subdue the Marris.
Thus on October 13, 1880 a force of about 3,070 British troops under Brigadier-General MacGregor marched through the country, and the tribe eventually submitted and paid back 125,000.00 Rupees and another 20,000.00 Rupees as a fine. The British also took notable Marris hostages for their future good behaviour.
5) Third Anglo Marri war; 1917
In October 1917
Lt.-Col. Sir John Ramsay Agent to the Governor-General of Baluchistan invited all notable Sardars in Quetta darbar guring the visit of the Viceroy of India, Lord Chelmsford. During the meeting the the Sardarswere asked for the recruitment of their men in British forces. Sardar Meherullah Marri was only the chief among them who refused the British request but in the mean time he agreed to pay money instead of sending his tribesmen in the First World War on the side with the British forces
“Sardar Bihram Khan Mazari gave the British one hundred men in the First World War. The Buzdars of Highlands gave fifty, Dareshaks eighteen and Misri Khan went along with ten horses. But we are Marris and with our leader (Sardar), we will fight against the British and we will crush the heads of the British like we do with the snake”
(Mir Raham Ali)
6) The Battle of Gunbaz; 1918
The last horrified battle under the command of Mir Khudad Khan Marri fought by the Marris agianst the British forces was in the year 1918 which lasted over about four months. The combined forces of Marris and Kethrans remained in armed revolt and fought successive battles at Gunbaz in Tehsi Duki and Harab near Mawand
At 2300 hours of 19 Febuary 1918 several hundreds of mainly sword-wielding Marris suddenly attacked, the fort walls, and then picthed themselves against the towers. The first assault was halted, but minutes later fresh waves of Marris vigorously attacked again until they too were driven out of the fort by rifle fire. A third and final attack was mounted at 0200 hours of 20 February, but this also eventually withered under the intensive rifle fire of the defenders. As the Marris departed they carried away some of their own casualties, but even so 200 hundred dead or wounded tribesmen were found lying in and around the fort as dawn broke.
After the battle of Gunbaz Marri Baloches along with other Baloch tribes, namely Ketrrans, Buzdars, Kaisranis and Bugtis attacked the British camp at Fort Munro on March 15, 1918 and captured some bunglows. The next day on March 16, 1918 more British troops arrived and the force moved to Rakhni from where they destroyed villages, cut crops, seized cattle and took many prisoned.
In retaliation the British forces from Duki and Dera Ghazi Khan attacked fort of ‘Bhar Khan’ (now Barkhan) and famous battle Harab was fought between them. As result the Marris were defeated at Harab. It is stated that about 700 warriors, Marris along with other Baloch fighters, were killed.
In view of the above events the government sanctioned punitive measures against the Marris.
Lieutenant General R. Wapshare ordered a Field Force to concentrate at two locations: Duki for operations against the Marris and Dera Gazi Khan for operations against the Khetrans. Brigadier General T. H. Hardy commanded at Duki and Brigadier General P. J. Miles commaned at Dera Gazi Khan.
The Duki Column
The column advanced on 18th March 1918 to Gunbaz. Next morning, 19th March 1918 they reached Nurhan, the entrance to the Marri country.
On 24th March, the Kahan, capital of the Marri was bombed and killing some armed Marris. On April 4, 1918 a strong of around 1,500 Marris positioned at Harab to the route to Maiwand. When the British troops, with the two companies of Gurkas and one company of South Lancashires, supported by the mountain gunners started the operation against the Marris, then they retreated resulting in about 100 dead and many wounded.
As the British assault troops crested the ridge and engaged the sangars the Marris broke and retreated, leaving numerous dead on the ground; many wounded were carried away. Shells from the mountain guns, assaulting troops had all done deadly work in and around the sangars. This was the only stand made by the primitively-armed Marris against the Duki Column. Five British soldiers had been wounded.
Submission of Marris and Kethran Tribe
On May 2, 1918 a jirga was held in Kahan between Marris and British political agent,where Mehurllah khan the Marri Sardar submitted. Similarly the Kethran Sardar aloso submitted on May 7, 1818. After the settlement between Marri tribe, Kethran the Duki Colum marched back towards Duki and Harnai stations at Mounro. It is to be noted that the Baloch still carried out sporadic raids for years.
“Early in the morning, I was sitting in the mansion and I saw a plane. I cried, O Marris! Prepare your army and pray for martyrdom, perfume your beautiful beards and say goodbye to your dear ones. The gardens of Paradise are worth your visit but only if you lay down your lives. Those killed in the battles of Gunbaz and Kochali are the flowers of Paradise. Swings are waiting for them in the dense gardens of heavens”.
Mir Muhammad Khan Marri; 1850-1932
A Final Note:
Lot Sahib ke Bagee.
On one occasion the Agent to the Governor-General ivited all the prominent Baloch Sardars of different tribes to the Residency at Sibi and he asked to pull the Lot Sahib Ke bagee (his carriage ) from Sibi Residency to the Railway Station. Only Marri Sardar refused to pull the carriage. Thus, he maintained the honour , pride and prestige of Baloches. The poet Mulla Mazar deeply appreciated the sense of honour and dignity of Marri as translated below:
“The Englishman’s carriage being pulled through mud and rain by Baloch Sardars losing grip on their turbans and leaving their sandals stuck in the mud………
Pulling this carriage, these leaders parted with the honour of their country. Neither had they cared for their own dignity nor for that of their people. What a spectacle it was! Every low and high watched them blackening their own faces and those of their people.”
Mulla Mazar Bangalzai
“O Sardar! A million greetings to you because you still have the honour of the Baloch in your eyes. You have proved true to your mother’s wish. May God give you a life as long as the Jhalgari Mountain.”
“Those nations who like comfort and peace are ultimately destroyed. Self-respect and honour are considered the deeds of real glory for nations.”
Mir Raham Ali Marri.
Conclusion.
Mir Muhammad Husain Anqa (1907-1977)
“Now that we have put our boat in the ocean, let the waves roar, let the nights be dark, we will find our destination. Every oppressor is defeated by the oppressed that is the verdict of history. I know the Baloch sword is broken but let the enemy not be jubilant, we have the determination. We are weak, but still no doubt, we have hands (with which we will fight against our…..
Mir Muhammad Husain Anqa; 1907-1977
Johar Ali Bugtti, based in London, is the author of the upcoming book ‘The Balochs, The Victims of the British Empire’. He has exclusively shared the excerpts his of the book with The Baloch Hal. © Copyright is reserved
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