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Cha'akar Khan Rind
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Bahot is a custom of the Baloch whereby cannot be denied to one seeking
it, be they even enemies. In fact the refugee giver becomes duty bound
to protect with his life his "bahot:. Thus Bhivragh clever move ensure
that both Lasharies and the Rind come to his rescue.
The combined armies of the Baluch are ready for battle against the army
from Kandhar, under Shuja-ud-din-Zumun. but now Bhivragh realises that
due to his folly thousands may perish, therefore he will not let his happen.
So the night before hostilities are to commence, Bhivragh steals into
the enemy camp, seeks out the Governor's guard tent and after slaying
the guard enters his tent. Bhivragh awakes the sleeping Governor and tells
him:
O' King I am Bivragh - the truth full one.
And a heinous deed I hath done.
I come now to seek forgiveness.
For Kings are truly magnanimous.
But, if thou does not pardon me.
Then take thy sword - and stay me.
Shuja-ud-din-Zumun. Over whelmed by Bivragh's bravery and courage forgives
him. And willingly accepts this gallant Baluch his son-in-law. The armies
return, no blood is shed, Bivragh's valour wins the day.
Another instance of Bivragh's wisdom is when he advice Chakar, not to
stake the Baloch race for a Jat woman's camels. The Jat woman is Gohar
who having rejected Mir Gowharam's amorous advances seeks 'bahot' with
Chakar. Offend by her act Ramen (Gowhram's son) and a group of Lasharis
kill a few of Gohar's camel. The Rind chief is furious and vows revenge
for this dishonour. This leads to the thirty years war between the tribes,
destroying the power of the Baluch and leading a poet to exclaim.
"War has been the curse of the Baluch".
Of the many battles fought during this war. Nali is most often evoked
by the balladeers. At this battle thousands perished. The Rindhs suffered
heavy casualties and even Chakar would have lost his life it was not for
the chivalry of a Lashari nobleman, called Nodbandagh. In Baluchi lor,
he is like Hatim generous in the extreme, and also known as "Zarzawal"(Gold
Scatterer). But Nobbandagh is supposed to have had a Rind mother. For
wheen Gowhram shows his displeasure at his act of rescuing Chakar, Nodbandagh
says that it was his mother who used to sin him.
Lullabys of Chakar and pray that one day he would help Chakar."I
cannot go against the milk of my mother ",he says.
Jat woman feature prominently in the Baluch story tellers repertoire.
They are acclaimed for their beauty, spirit and independence.
Shali is a jat woman of great wealth. She hears of Hassan Maulanagh of
the phuze-Rindhs,his noble character and other virtues, for he is the
epitome of Baluch manliness. In spite of many suitors she send a proposal
of marriage to Hassan !He also falls in love with her and they are engaged
to be married. But before the conjugal rites can be performed, Hassan
along with his brother, Mohammad is killed by a rejected suitor of Shalli.
Shalli is heartbroken and spends the rest of her days as Hassan Maulanagh's
widow'.
The wrath of Harim descends on his brothers murderers. His lust for vengeance
abates only once he has slain a hundred of the Lasharies (sad murd gut
geerum kuto")
An interesting aspect to this tale is that when Harim is asked to marry
Shalli his brother "widow"(a common custom amongst the trebles,
both Baloch and Pathan), he refuses. For she was his brother's love and
he will not impose himself upon her. And it is because of this refusal
that even today amongst the Gishkori tribe (direct descendants of the
phuz Rind )widow are not married to their brother in laws.
These are just a few tales of the Baluch. The dry and barren land of the
Baluchistan evokes the rich and diverse imagery that transcends time and
place and speaks directly to the soul.
Sculptures and painting by Akram Dost
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Courtesy from DAWN, Friday, March 3, 1989
By Qazi Azmat Isa
Of love, revenge Camels & jat woman
The folktales and mythys of the Baloch constitute an archive of authentic
material. Until very recently they possessed no written history or literature
only a vast treasure of epic and romantic ballads and tales handed down
through the centuries.
These constitute an oral tradition from which their history is drawn:
and demonstrate the physical and, moral capabilities of the Baloch, his
expertise in war, his skill, powers of endurance, his generosity. They
also have a darker side highlighting covetness and his overwhelming passion
for revenge.
The fifteenth and early sixteenth century was the golden age for Baloch.
In spite of its being a time of fratricidal war; the great rivalry between
the Rinds and the Lasharies ,under their chiefs Mir Chakar Khan Rind and
Mir Gowhram Lashari. Both descended from a common ancestor. Amir Jalal
Khan of Siestan. Most of the Baloch's greatest stories and Balads relate
to his period.
Chakar Khan Rind is the demigod, the larger than life figure, flamboyant
and chivalrous. Like King Arthur ruling from his castle and presiding
over an array of valiant knights. Only the venue is Sibi and not Camelot,
and the knights are Bhivragh, Shahdad, Mirhaan __ instead of Sir Galahad
Lancelot and Perceivable.
In spite of its comparative decentness, this era is clouded in the mystery
and we can only rely on the Ballads to tell its tale. Like King Arthure,
Chakar has become an almost mythical leader. These tales are of war, love
and revenge, and like all love have many variations there being no one-authentic
version.
Mir Shahdad Rind was the eldest son of Chakar, a brave and noble warrior.
It is said he commanded the Baloch forces when they helped Humayun recapture
his throne from the Suris. The love of his life was Mahnaz, his second
wife. They were inseparable, delighting in each others company, exchanging
poems and token of love.
Murgo his first wife overcome with jealousy, conspires to bring about
Mahnaz's downfall .By intrigues and charades (disguising herself as a
man), she convinces Shahdad that Mahnaz, his most devoted wife is in love
with the shepherd Umar.
Shadad's fury is uncontrollable, he curses and beats Mahnaz, accusing
her of identify. She plead s, implores that she innocent, for it is only
him that she loves. but to no avail. Shahdad is unmoved by her pleas.
Mahnaz heartbroken, leaves Shahdad and returns to her family.
To prove her innocence and restore her family honour she agrees to undertake
a triasl by ordeal. The stage is set, both the families are there to witness
the trial. Mahnaz has to retrieve a ring from a pot of boiling oil, if
she does this without scalding herself she will prove her innocens. Calmly
she puts her hand in the pot and removes the ring, without injury to her.
Shadad is over joyed and rushes to embrace her, but she turns away. He
begs forgiveness, but now Mahnaz has lost her faith in his love and insists
that Shahdad divorce her. He is shattered and cannot believe her intransigence
but faced whit no option, complies with her request.
To further wound Shahdad's pride she marries the shepherd Umar. This distresses
him deeply; Mahnaz has chosen a shepherd and rejected him, a prince. He
vents his feelings through verse, which he sends to Mahnaz.
Umar is like the hyena,
Who inhabits the mountains.
Who feeds on carcasses and lives in caves.
And goes on in similar manner, ridiculing Umar. The proud and honourable
Mahnaz in her reply addresses Shahdad:
O' prince you are now incapable of any thing.
But to sit in thine house and criticise later Umar is the sword-wielding
horseman.
He is the leader of the herd. And further on Shahdad intelligence for
believing Murgo _
Your intelligence is like water that drips,
From a Shepherd's Mashkizeas.
Down to his heels,
Mahanaz is regarded as the finest Balouhi poetess. She is by all accounts
a truly remarkable woman. Poor Shahdad having lost his love repents his
folly for the remainder of his life.
The Sir Galahad of these tales is Bivragh Rind (the name is a distortion
of Abu-Bakar). This valiant knight was the nephew of Chakar, an accomplished
poet, musician, fighter and lover. He played havoc with both the enemy
and women's hearts. He travelled to distant lands and his exploits and
loves were many.
Once whilst visiting Kandhar, he is put in jail for some misdemeanour.
His cell is next to the Governor's palace, from where he witnesses an
apparition. This vision of loveliness is Granaz, the Governor's daughter.
Bivragh is love struck, and from that night he sing to her from his confinement.
The power and beauty of his voice moves Granaz to ask her father to pardon
him. Once free Biragh is not to be denied. He visits Granaz at the palace
and both decide to elope. On his trusted horse Mal they frees, with the
Governor and his army in pursuit. Bivragh decides to go to Gandhava, and
seek refuge with Mir Gowhram and the Lasharis (his bitter enemies), instead
of Sibi to Chakar Khan and his own tribe the Rinds. For he knows that
Gowhram will be honour bound to protect him as his 'bahot'.
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