1898 Baloch uprising

The 1898 Baloch uprising was a revolt against the British that occurred in Balochistan, under Mir Baloch Khan and Mir Mehrab Khan, Nausherwani.

History

Mir Mehrab Khan, Gichki, who was the prime mover in the revolt. made an attack on the Nazim, Diwan Udho Dass, on the morning of the 6th of January and took him prisoner, at the same time taking possession of the Turbat fort. The Nazim was eventually released, and sought refuge at Kalatuk. Mehrab Khan next communicated with his brother, Mir Rustam Khan, who was in charge of the escort with a survey party working in the Kolwa hills under Captain Burn, and Rustam Khan with Mir Baloch Khan, Nausherwani, made an attack on the camp which resulted in some men of the party being killed and a large quantity of Government property being lost. Small parties of rebels moved in the direction of the sea coast, looted Pasni, and destroyed much of the telegraph line between Pasni and Gwadar. A column was promptly despatched from Karachi under Colonel Mayne consisting or 400 Infantry and two guns, and the rebels were defeated with heavy loss in an action at the defile of Gokprosh, south of Turbat, Mirs Baloch Khan and Mehrab Khan, Nausherwani, being killed with about 150 others. The forts of Shahrak, Nag, Hor and Sehr were subsequently demolished.^[1]

Motives

There appeared to have been five causes of the outbreak. In the first place Mir Baloch Khan, Nausherwani, who already held the surrounding country, had been granted the Bit fort in Buleda by the Khan of Kalat. It was occupied, however, by Mir Azum Khan, Buledi, who held a sanad for its possession from the Khan and consequently refused to give it up, and the question was referred to the Agent to the Governor-General who decided it in favour of Mir Azum Khan, thus incensing Mir Baloch Khan against the nazim who was considered responsible for the decision. Secondly, Mehrab Khan, Gichki, had long cherished resentment at Sir Robert Sandeman's action in nominating to the chieftainship of the Kech Gichkis, his elder brother, Sheh Umar, a man of much inferior capacity to himself. Innovations introduced by the nazim into the system of levying revenue, his personal unpopularity among a Muslim people, and the general unrest which had extended all down the North-Western frontier during the previous year, were other factors in the situation.^[1]

Outcome

The rising led to arrangements for the introduction of a new form of administration, and at the end of the year Mir Mehrulla Khan, Raisani, was sent to Makran as nazim, where he has since continued to direct affairs (1905).^[1]

References