'Mir Chakar Khan Rind' or 'Chakar-i-Azam' (
Persian or
Urdu: میر چاکر خان رند) is considered a
folk hero of
Baloch people. Mir Chakar (
1468 –
1565 [1]) was a
Baloch King in the
15th century. Chakar Khan founded a kingdom which proved to be shortlived however because of a civil war between the
Lashari and
Rind tribes of
Balochistan[2]. Mir Chakar Khan Rind joined
Mughal army of Emperor
Humayun and was rewarded by Humayun after his reconquest of this throne in
1555.
Mir Chakar Khan Rind lived in Sevi (modern time
Sibi) in hills of
Balochistan and became the head of
Rind tribe after the death of his father
Mir Shahak Khan at the age of 18. Mir Chakar Khan Rind is regarded as one of the great
Baloch heroes and is the centre of Balochi love lore and war
ballad. A natural leader and warrior, Mir Chakar Khan Rind was a man with resolute determination.
Mir Chakar Khan and
Mir Gwaharam Khan, head of the
Lashari tribe went to war. Thousands of Rinds and Lasharis, Including Mir Chakar's brother, were killed in this war, and ballads that still echo in hills of
Balochistan and are part of Baloch oral literature, commemorate the personal gallantry of the two heroes. After 'the thirty year war' against Lasharis, he left
Balochistan and settled in the
Punjab in
1518.
Chakar Khan Settled in
Satghara and became a regional force. He was respected (and feared) in the area.
Afghan King
Sher Shah Suri approached Mir Chakar Khan Rind to join hands with him and help him consolidate his gains. Mir Chakar Rind appreciated the situation and not only wisely refused to help Sher Shah Suri but also managed to elude Afghan armies. Instead, his forces under the able command of his son
Mir Shahdad Khan joined
Humayun when after a long exile in
Persia,
Mughal emperor came back, recaptured
Delhi and ousted
Suri dynasty in
1556. Emperor
Humayun as a reward conferred a vast Jagir (Land holdings), including horses and slaves, upon him. Mir Chakar Khan ruled until he died in
1565.
The followers who had accompanied Mir Chakar Khan Rind to
Satghara built the tomb after death of the hero.
Mir Chakar Khan Rind is an important figure in the beloved Baloch
epic Hani and Sheh Mureed.
References
1. Heritage Village, Pakistan S.A.J. Shirazi
2. Provinces of Pakistan (Balochistan) Overseas Pakistan Foundation