From the annals of history, a historian remembers a conflict that engulfed Sindh because of a camel
MOHAMMAD Sharif Jamali, a resident of Nasir Khan Jamali village in Osta Mohammad tehsil of Jaffarabad district is an institution. Not only is he familiar with the history of his tribe, he unmistakably recalls the conflicts and battles of his tribe with the Magsi tribe. One that he particularly remembers is the Battle of Bangah, that started after the Magsis indulged in camel rustling.
And this is the story that Sharif told us:
“Camel lifting was widespread in Sindh and Balochistan in the eighteenth and nineteenth century. The main objective of this was to weaken the opposing tribe, politically and economically. In the past the numbers of livestock designated the status and the position of individual or tribe in the society and culture of both the Baloch and Sindhis.
“In the retaliation, Jamalis also took the wag of Magsis. The hostility continued between both the tribes for quite a long time. They frequently clashed with each other over the issue of camel-lifting.
“At that time Ghulam Mohammad Khan Jamali was the Sardar of the Jamalis while Ahmed Khan Magsi was the Sardar of his tribe.
“After the intervention of some sardars of Baloch tribes, both agreed to end the hostility, provided that compensations were made to each tribe, according to the casualties and return of the stolen wag. Sardars of both tribes sat together to iron out their differences and estimated the casualties and the number of stolen wags. Each of the tribes suffered equal number of casualties thus resolving one issue. But as regards to the wag, Magsis had stolen more. Sardar Ghulam Khan Jamali claimed the return of his wag, which the other party agreed to give back.
“When the people of Jamali tribe took their wag back to Sardar Ghulam Khan Jamali, he found the one camel named ‘Malhan’ missing. He sent his tribesmen in search of ‘Malhan’. He also sent a message to Sardar Ahmed Khan Magsi that he would not accept the returned camels unless ‘Malhan’ was returned back. Sardar Ahmed Khan Magsi tried his best to find the missing camel. He found her, but also discovered that ‘Malhan’ was given to Siraj Katar Magsi. It was tradition among the tribes that they used to distribute the stolen animals amongst the tribesmen.
“When asked to return ‘Malhan’, Siraj invented a story, saying that as ‘we were taking away the wag back to our village’ it died on way.
“Actually Malhan had not died. It was alive and he had hidden it somewhere. Still, he agreed to compensate for the loss. But the Sardar of Jamalis did not accept the offer. At the same time, Siraj Katar Magsi was jealous of Sardar Ahmed Khan Magsi’s popularity, that he brave among other Sardars. So, he wanted to make the situation worse intentionally.
“He endeavoured that both tribes should fight with each other. Sardar Ghulam Khan Jamali began threatening the Sardar of Magsis that he would take avenge the loss of his tribesmen and that of his animals.
“After the lapse of four or five months, Sardar Ahmed Khan had to go to Labso to settle a dispute that had erupted between two sections of Magsi tribe. Some people informed Sardar Ghulam Mohammad that Sardar Ahmed had landed at Lebo Pat (plains) and was engaged in collecting his tribesmen for military expeditions against Jamalis.
“The Jamalis knew that Chandia tribe was also supporting the Magsis’ Sardar. Sensing danger, the Jamalis were ordered to get prepared for war against the Magsis. The Burdi tribe also sided with Jamalis. They marched against the Magsis at Otaq of Sardar Ghulam Mohammad. The tribes clashed and a battle ensued.
“The Jamalis suffered a defeat and were forced to retreat. At least 200 Jamalis and Burdis died. The Chandia tribe played an important role by siding with the Magsis. After the defeat, Sardar Ghulam Ahmed Khan went directly to Shoran, to ask for help from Sardar Mir Sher Mohammad Khan Rind. But Mir Sher Mohammad Khan had gone to meet Mir Noor Mohammad Khan Talpur.
“Sardar Ghulam Mohammad Khan then set out for Hyderabad where Mir Sher Mohammad Khan was staying at the palace of Mir Noor Mohammad Khan Talpur. Sardar Ghulam Mohammad told the whole story about war and casualties that his tribe had suffered. On hearing this, Mir Sher Mohammad vowed to take revenge from the Magsis and sent a message to the Sardar of the Magsi tribe to prepare for war.
“Tribesmen from Jhangara Bajara in Sindh were conscripted. When the war party reached Dhari Bhanar near present town of Kandhkot, Jacobabad, the numbers of tribesmen exceeded more that 12000. When this news reached Sardar Ahmed Khan Magsi, he rushed with his son, Mehon Khan and nephew Gohram Khan, to Sardar Wali Mohammad Khan Chandio for help.
“Sardar Wali Mohammad pledged to help him. He said that we would go to Sardar Sher Mohammad Khan Rind for peace parleys; if he would accept it then we would not fight. If he would reject it then we would fight by your side. Sardar Wali Mohammad Khan Chandio sent one of his commanders, Ghazi Khan Chandio with Sardar Ahmed Khan to Mir Sher Mohammad for peace talks.
“Ghazi Khan came to know that Sardar Mir Sher Mohammad Khan was staying in Garhi Rehman village with Sardar Raheem Khan Umrani. Ghazi Khan sent his message to the Sardar saying that he wanted to meet him and offer truce with the Magsis. Sardar Sher Mohammad showed willingness and asked Ghazi Khan to come to Shoran for a meeting.
“Ghazi Khan left for Shoran and met Sardar Sher Mohammad where his uncle Mir Bahram Khan ensured him that he would not wage war against Magsis, at least for the next six months. But after some time, Sardar Sher Mohammad again issued threats. Sardar Ahmed Khan Magsi again rushed to tell the Sardar of Chandia tribe about the threats. Sardar Wali Mohammad promised to help him. And when things began to go from bad to worse, respective tribesmen were collected for war.
“Troops of both Sardars met at Panjuk, in present Jhal Magsi district and fought like hell. The battle continued for several hours in which many from both the sides were killed. During the battle, Mir Sher Mohammad Khan Rind was killed. When news of his death spread, his tribesmen lost hope of winning and began to retreat.
“Accordingly, the Magsis with support of Chandia won the war. Chandia tribe was under the command of Tillo Khan Chandio, while at least 65 tribes including Jamalis, Luhars, Burdis, Jakhrani, Lashari, Rinds, Jagirani, Leghari, Nuhani and others were under the command of Sardar Sher Mohammad Khan. However, the Umrani’s did not support Sardar Sher Mohammad Rind and did not take part in the battle. Sardars of those tribes who had sent their tribesmen in the support of Mir Sher Mohammad Khan made the Umranis responsible for their defeat saying that had Umranis supported, they would not have lost the battle.”
The graves of those who died at the Battle of Bangah are scattered in Sindh and Balochistan. The graves of Rinds and Burdis are located in Shoran. Magsis are buried near Jhal Magsi, and the graves of Chandia are located in and around Gebi Dero, Larkana. While the graves of Jamalis exist in different areas of Sindh and Balochistan.
The necropolis belonging to Jamalis lie in Choki Jamali. The tombs are in a very deplorable condition. In the centre of the cemetery exists the tomb of Dildar Jamali who was not a victim of the battle, rather a landlord of his village. As the inscription reads, the tomb was ordered by two of his descendants Rais Fazal Khan Jamali and Mondar Khan Jamali in 1935. Two masons, Imam Bakhsh and Jurio Khan Mashoris built the tomb. The tomb contains two graves of Dildar and his sister. From inside, it is beautifully adored with paintings.
The Battle of Banagh left a very deep impression on minds and hearts of poets and painters who expressed their feelings through paintings and poetry respectively. A number of Baloch as well as Sindhi poets have narrated the battle scenes. Prominent among these are Pir Bakhsh Tunio and Sono Faqir Janwari Chandio. Painters have also executed depictions of war scenes in the tombs located in various place in Sindh and Balochistan.
From the annals of history, a historian remembers a conflict that engulfed Sindh because of a camel 
