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Today's Paper | January 24, 2020

The Koli of Pakistan

24th April 2014 | Emmanuel Guddu

The Koli tribes are located in southeastern Pakistan. They are primarily concentrated in the lower Thar Desert, just east of the Indus River. There are several major subdivisions of Koli in that area, including the Wadiyara Koli, the Kutchi Koli (or Lohar), and the Tharadari Koli. The Koli tribes all speak their own Indo-Aryan languages.

Here are some pictures of the people from the various Koli tribes.

A Kutchi Koli woman in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A Kutchi Koli woman in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A Kutchi Koli woman preparing food in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A Kutchi Koli woman preparing food in Shahdadpur, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Koli woman in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Koli woman in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A boy collecting firewood for domestic needs in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A boy collecting firewood for domestic needs in Tharparkar, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A woman going to get water in Jhuddo, Mirpur Khas District, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A woman going to get water in Jhuddo, Mirpur Khas District, Sindh. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Water scarcity is the major issue of Tharparkar desert. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Water scarcity is the major issue of Tharparkar desert. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A family in front of their hut in Thar. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
A family in front of their hut in Thar. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Women returning home after collecting firewood in Thar. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu
Women returning home after collecting firewood in Thar. – Photo by Emmanuel Guddu

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Comments (11) Closed

Emmanuel
Apr 24, 2014 08:48pm
I am so Happy to see my 1st set of photos published on DAWN and i tried in many webs but not replied yet but only the DAWN team who reply me just in a day. And main and most from me that DAWN appreciate and respect all religions you can see on their web. Log life DAWN.
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Emmanuel
Apr 24, 2014 08:52pm
I don't depend on good or amazing photography but i love to show the world those photos, Cultures, People, Rituals etc which has not seen or known before. Is it true, Ok or nice?
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hussain
Apr 24, 2014 09:28pm
@Emmanuel thanks for sharing your collection.... :)
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Dahir
Apr 24, 2014 11:36pm
These are the original inhabitants of Indus Valley civilisation
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deendayal lulla
Apr 25, 2014 09:25am
This is news to me. Kolis in Pakistan. Kolis in Mumbai are in the business of catching fish in the sea,and they are fighting for their rights to the land near the seashore which has been their homes for several decades.
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Ashraf
Apr 25, 2014 04:13pm
Good effort Emmanuel, you have not mentioned Parkri Koli, as most of the pictures are from Thar.
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Irshad Memon
Apr 25, 2014 09:02pm
They are Kolhi(Kol-hi) not Koli. Please edit.
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shirin
Apr 25, 2014 11:05pm
what wonderful pictures. They tell an intriguing story. Life is sure tough, but more peaceful as well.
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Indian
Apr 26, 2014 12:29am
Please save this beautiful diversity of culture.........
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Chander Kolhi
Apr 26, 2014 01:17pm
Dear Emmanuel, The caste you have mentioned is Kolhi and not Koli; it will be good to mention it as it is. We write our case as Kohli which is read in Urdu as Kolhi as there are few words which we read different and read different like Wagha read as Wahga and Delhi as Dehli. I am a Kolhi (Kolhi) of Tharparkar.
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Pirbhu satyani
Apr 26, 2014 05:41pm
Photos reflects their true plights and sufferings which needs attentions and action to uplift them...but the question is who will..?
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