Baghochi Mahaz
Encyclopedia
Baghochi Mahaz was a populist movement formed in Kalabagh
, Pakistan, in the period following the Partition of India
. The term Baghochi
("people of the garden") refers to the traditional residents of the area. The town of Kalabagh
was in that period an estate owned by the Nawab of Kalabagh
, but under the control of the Government of Pakistan
. It was not a princely state
, but instead was a jagir
.
Following Independence in 1947, the town remained under the oppressive feudal rule of the Nawab. Following the death of Nawab Malik Amir Muhammad Khan, his sons ruled even more cruelly, and the youth of Kalabagh formed Baghochi Mahaz to resist feudal rule. Among its members were Qazi Amir Abdullah, Yousaf Khan, Hafiz Qasim, Mushtaq Paracha, and Ch Malik. Three persons were kidnapped during the struggle. Finally on July 5, 1977 Kalabagh became independent from feudal rule.
Kalabagh
Kalabagh a town and union council of Mianwali District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located on the western bank of Indus River. It is the site of the proposed Kalabagh Dam. It is also famous for its red hills of the salt range and scenic view of the Indus River traversing through the...
, Pakistan, in the period following the Partition of India
Partition of India
The Partition of India was the partition of British India on the basis of religious demographics that led to the creation of the sovereign states of the Dominion of Pakistan and the Union of India on 14 and 15...
. The term Baghochi
Baghochi
Baghochi means the inhabitant of Kalabagh like Bannuchi and Balochi. Basically this word is blend of Pali language, i.e., Bagh and Ochhi, which means inhabitants possessed of, and held position in Kalabagh. The word ochhi is akin to ojah means possession...
("people of the garden") refers to the traditional residents of the area. The town of Kalabagh
Kalabagh
Kalabagh a town and union council of Mianwali District in the Punjab province of Pakistan. It is located on the western bank of Indus River. It is the site of the proposed Kalabagh Dam. It is also famous for its red hills of the salt range and scenic view of the Indus River traversing through the...
was in that period an estate owned by the Nawab of Kalabagh
Nawab of Kalabagh
Malik Amir Mohammad Khan also known as Nawab of Kalabagh was a prominent feudal lord, politician and the seventh nawab of Kalabagh state, in Mianwali District of north western Punjab, Pakistan. He belonged to the Awan tribe of ancient repute. He was crowned as Nawab of Kalabagh after the death of...
, but under the control of the Government of Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. It was not a princely state
Princely state
A Princely State was a nominally sovereign entitity of British rule in India that was not directly governed by the British, but rather by an Indian ruler under a form of indirect rule such as suzerainty or paramountcy.-British relationship with the Princely States:India under the British Raj ...
, but instead was a jagir
Jagir
In historic India, a jagir was a small territory granted by the ruler to an army chieftain in fairly short terms usually of three years but not extending beyond his lifetime, in recognition of his military service...
.
Following Independence in 1947, the town remained under the oppressive feudal rule of the Nawab. Following the death of Nawab Malik Amir Muhammad Khan, his sons ruled even more cruelly, and the youth of Kalabagh formed Baghochi Mahaz to resist feudal rule. Among its members were Qazi Amir Abdullah, Yousaf Khan, Hafiz Qasim, Mushtaq Paracha, and Ch Malik. Three persons were kidnapped during the struggle. Finally on July 5, 1977 Kalabagh became independent from feudal rule.