The Marri are a Balochi-speaking tribe of the Baloch people, who inhabit a large arid region in northeastern Balochistan, Pakistan. The Marri area is bounded to the west by the plains of Sibi. To the north are the Kakar and Loni tribes of the Pashtuns; to the east lie the lands of the Khetrans, to the south the Bugti tribe.
Traditionally, the Marri people, like other Baloch tribes, were nomads and earned their livelihood from grazing animals and fighting and raiding. Many of them hold key high positions in Pakistan both in Provincial and Federal levels of Government.
Early history
The early history of the Marri centers around the Mir Chakar Khan, the folk hero of many Baloch romances and leader of the Rind tribe. After his quarrels with the Lasharies, and after he had been driven out of Sibi, Mir Chakar went to what is now the present Marri country near the Manjara River.
The particular spot where Bijar Khan parted ranks from Mir Chakar is known as Bijar Wad into the present day.
Sub-Tribes and Clans
- Bijarani: Kalandarani, Salarani, Sumrani, Phirdadani, Mandwani, Rahmkani, Pirdani, Khalwani, Kungrani, Shaheja, Phawadi, Kaisrani and many others.
- Ghazani: Bhawalzai, Mahandani, Jarwar, Chilgari, Churi, Zhing, LoriKhush, Tingiani, Aliani, Nozbandagani, Muhandani, , lodhiani, murghiani, Mazarani, Ishphani, Badani, Langani, Mehakani, Shahani, Murghiani, Kalandarani and many others.
- Loharani: Khunarani, sherani, muhamadani, gusrani, durkani, Jalambani, Jindwani, melohar, sarangani and many others.
See also
References
- Pehrson & Barth 1966, pp. 1–2.
- "Lifestyle of a Nomad", An Element of Luck, The Radcliffe Press, 1993, ISBN 978-1-85043-739-0, retrieved 2021-07-10
- D’Accone, Frank A. (2001), "Marri, Ascanio", Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press, retrieved 2021-07-10
Further reading
- Pehrson, Robert H.; Barth, Fredrik (1966). The Social Organization of the Marri Baluch. Viking Fund Publications in Anthropology. Vol. 43. New York: Wenner-Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research.
- PAK Institute for Peace Studies 19-04-2006: Baloch Insurgency – A backgrounder
- Newsline Sept 2004: Edging Towards Anarchy?
- New York Times April 2, 2006: In Remote Pakistan Province, a Civil War Festers