Written by: Muhammad Asif Nawaz
Posted on: April 13, 2023 | 
| 中文
A statue of Mir Chakar Azam in front of his tomb
In the area of Satghara in the Punjabi city of Okara, there stands a tomb that has been recently revamped and fortified. It is said to have been in dilapidated condition for quite a few decades, but the renovations undertaken recently have converted it into quite a marvel. Lights have been installed, excavations have been done, and the exterior of the tomb has been improved. It is octagonal in shape with a dome, and houses about five graves. While the rest of the graves remain unmarked, the central grave is of prime importance. A statue has been erected in front of the tomb, depicting Mir Chakar Azam on a horse. The tomb is that of Mir Chakar Azam, arguably the most well-known Baloch hero to date.
Grave of Mir Chakar Azam
When I was working in Okara, my visits to the tomb were routine. The Walled City of Lahore Authority had been delegated the task of renovating not only the tomb, but also the area in its vicinity. The tomb is nestled in a neighbourhood that itself packs a punch of history, and coins found in the Walled City of Satgraha have been dated back to the Kushan period. There is a semblance of a fort as well, but not much remains to be seen owing to the encroachments. However, the area as a whole has been redone for the better by the Authority. People who live around the tomb trace their lineage to Chakar Azam, and are protective about this tomb. VIP visits to the tomb were popular during my stay in Okara. Once, due to torrential rains, one of the walls in the side rooms of the tomb collapsed causing an uproar amongst the local people.
An old picture of the tomb before renovation
However, Mir Chakar Azam is not known in our national narrative. Mir Chakar Azam Rind was born in Balochistan in the 15th century. He became the chieftain of the Rind tribe at the age of 18, but soon a war broke out between the Lashari and Rind tribes. After this war that lasted thirty years and saw thousands killed, Chakar Azam emerged victorious, cementing his position in Baloch folklore. Mir Chakar Azam then left for Punjab, leaving his footprints in Dera Ghazi Khan, where Mir Chakar Khan Rind University of Technology has been named after him. After a series of other conquests and victories, Chakar shifted to Okara, where he eventually died.
Tomb of Mir Chakar Azam
Probably one of the best-known stories about Chakar Azam is his support of the Mughal Emperor Humayun while he was re-conquering the subcontinent. Even though Sher Shah Suri had also offered Chakar to join him and consolidate his gains, the latter sided with Humayun, who had been living in exile in Persia. Humayun conquered Delhi and gifted the lands of Satgraha to Chakar Azam as a reward, thus he has acquired a significant position in Mughal history. Besides being a ruler and a poet, Chakar Azam is part of Baloch folklore as well. In the famous folk love story of Hani and Shah Mureed, Chakar Azam is told to have given in to lust and betrayal before eventually realising his mistake. He conspired to get married to his friend’s fiancé, but could never consummate the marriage and asked for forgiveness after thirty years.
Tomb of Mir Chakar Azam at night
The timelines and the various stories attached to Chakar Azam may be confusing, but his presence is everywhere in Balochistan, and this was brought home to me when I visited the province last year. People name their male children after him, as well as universities, roads, chowks, streams and passes. One also comes across his statues quite frequently in the province of Balochistan.
In the city of Sibi, around which Mir Chakar Azam is documented to have lived, there exist the remnants of an old fort. Even though many locals doubt the veracity of this claim, it is said to have been built by Chakar Azam and is named after him. It is located inside the Cantonment Area, and permission has to be secured to visit it, but nothing really remains of the place anymore. The site is in utter shambles, but the magnificent ruins attest to its grandeur once upon a time. And these are not the only things to remember Chakar Azam by in Sibi. As you pass the Chakar Azam University in the city and reach the Victoria Hall, a sculpture of the man overlooks the place, as if still guarding the area after so many centuries.
Fort of Mir Chakar Azam in Sibi, Balochistan
This is not limited to Sibi, though, for across the length of Balochistan, Chakar Azam continues to be revered by the people. Only recently, a statue of Chakar Azam was erected in Gawadar as well. While Chakar Azam may have died a long time ago, stories of his bravery and resolve are as good as alive in the region. This impresses upon us the need to read more about our local heroes, and to preserve and promote what they stood for.
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