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.[1]
Traditionally, the Marri people, like other Baloch tribes, were
nomads and earned their livelihood from
grazing animalsand fighting and raiding.[2] . 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.
[3]
Constituent groups
The Marri tribe consisted of the following sections as of 1940:[4]
Bijarani: From the Puzh Rind. The first Sardars and founder of the Marri (with subsections Kalandrani, Kaisrani, Rahmkani, Piradani-Marri, Salarani, Somrani, Kalwani, Shaheja, Powadhi and Kungrani).
Ghazeni: Current Sardar (3rd line of sardar) of the Marri (which in turn is made up of the Bahawalanzai, Mahandani, Nozbandagani, Murgiani, Samwani, Lodhiani, Aliani (2nd line of sardar of Marri after Bijarani), Ispani and
Jarwar , Langhani, mazarani possibly others).
Loharani (with the three subsections of the eponymous Loharani, Mohamadani and Sherani).