Kadu Makrani

Qadir Bukhsh Rind Baloch alias Kadu Makrani was a nineteenth-century archetypal figure born and brought up in Makran, Balochistan. He rose as an insurgent in Kathiawar, Gujarat, and was martyred and buried in Karachi, Sindh in 1887. His final resting place in Mewah Shah Graveyard (Lyari) which has become the center of inspiration today.

Kadu Makrani, with his tribe, migrated from Makran, Balochistan, to Kathiawar, Gujarat. in the mid-nineteenth century. The Nawabs of Kathiawar acquired their services to eliminate dacoits of Kathiawar. Kadu Makrani and people of his tribe earned territories and properties as rewards of their services. The rise of Kadu Makrani was disturbing to British imperialists. They were looking for an excuse to disarm Kadu Makrani and his tribe to break their power. With little effort an excuse was found when Kadu Makrani rejected social workers to enter their houses in the name of registration and census. When he was given a choice to either give away his weapons or be ready for a fight. He, with his tribe, chose to be insurgents instead of laying down their weapons. The British were not surprised by Kadu’s decision as it was a typical move by a Baloch warrior. When British forces moved to Baloch villages in Kathiawar with heavy weapons, Kadu Makrani with his small army resisted. Lots of people died from both sides. This was followed by series of guerilla attacks on British forces and their local friends by Kadu Makrani. This distressed British forces as they failed to counter Kadu Makrani and his little army. Although British government announced Rs1,000/- and 20-acre (81,000 m2) land reward for his head.

In late 1887 Kadu Makrani’s companions suggested him to go back to Makran for a while to ease British pressure in Kathiawar, a common practice in guerilla-warfare. From Kathiawar he moved to Ahmedabad and from there he came to Karachi, Sindh by train. In Lyari town of Karachi he set a deal with a Camel-Man (a man with camels) to transport him to Makran. Camel-Man recognized Kadu Makrani and became greedy to get rewards on his head. Camel-Man asked Kadu to meet him behind Baghdadi police station. Camel-Man with a policeman tried to capture Kadu Makrani when he arrived behind Baghdadi police station. Kadu killed both of them with his dagger and tried to escape from there. While he was running in narrow streets of Baghdadi, a labourer dropped a heavy stone on his head to stop him without knowing who he was. Kadu was captured unconscious and after a short trial he was sentenced to death. Kadu Makrani was executed in Karachi central jail in 1887. His body was received by Waja Dura Khan and at his burial; he was washed by Mulla Ghulam in Dura Line Kalacot, Lyari Town. He was buried in Mewah Shah Graveyard (Lyari) with honour.

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  The actual stone that was dropped on Kadu by a laborer. It has been preserved next to his grave.

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  Grave mark of Kadu Makrani.

Paolo Santoni-Rugiu and Philip J. Sykes in their book called “A History of Plastic Surgery” wrote: “Perhaps the largest series of nasal reconstructions carried out by a single surgeon in the nineteenth century was that of Tribowandas, who operated on over three hundred patients during his career. Born in 1850 to a poor family in Junagadadh, he completed his medical studies in Bombay and then returned home to begin his practice. He was perhaps aided in his career by the presence in the region of a famous bandit, Kadu Makrani, whose principal activity was cutting off noses on commission.”

Even today lots of people come to his final resting place to remember him and his fight against imperialism and pay him tribute.

Qadir Bukhsh Rind Baloch alias Kadu Makrani was a hero for the people of Gujarat india and baloch living in balochistan, sindh he has opposed the British rule and elite class of Gujrat for the rights of poor, as historian Gul Hassn Kamalti presented in his book sindh ji marvi narrated the facts of the life of Qadir Bukhsh Makrani.

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  Final resting place of Kadu Makrani.

Descendants of Makrani still live in Junagadh, Veraval, Jamnagar (Gujarat) and Lyari (Karachi). Other than the relatives of Kadu many other Baloch from Makran are also settled in Kathiawar.

In 1960, Sadhana Chitra Film Company (India) made a Gujarati film called "Kadu Makrani" to pay tribute to this national hero. The film was directed by Manhar Rangildas Raskapur. There are lots of Gujarati folk songs and poems which talk about honour , courage, bravery and humanity of Kadu Makrani. In 1966 A Pakistani film maker Habib ur Rehman also paid tributes to Qadir Bukhsh when he produced an Urdu film "JAAG UTHA INSAN" based on the life of Qadir Bukhsh, the film was directed by Sheikh Hasan and the lead role was played by Mohammad Ali and other co-stars were Zeba and Waheed Murad.