There exist a great number of nations which entered the battleground in defense of their sovereign state or to sustain the national status, but very rare pages of history are found to be blackened, where the organized army of a nation seemed functioning in benefiting others, such as the combatant Baloch. The noted pages of history witness the loyalty of Baloch people since the loyal received every possible assistance in the time of need from the supportive Baloch side.
Additionally, the traditions say males can better handle the physical situations in comparison with females, since males are believed to be physically stronger than females, but some observed ancient pages proved the said words wrong. Because in many of the historical records females stood in front and commanded the fighting forces when the males stepped back from the combating zone. The war of Delhi presents a such view.
After the detrimental thirty years war of Baloch tribes Mir Chakar had settled himself in Multan, where, according to Faqeer Shad [The researcher of the book, Meeras] the King of Delhi, Humayun had granted him the area of satagda, in district Sahewal [Punjab].
Sher shah Suri defeats Humayun in 1539-40 in the clash of Kanooj due to which Humayun escapes and moves towards the Baloch territory.
The exact year of battle seems controversial. Gul Khan Naseer and Faqeer Shad mention the date and year of war, 17 May 1540 whereas Shah Mohammad Marri and Sardar Khan Gishkori with some other writers consider it the year, 1539.
When the defeated Humayun approached the town of Sargodha, he suffered from food crisis and asked Bakshoo Baloch [a close associate of Chakar] for aid. Bakshoo Baloch filled one hundred boats with flour and got it to the king, Humayun. Gul Badan Begam, the sister of Humayun tributes Bakshoo in these words, “May Allah the almighty showers the blessings on Bakshoo who assisted the king in the time of great hardship.”
Furthermore, Mir Chakar, being the supporter of Humayun, was taken out from the region he had been residing. He migrated from Punjab to Kohistan-e-Marri [Balochistan] and camped there.
On the other hand Humayun began to reorganize the army for the purpose of regaining his kingdom and wanted Baloch to help him in the fight against Sher Shah Suri. Mir Chakar assured him that he would join the battle to triumph over the kingdom of Sher Shah. For this purpose, 40-thousand Rind, under the commandant of Mir Shahdad [The son of Mir Chakar], moved towards Delhi in crushing down the rule of Sher Shah. Besides Rind, the Baloch from other tribes also associated with the army. The armies from either side alerted themselves and on 22nd June 1555 in Sarhind the blood showering war began. Here Mir Shahdad along with his eighteen sons was in battlefield. Long had not passed that a part of Baloch Lashkar [army] stepped back and ran away from the warfare.
As the study of Baloch history shows the Baloch females had always provoked the males in securing the reputation and dignity of their nation. Stepping back from a fighting zone is considered a dishonor to Baloch. So, seeing the cowardice of battling Baloch, the unflinching and stout-hearted sister of Mir Chakar Rind, Banadi Baloch abhorred this and moved forward to command the on going war.
Mir Shahdad mentions in his poetry about Banadi,
Jamph jata mahi Banadi Shehak
Jumps Banadi, the daughter of Shehak, downs to earth…
Dastey go’n baheenka’n shothanth burza
…rose up her both beautified hands with bangles…
Jath wathi sarzana’n ameerina’n
…then, she crushed it to her rich knees…
Proshtag ant uchi no’h thalen baheenk
….and broke her nine lined bangles.
The entrance of her into the war fueled the Baloch lashkar, which with more energy stepped forward enthusiastically to get the enemy defeated. In order to fight to death, they jumped down from the horses and faced the sword of enemy manly. Indomitable Banadi with her undefeatable sword, proceeded the war and moved towards the fort of Shah Sori. The moment when Shah Sori faces Banadi he utters “You, being a woman, keep aside from my way.” The fearless Banadi replies courageously,
Jan hama ant ke methaga’n nenda’n
Women are those who sit at home…
Pann o muzwak o mahpra’n randa’n
…titivate, adorn, comb the hair…
Gun wati mard han daz golaesh ant
…and are engaged with their husband
After all the Baloch became the victorious and vanquished the army of Sher Shah Sori.The astounding audacity of Banadi will ever be reminisced whenever and wherever the talk is of bravery, Balochiat or commitment.
In accordance with Shahdad’s poetry, mentioned in Gul Khan Naseer’s book, thirty thousand Turks {Shah Sori’s army} were put to the sword. However, contrary to this Shah Mohammad Marri points out the death of seven thousand.
According to Molana Noor Ahmed Khan fareedi, the war against Sher Shah led to 7000 death from Humayun’s lashkar, among which 300 was of Baloch.
With the great help of Baloch, Humayun got his kingdom back, and Baloch fighters rested there for few days in order to ease up themselves. Also many of the Rind families inhabited in Delhi and later on some moved towards Aagrah and established “Baloch Pora” of their own, which some of the writers believe still exists in India.
