Mir Bacha Khan Kohdamani (Persian: میر بچه خان کوهدمانی) originally known as Mir Bahauddin was one of the most famous Tajik chiefs during the Anglo-Afghan wars. He led the Tajiks of Kohistan in the Second Anglo-Afghan War. He was the son of Mir Darwish khan, another Tajik chief, who fought against the British in the First Anglo-Afghan War.[1] [2] [3]
Mir Bahauddin was born into a religious Tajik family in northern Kabul. Like many in the area, his forefathers came from Parwan, notably Shamali. He was the youngest among his 9 brothers. He had good manners and excellent behavior. He behaved humbly towards people and was very kind towards both the poor and the rich. People started calling him Mir Bacha Khan because of his kindness and compassion.[4] [5] [6]
Mir Bacha Khan alongside his Kabuli tribesmen led one of the biggest uprisings against the British. Fifty-five days had passed since the beginning of the second British invasion of Afghanistan, during which scholars and clerics preached in all parts of the country and mobilized the people. In this way, the people had prepared for the general jihad, and as soon as Muhammad Yaqub Khan was deported to India, the last veil and hypocrisy of the British was torn apart, and the people in Kabul, Kohdaman, Kohistan and other parts of the country as patriotic people. Such as the likes of Muhammad Karim Khan, Ghulam Haidar Khan Kabuli, Mir Bacha Khan Kohdamani, Mir Ghulam Qadir Opiani and Mullah Abdul Ghafoor Langari and a dozen other of patriots and mujahideens who joined hands and stood up.
Mir Bacha Khan led the people of Kalakan, Murad Bey Castle, Shekar Dara and Kohdaman in their uprising against the British. They attacked the British forts in Afshar, Qargha and Kariz Mir. On December 9 1879, the forces of Mir Bacha Khan attacked the British artillery in Kariz mir inflicting huge casualties on the enemy forces, the British fled Kariz Mir to Sherpur.
The next day a battle was fought in Afshar, where the forces of Mir Bacha Khan became victorious. Later they planned to attack the enemy forces in the northern side of Wardak and Ghazni from the Arghandi road to Kotel Takht. With the help of Muhammad Jan Khan Wardagi they took control of the commanding points of Mount Asmai, Khurd and Bazar hills in the north of Kabul.
In short, the forces of Mir Bacha Khan Kohdamani and Muhammad Jan Khan Wardak swept through Kabul and ended up in Sherpur where the Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment took place. Mir Bacha Khan was successful and he ended up penetrating the northern side of the Sherpur Cantonment. He ended up retreating after he heard that Abdur Rahman Khan had arrived. Abdur Rahman Khan ended up taking command of the Kohistani forces and deemed Mir Bacha Khan as a traitor. He went to Herat and spent his final years there.[7] [8]