# Piracy in Gujarat

The Koli is a native caste of India, Pakistan and Nepal. But a largest number of Kolis lives in Gujarat and Kathiawar of Gujarat has always been famous for its Koli Piracy. In times of unsettled British government, the coasts of Kathiawar have swarmed with Koli pirates, who, from the shelter of every creek and headland, took toll on all merchandise Ships that was carried on the Arabian Sea. Along the southern coast the leading pirates were Shial Koli, Baria Kolis, while, in the Gulf of Cutch and near Dwarka and Porbandar, from an early date, Other Kolis made their names a terror to merchants.

## Ghogha and Piram Islands

In 1326, Ghogha and Piram Islands of Gujarat was stronghold of Koli pirates and they often lavied or attacked the ships of traders passed by nearby sea. But Koli pirates were defeated by the Mokhadaji. Later in 1340, Mokhadaji was defeated by Sultan Mohammad Bin Tughluq of Delhi Sultanate and Koli pirates raised again and captured a English ship named Morning Star of big cost and loaded with cargo.

## Shial bet Island

In 1531, Koli pirates of Shial island of South coast of Kathiawar in Gujarat captured the Shial island from Portuguese India and defeated the Portuguese Indian Navy. After that Chanch also became the stronghold of Koli pirates.

## Sultanpur

In 1734, The Kolis infested the Coastle of Gujarat. from their stronghold at Sultanpur, on the river Kurla in Kathiawar, they gave much trouble British ships. They were egged on to continue their infamous activities owing to the patronage extended to them by some wealthy Kolis who shared their plunder. The British government despatched British Indian Navy under captain Radford Nunn and captain Daniel Inchbird and he captured 5 of their armed vessels and burnt 14 more. To save others from a similar fate, Nunn burnt nearly 50 small ships of Koli pirates. About six months later, 10 more of their boats were set on fire and these measures silenced them for some time. A letter from the Bombay Castle diary, dated Sunday, the 21st January, 1739, reveals that the Kolis had captured several vessels among which was the Tiger Gallivet (returning from Persia) in whose seizure the Kolis were chief pirates. A few years later in 1749, their renewed activities came to light once more, when they captured a ”’Bengal Ship”’ carrying rupees 60,000 cash and a Cargo worth an equivalent amount. To combat against Koli pirates, the Dutch India, joining hands with the British India in Surat. in December, 1750, both navy forced illegal activites of Koli pirates on the Kurla river. In this campaign, 23 of vessels were captured and this attack again compelled the Kolis to be inactive for a longer period.

## Talaja

The Talaja coast In Bhavnagar State was infested by the Koli pirates of Kathiawad of Gujarat. They captured the trading ships of Britishers and Bhavnagar State. The British Navy with the help of Bhavnagar ruler Akherajji attacked and defeated the Koli pirates in 1771. But after death of Akherajji, Kolis again started collecting the tax from ships and captured two British and one Bhavnagar ship. In 1807, Wakhatsinji Akherajji Gohil join hands with British government to suppress the Koli piracy under Walker Settlement treaty for peace in Saurashtra ocean and again defeated the Koli pirates and congrats by Bombay government for his dare against Kolis.