Bastok Urshan (b. 46 BBY) was born and raised among the pastoral Jangori people on the Outer Rim world of Golak.

From a very early age, he came to cherish the freedom that this way of life bought, and much of his childhood was consumed with exploring the rocky crags and mesas of his home. Urshan's parents, Johar and Neena, were farmers and craftspeople who would sell exchange trinkers or musical instruments to supplement their income. Urshan would periodically accompany his parents on their journeys to the nearby settlements, where they would ply their trade. Through observing their interactions, Urshan quickly developed a talent for persuasion. Johar and Neena worked hard to instill morality and virtue in their child, concerned that he might otherwise use his skills for unscrupulous means.

Urshan was 25 when the Clone War broke out. Golak, being relatively isolated, remained untouched by the conflict until prospectors discovered large desposits of beryllium in the planet's southern hemisphere. Republic forces quickly occupied Golak, drafting the local population to construct the infrastructure necessary to support extraction of the mineral. Urshan was amongst those who volunteered, and found employment laying railspeeder track between the larger settlements. Many others descended into the beryllium mines, which proved to be a very hazardous profession on account of the explosive qualities of the mineral.

When the war ended, the people of Golak expected that mining operations would dwindle. Instead, the newly-proclaimed Galactic Empire demanded increased production. The construction of new railspeeder lines began to intersect Jangori settlements, leading to protest by farmers concerned about growing Imperial encroachment. For Urshan, this was a source of great personal tension. His parents, and many in his village, made plain their disapproval of his continued work on the railways. The Jangori farmers had also seen their livelihoods damaged by the increasing importation of foodstuffs from off-world. This practice had begun under the Republic in response to population growth incurred by those migrating to work in the new mining industries. Now, many farmers found themselves impoverished, and faced with the prospect of having to abandon their ancestral lands to seek employment in the cities. Agitation increased amongst those who remained, unwilling to abandon their way of life in the face of what seemed to be a concerted effort by the Empire to wipe away their culture and traditions.

The breaking point came when the Imperial governor levied harsh new taxes on the sale of foodstuffs by Jangori farmers. Open protests began, the most significant being a march across the desert toward the capital city of Baradok. The farmers carried with them carts of their wares, determined to remind the cityfolk of their necessity. As the marchers came within sight of the city walls, Imperial artillery cannons opened fire from afar, raining death on the defenceless farmers. Among the dead were men and women, youngling and elder - and Johar and Neena Urshan.