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Baluchistan Agency
Agency of British India (1877–1947) in modern-day Pakistan
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Agency of British India (1877–1947) in modern-day Pakistan
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| conventional_long_name | Balochistan Agency |
| common_name | Balochistan Agency |
| nation | British India |
| status_text | Agencies of British India (1877–1947) |
| Colony of the United Kingdom (1947) | |
| capital | Quetta |
| year_start | 1877 |
| event_start | Signature of the Treaty of Mastung by the Khan of Kalat and the Baloch Sardars |
| year_end | 1947 |
| event_end | Independence of Pakistan |
| event1 | Balochistan Made Separate British Colony (British Balochistan) |
| date_event1 | 1947 |
| s1 | Balochistan, Pakistan |
| flag_s1 | Flag of Pakistan.svg |
| image_flag | British Raj Red Ensign.svg |
| image_map | Baluchistan Agency 1931 Map.png |
| image_map_caption | Administrative map of Baluchistan Agency 1931 |
| stat_area1 | 347064 |
| stat_year1 | 1941 |
| stat_pop1 | 857,835 |
| footnotes | ["A collection of treaties, engagements, and sunnuds relating to India and neighbouring countries"](https://archive.org/stream/cu31924007471935/cu31924007471935_djvu.txt) |
| image_map2 | Baluchistan Agency in British India 1940.png |
| image_map2_caption | Baluchistan Agency in British India 1940 |
Colony of the United Kingdom (1947)
The Baluchistan Agency (also spelt Balochistan Agency) was one of the agencies of British India during the colonial era. It was located in the present-day Balochistan province of Pakistan.Administration report of the Balochistan Agency for 1888–89: selections from the records of the Government of India, Foreign Department. 104pgs.
Geography
The territories of the agency covered an area of 347,064 km2 and included areas which had been acquired by lease or otherwise brought under direct British control, as well as the princely states.
History
This political agency was established in 1877, following the 1876 treaty signed in Mastung by Baloch leaders by means of which they accepted the mediation of the British authorities in their disputes.
Colonel Sir Robert Groves Sandeman introduced an innovative system of tribal pacification in Balochistan that was in effect from 1877 to 1947. However the Government of India generally opposed his Methods and refused to allow it to operate in India's North West Frontier. Historians have long debated its scope and effectiveness in the peaceful spread of Imperial influence.
Demographics
Religion
| Religious | ||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| group | 1901 | 1911 | 1921 | 1931 | 1941 | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Total Population | 810,746 | 834,703 | 799,625 | 868,617 | 857,835 | |
| Islam [[File:Star and Crescent.svg | 15px]] | 765,368 | 782,648 | 733,477 | 798,093 | 785,181 | ||||||||||||||||
| Hinduism [[File:Om.svg | 15px]] | 38,158 | 38,326 | 51,348 | 53,681 | 54,394 | ||||||||||||||||
| Sikhism [[File:Khanda.svg | 15px]] | 2,972 | 8,390 | 7,741 | 8,425 | 12,044 | ||||||||||||||||
| Christianity [[File:Christian cross.svg | 15px]] | 4,026 | 5,085 | 6,693 | 8,059 | 6,056 | ||||||||||||||||
| Zoroastrianism [[File:Faravahar.svg | 15px]] | 166 | 170 | 165 | 167 | 76 | ||||||||||||||||
| Judaism [[File:Star_of_David.svg | 15px]] | 48 | 57 | 19 | 17 | 20 | ||||||||||||||||
| Jainism [[File:Jain_Prateek_Chihna.svg | 15px]] | 8 | 10 | 17 | 17 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||
| Buddhism [[File:Dharma_Wheel_(2).svg | 15px]] | 0 | 16 | 160 | 68 | 43 | ||||||||||||||||
| Others | 0 | 1 | 5 | 75 | 14 |
Districts
| District | Islam [[File:Star and Crescent.svg | 15px]] | Hinduism [[File:Om.svg | 15px]] | Sikhism [[File:Khanda.svg | 15px]] | Christianity [[File:Christian cross.svg | 15px]] | Others | Total | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | 164,899 | 106,787 | 58,112 | 156,289 | 83,685 | 61,499 | 29,950 | 6,009 | Total | 438,980 | 44,623 | 11,918 | 6,002 | 158 | 501,631 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sibi District | 157,706 | 6,425 | 566 | 200 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 99,875 | 6,144 | 566 | 200 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 57,831 | 281 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quetta–Pishin District | 113,288 | 28,629 | 8,787 | 5,441 | 144 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loralai District | 79,273 | 3,129 | 1,124 | 159 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zhob District | 55,987 | 4,286 | 1,076 | 146 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chaghai District | 27,864 | 1,204 | 181 | 1 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bolan District | 4,812 | 950 | 184 | 55 | 8 |
Princely States
| Princely state | Islam [[File:Star and Crescent.svg | 15px]] | Hinduism [[File:Om.svg | 15px]] | Sikhism [[File:Khanda.svg | 15px]] | Christianity [[File:Christian cross.svg | 15px]] | Others | Total | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | 253,305 | 86,651 | 86,112 | 52,272 | 28,270 | 69,067 | 33,832 | Total | 346,251 | 9,771 | 126 | 54 | 2 | 356,204 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kalat State | 245,208 | 7,971 | 79 | 45 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 86,406 | 206 | 17 | 20 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 79,016 | 7,095 | 1 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 52,194 | 78 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 27,592 | 592 | 61 | 25 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Las Bela State | 67,310 | 1,701 | 47 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kharan State | 33,733 | 99 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Cities
| City/Urban Area | Islam [[File:Star and Crescent.svg | 15px]] | Hinduism [[File:Om.svg | 15px]] | Sikhism [[File:Khanda.svg | 15px]] | Christianity [[File:Christian cross.svg | 15px]] | Others | Total | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | 64,476 | 9,353 | 8,854 | 6,650 | 5,095 | 3,905 | 3,616 | 3,140 | 2,463 | 2,220 | 1,925 | 1,890 | 473 | Total | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Urban | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| population | 60,206 | 36,894 | 11,041 | 5,751 | 158 | 114,060 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quetta | 27,935 | 24,010 | 7,364 | 5,024 | 143 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fort Sandeman | 5,232 | 2,992 | 1,004 | 121 | 4 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sibi | 5,505 | 2,814 | 362 | 171 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chaman | 2,812 | 2,898 | 697 | 242 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Loralai | 2,327 | 1,536 | 1,116 | 116 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bela | 3,389 | 469 | 47 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pasni | 3,547 | 69 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Mastung | 2,963 | 124 | 28 | 25 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Kalat | 2,049 | 381 | 33 | 0 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Machh | 1,632 | 421 | 121 | 38 | 8 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Usta | 1,154 | 688 | 77 | 6 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pishin | 1,245 | 447 | 183 | 15 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Panjgur | 416 | 45 | 9 | 3 | 0 |
Castes and tribes
| Caste or | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tribe | 1931 | 1941 | Pop. | % | Pop. | % | Baluch | Pathan | Brahui | Jatt | Other Muslims | Lasi | Sayyid | Other Hindus | Other Sikhs | Others | Total | 868,617 | 857,835 |
| 227,846 | 237,526 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 193,025 | 190,074 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 152,588 | 128,336 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 77,157 | 67,317 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 60,690 | 68,032 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 31,812 | 34,066 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 21,976 | 23,327 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 16,905 | 12,765 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 48 | 51 | ||||||||||||||||||
| 86,570 | 96,341 |
Princely states
The Baluchistan Agency consisted of three princely states:
- Kalat khanate, the premier state and only salute state (Hereditary salute of 19-guns; titles Wali, Khan; from 1739 Wali, Begler Begi, Khan), including its Jhalawan, Kacchi and Sarawan administrative divisions
- while Makran (title Nazem, later Nawwab) is quoted as either another division, a vassal state or autonomous
- and Kalat's two feudatory states :
- Las Bela (title Jam Saheb)
- Kharan (title Mir; from 1921, Sardar Bahador Nawwab). The Government of India maintained its relations with the states through its political agent in Kalat. The first agent in Balochistan was Robert Groves Sandeman (1835–1892), Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India, who was appointed by Lord Lytton, the Viceroy of India.
Administrative structure
In addition to the princely states, the north of the agency was administered as the Chief Commissioner's Province. This consisted of the following districts:
- Chagai
- Quetta-Pishin (including Quetta)
- Jhatpat
- Loralai
- Sibi (including Bugti and Marri tribal areas)
- Zhob
Notes
References
References
- Christian Tripodi, "'Good for one but not the other': The 'Sandeman System' of Pacification as Applied to Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier, 1877-1947." ''Journal of Military History'' 73#3 (2009): 767-802. [http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/jmh/summary/v073/73.3.tripodi.html online]
- "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1901 VOLUME V(A) BALUCHISTAN PART II IMPERIAL TABLES".
- "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1911 VOLUME IV BALUCHISTAN Part II TABLES".
- "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1921 VOLUME IV BALUCHISTAN Part I REPORT; Part II TABLES".
- "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1931 VOLUME IV BALUCHISTAN PARTS I & II".
- "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME XIV BALUCHISTAN".
- "Balochistan Archives - Records of the Agent to the Governor General in Balochistan".
- [[The Imperial Gazetteer of India]] (1907–1909)
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