Baluchistan Agency

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Balochistan Agency
Agencies of British India (1877–1947)
Colony of the United Kingdom (1947)
1877–1947
British Raj Red Ensign.svg
Flag
Baluchistan Agency 1931 Map.png
Administrative map of Baluchistan Agency 1931
Baluchistan Agency in British India 1940.png
Baluchistan Agency in British India 1940
Capital Quetta
Area 
 1941
347,064 [1]  km2 (134,002 sq mi)
Population 
 1941
857,835 [1]
History 
 Signature of the Treaty of Mastung by the Khan of Kalat and the Baloch Sardars
1877
 Balochistan Made Separate British Colony (British Balochistan)
1947
1947
Succeeded by
Balochistan, Pakistan Flag of Pakistan.svg
"A collection of treaties, engagements, and sunnuds relating to India and neighbouring countries"

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. [2]

Contents

Geography

The territories of the agency covered an area of 347,064 km2 (134,002 sq mi) [1] 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. [3]

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. [4]

Demographics

Religion

Religion in Balochistan Agency (1901−1941)
Religious
group
1901 [5] :51911 [6] :9–131921 [7] :47–521931 [8] :1491941 [1] :13–18
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Islam Star and Crescent.svg 765,368782,648733,477798,093785,181
Hinduism Om.svg 38,15838,32651,34853,68154,394
Sikhism Khanda.svg 2,9728,3907,7418,42512,044
Christianity Christian cross.svg 4,0265,0856,6938,0596,056
Zoroastrianism Faravahar.svg 16617016516776
Judaism Star of David.svg 4857191720
Jainism Jain Prateek Chihna.svg 81017177
Buddhism Dharma Wheel (2).svg 0161606843
Others0157514
Total Population810,746834,703799,625868,617857,835

Districts

Religion in the Districts of Baluchistan Agency (1941) [1] :18–20
District Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Others [lower-alpha 1] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Sibi District 157,7066,4255662002164,899
Administered Areas
99,87593.53%6,1445.75%5660.53%2000.19%20%106,787100%
Marri-Bugti Country
57,83199.52%2810.48%00%00%00%58,112100%
QuettaPishin District113,28828,6298,7875,441144156,289
Loralai District 79,2733,1291,124159083,685
Zhob District 55,9874,2861,076146461,499
Chaghai District 27,8641,2041811029,950
Bolan District 4,8129501845586,009
Total438,98044,62311,9186,002158501,631

Princely States

Religion in the Princely States of Baluchistan Agency (1941) [1] :18–20
Princely state Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Others [lower-alpha 1] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Kalat State 245,2087,97179452253,305
Makran Division
86,40699.72%2060.24%170.02%200.02%20%86,651100%
Kachhi Division
79,01691.76%7,0958.24%10%00%00%86,112100%
Jhalawan Division
52,19499.85%780.15%00%00%00%52,272100%
Sarawan Division
27,59297.6%5922.09%610.22%250.09%00%28,270100%
Las Bela State 67,3101,701479069,067
Kharan State 33,7339900033,832
Total346,2519,771126542356,204

Cities

Religion in the Cities of Baluchistan Agency (1941) [1] :13–14
City/Urban Area Islam Star and Crescent.svg Hinduism Om.svg Sikhism Khanda.svg Christianity Christian cross.svg Others [lower-alpha 1] Total
Pop. %Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%Pop.%
Quetta [lower-alpha 2] 27,93524,0107,3645,02414364,476
Fort Sandeman [lower-alpha 2] 5,2322,9921,00412149,353
Sibi 5,5052,81436217128,854
Chaman [lower-alpha 2] 2,8122,89869724216,650
Loralai [lower-alpha 2] 2,3271,5361,11611605,095
Bela 3,38946947003,905
Pasni 3,547690003,616
Mastung 2,963124282503,140
Kalat 2,04938133002,463
Machh 1,6324211213882,220
Usta 1,15468877601,925
Pishin 1,2454471831501,890
Panjgur 41645930473
Total
Urban
Population
60,20636,89411,0415,751158114,060

Castes and tribes

Castes and Tribes of Baluchistan Agency (1931–1941)
Caste or
Tribe
1931 [1] :221941 [1] :22
Pop. %Pop.%
Baluch 227,846237,526
Pathan 193,025190,074
Brahui 152,588128,336
Jatt 77,15767,317
Other Muslims60,69068,032
Lasi 31,81234,066
Sayyid 21,97623,327
Other Hindus16,90512,765
Other Sikhs4851
Others86,57096,341
Total868,617857,835

Princely states

The Baluchistan Agency consisted of three princely states:

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. [3]

Administrative structure

Map of the Balochistan Agency with the princely states' territories in yellow. Map of Baluchistan from The Imperial Gazetteer of India (1907-1909).jpg
Map of the Balochistan Agency with the princely states' territories in yellow.

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:

See also

Notes

  1. 1 2 3 Including Jainism, Buddhism, Zoroastrianism, Judaism, Tribals, others, or not stated
  2. 1 2 3 4 Includes town and cantonment

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME XIV BALUCHISTAN" . Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  2. Administration report of the Balochistan Agency for 1888–89: selections from the records of the Government of India, Foreign Department. 104pgs.
  3. 1 2 "Balochistan Archives - Records of the Agent to the Governor General in Balochistan". Archived from the original on 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2015-07-31.
  4. 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. online
  5. "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1901 VOLUME V(A) BALUCHISTAN PART II IMPERIAL TABLES" . Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  6. "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1911 VOLUME IV BALUCHISTAN Part II TABLES" . Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  7. "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1921 VOLUME IV BALUCHISTAN Part I REPORT; Part II TABLES" . Retrieved 20 January 2023.
  8. "CENSUS OF INDIA, 1931 VOLUME IV BALUCHISTAN PARTS I & II" . Retrieved 22 January 2023.
  9. The Imperial Gazetteer of India (1907–1909)

29°01′33″N66°35′24″E / 29.02583°N 66.59000°E / 29.02583; 66.59000