Baluchistan Agency

Balochistan Agency
Agency of British India (1877–1947) Colony of the United Kingdom (1947)
1877–1947
Baluchistan Agency
Area
• 1941	347,064[1] km2 (134,002 sq mi)
Population
• 1941	857,835 [1]
History
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
• Independence of Pakistan	1947
Succeeded by Baluchistan (Chief Commissioner's Province)
"A collection of treaties, engagements, and sunnuds relating to India and neighbouring countries"

The Baluchistan Agency (or Balochistan or Baloochistan or British Balochistan) was one of the colonial agencies of British India. It was located in the present-day Pakistani Balochistan province.^[2]

Geography[]

The territories of the agency covered an area of 208,262 km² (44,345 square miles)^{[dubious – discuss]} 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 in Balochistan (1911 and 1941 census)

Religion	Population (1911)[5]	Percentage (1911)	Population (1941)[1]	Percentage (1941)
Islam	782,648	93.76%	785,181	91.53%
Hinduism	38,326	4.59%	54,394	6.34%
Sikhism	8,390	1.01%	12,044	1.4%
Christianity	5,085	0.61%	6,056	0.71%
Zoroastrianism	170	0.02%	N/A	N/A
Judaism	57	0.01%	N/A	N/A
Buddhism	16	0%	N/A	N/A
Jainism	10	0%	N/A	N/A
Others	1	0%	160	0.02%
Total Population	834,703	100%	857,835	100%

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.^[3]

Administrative structure[]

Map of the Balochistan Agency with the princely states' territories in yellow.^[6]

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

See also[]

• History of Balochistan
• List of Indian Princely States
• Treaty of Kalat

References[]

Coordinates: 29°01′33″N 66°35′24″E / 29.02583°N 66.59000°E / 29.02583; 66.59000

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