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 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.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
Demographics Religion + Religion in Balochistan Agency (1901−1941)Religiousgroup19011911192119311941 Islam 765,368 782,648 733,477 798,093 785,181 Hinduism 38,158 38,326 51,348 53,681 54,394 Sikhism 2,972 8,390 7,741 8,425 12,044 Christianity 4,026 5,085 6,693 8,059 6,056 Zoroastrianism 166 170 165 167 76 Judaism 48 57 19 17 20 Jainism 8 10 17 17 7 Buddhism 0 16 160 68 43 Others 0 1 5 75 14 Total Population 810,746 834,703 799,625 868,617 857,835
Districts + Religion in the Districts of Baluchistan Agency (1941)DistrictIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal Sibi District 157,706 6,425 566 200 2 164,899
Quetta–Pishin District 113,288 28,629 8,787 5,441 144 156,289 Loralai District 79,273 3,129 1,124 159 0 83,685 Zhob District 55,987 4,286 1,076 146 4 61,499 Chaghai District 27,864 1,204 181 1 0 29,950 Bolan District 4,812 950 184 55 8 6,009 Total 438,980 44,623 11,918 6,002 158 501,631
Princely States + Religion in the Princely States of Baluchistan Agency (1941)Princely stateIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal Kalat State 245,208 7,971 79 45 2 253,305
Las Bela State 67,310 1,701 47 9 0 69,067 Kharan State 33,733 99 0 0 0 33,832 Total 346,251 9,771 126 54 2 356,204
Cities + Religion in the Cities of Baluchistan Agency (1941)City/Urban AreaIslam Hinduism Sikhism Christianity OthersTotal Quetta 27,935 24,010 7,364 5,024 143 64,476 Fort Sandeman 5,232 2,992 1,004 121 4 9,353 Sibi 5,505 2,814 362 171 2 8,854 Chaman 2,812 2,898 697 242 1 6,650 Loralai 2,327 1,536 1,116 116 0 5,095 Bela 3,389 469 47 0 0 3,905 Pasni 3,547 69 0 0 0 3,616 Mastung 2,963 124 28 25 0 3,140 Kalat 2,049 381 33 0 0 2,463 Machh 1,632 421 121 38 8 2,220 Usta 1,154 688 77 6 0 1,925 Pishin 1,245 447 183 15 0 1,890 Panjgur 416 45 9 3 0 473 TotalUrbanpopulation 60,206 36,894 11,041 5,751 158 114,060
Castes and tribes +Castes and Tribes of Baluchistan Agency (1931–1941)Caste orTribe19311941 Baluch 227,846 237,526 Pathan 193,025 190,074 Brahui 152,588 128,336 Jatt 77,157 67,317 Other Muslims 60,690 68,032 Lasi 31,812 34,066 Sayyid 21,976 23,327 Other Hindus 16,905 12,765 Other Sikhs 48 51 Others 86,570 96,341 Total 868,617 857,835
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
See also History of Balochistan List of Indian Princely States Treaty of Kalat
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References