The Baloch and Balochistan: A Historical Account from the Beginning to the Fall of the Baloch State

by Naseer Dashti

Three thousand years ago, a group of Indo-Iranic tribes (called Balaschik at that time) settled in the northwestern Caspian region of Balashagan. Circumstances forced them to disperse and migrate towards south and eastern parts of Iranian plateau. In medieval times, they finally settled in present Balochistan where they became known as the Baloch. During their long and tortuous journey from Balashagan to Balochistan, the Baloch faced persecutions, deportations, and genocidal acts of various Persian, Arab and other regional powers. During 17th century, after dominating Balochistan culturally and politically, the Baloch carved out a nation state (the Khanate of Kalat). In 1839, the British occupied Balochistan and subsequently it was divided into various parts. In the wake of the British withdrawal from India in 1947, Balochistan regained its sovereignty but soon Pakistan occupied it in 1948. The historical account of the Baloch is the story of a pastoralist nomadic people from ancient times to mid-twentieth century. The author outlines the origin of the Baloch state and its variegated history of survival against powerful neighbors such as the Persians, the British and finally, Pakistan. This fascinating research work discovers the background of the long drawn-out conflict between the Baloch and Pakistan and Iranian states.

Genres: Pakistan

424 pages, Kindle Edition

First published October 4, 2012

Reviews

[Tariq Mahmood · Rating 3 out of 5]

A comprehensive political history of Balochistan which has clearly explained how the British and later the Pakistanis were so successful in controlling any anti-state activity. British introduced the Sandeman system introducing heritage system instead of the highly effective elective system in use by the Baloch tribes for hundreds of years. This immediately produced a new set of loyal sardars which not only helped control the wider population but also discouraged any collective nationalist movement because along with the British the sardari system had to be targeted as well.

Jinnah knew Balochistan well, having represented their interests as a lawyer on behalf of the Khan of Kalat. And after the annexation of the Independent state of Kalat the Pakistani government continued to employ the same shield of buying loyal sardars and using them to control the wider population pretty successfully. Recently any anti-state movement is also being branded as pro-Indian maligning them further.

Can the Baloch rise? I don't think they can without first crushing their sardari system, because as long as the sardars are willing to partner Pakistan, no nationalist movement will succeed.

[T.J. Petrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolutely outstanding scholarly work on not only the Baloch and Balochistan but of the whole Middle East, South Asia, and Central Asia.

In the first part of the book, the author, who holds a Ph.D. in anthropology, traces the origin of the Baloch to the Aryan migrations between 2100-1800 BCE. He examines the linguistic, cultural, religious, and socio-economic evolution of the Baloch, from nomadic Zoroastrians to Sunni Muslim agriculturalists, and their migration/displacement/deportation under various empires (Persian, Parthian, Arab, Saka, Hephthalite, Sassanid, Ghaznavid, Greek, Mongol, Mughal, etc.) to present-day Balochistan.

The author then examines the rise of the first Baloch state, the Khanate of Kalat, from 1666 to its occupation by the British in 1839. Not only does the author provide a fantastic analysis of the rise and fall of the first Baloch state, the author offers a fascinating history of some of the empires and historical figures Kalat had to contend with and how major historic events, such as the assassination of Nadar Shah in 1747, influenced internal and regional developments for Kalat.

Finally, the author examines Kalat under British occupation, including how Kalat was thrusted into Britain’s ‘Great Game’ with tsarist Russia in Central Asia, how the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution inspired independent Balochi nationalism and anti-imperialism (a Baloch delegation participated in the Soviet-sponsored ‘Congress of the Peoples of the East’ in 1920), the short-lived independence of Kalat again in 1947 and its occupation by Pakistan in 1948.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would recommend it to anyone interested in the Middle East, Central Asia, South Asia, and liberation struggles!

[Saima]

Read 40%. Dnf because the style of writing was too dense/academic I struggled with concentration.