Book review:The fathers bow.

 The book 'The Fathers Bow', written by Italian historian Riccardo Redaelli give us the historical details of Balochistan. A balochi proverb on the cover page manuscripted as 'If you inherit your father's bow, buy new arrows' it means if you are inherited a power by your ancestors then you should make it even stronger,you should take care of that power.The same was tried by khan Ahmad yar khan the last khan of khanat of kalat he tried to purchase new arrows for restoring authority and powers of the khanat of kalat,which had been seriously undermined by mistakes, indifference, inefficiency and policat apathy of the past rulers of khanat of kalat.

Balochistan is used to refer to a vast area currently lying between Pakistan, Iran and Afghanistan. It's geographical position is of considerable geo-political interest.Balochistan now is divided into 3 parts, in Afghanistan (Nimroz, Hilmand , Qandahar , Farah) ,in Iran Balochistan is merged into province of Sistan ,now called Sistan o Balochistan.5 areas are as, central agricultural area of Jaz Murian, the northern desert region of Sarhad , area to east of Sarawan up against the Pakistani frontier, hilly belt along Makran range and southern coastal area by Arabian sea.In Pakistan it is subdivided into 4 divisions as Quetta, Sibi, Kalat , Makran.

Plains in Balochistan are fertile oasis and semi-intensive hydraulic agriculture practised in Las bela and Jaz Muriyan.The mountains as the stark mountain chains of Sulaiman mountain, which meander over the extreme north-east of the regions of chaghai and Makran particularly area of Zamuran,Koh-e-Taftan and Koh-e-Bazman.The Bolan ,Khojak and Mullah passers link Indian sub-continent with Qandahar and Jalalabad and are still the only way to reach Afghanistan and Central Asia.

Through Baloch region , the extreme scarcity of water resources still severely hampers growth of any human exploitation of the territory and development of agriculture and industrial activities. Complex underground networks for channelling and deviation of water present in the impervious strata at foot of mountains called 'kareze' .Local people have sought to optimise their exploitation of water for agricultural purposes by means of complex system of storage and piping ,with the oasis ,secondary channels of various sizes then distribute water intended for the irrigation of field called 'khawar Jo' .

The Pashtuns settled within the borders of British India and later of Pakistan. In first half of 20th century they mainly occupied the northern areas of Balochistan in particular those of Quetta,Sibbi and those bordering North-West Frontier province.They were therefore,found mostly within British Balochistan and so called Leased states .The have a typical strong and complex tribal structure but their Sardays were not as powerful as Baloch Sardars.In comparison with of Pashtun tribes ,Baloch tribal system is less closely linked to egalitarian tribal ideology which emphasized in lineage system ,there radars were more stronger and command full to their tribesmen. 

From ethnic point of view,it should be stressed that Baloch today are markedly lacking homogeneity, having greatly inter mingled with other ethnic groups and made evident cultural borrowings from other people.The Gichki's were not of Baloch origin;probably originally Rajput group, they emigrated from Indian subcontinent around 15th century ,to settle first in Panjgur then in Makran where thy managed to seize power for which they also got help from zikris(who are thought to be a small religious group bt government of pakistan but they dont fast in month of ramadan and go to pilgrimage on 27 of ramadan to Koh-e-murad where is the grave of murad gichki)Power of Makran soon fell in hands of Gichkis who also had support of Britishers and had tied martial knotes with Ahmadzai Khan's family so also got their favour.Las-bela was agricultural area, important trading centre with a dense population relative to rest of khanat. It was ruled by tribal chiefs of tribe of Jamot and by the tribal section of Aliani,whose leader was known, as Jam.Jam Mir Khan 2 had numerous armed revolts against khan for his sovereignty as independent fron kalat.kharan a despotic,populated region ,ruled by Nawsherwani's due to poverty or the region carried raiding ,attacks upon caravan of goods.Mir Azad Khan tribal chief of kharab clashed repeatedly with Kalat ,freeing himself from Brahoi ruler.Englush made agreement with the Nawab which committed the Nausherwanis of kharab to the guaranteeing the safety of the caravan routes and to protect and giving hospitality to English envoys and travellers in the region .The kharan Sardars considered thematic he holds a semi-indepandent position under Kalat similar to Lasbela. Government of India  proposed to shift power from Kalat to chaghai in February 1913 ,transfer took place but soon returned to political agency of Kalat.

With the beginning of the reign of khan Mir Ahmad khan in the year 1666,chief of Ahmadzai traditionally give birth to the khanat of kalat.For decades Khan provided troops and sent tributes first to short-lived empire of Nadir shah ,then to Pashtun chief in southern Afghanistan. The rise of Ahmad Shah Durrani extended his empire included Afghan and Baloch reign to Indus basin.khan provided tribute to Ahmad Shah. In 1758,khan Nasir khan ,profiting military threat to Afghan amir posed by Mahratti ,proclaimed his own independence.Ahmad Shah invaded the Khan's territory but due to intensifying pressure was forced to recognize its independence. In exchange for it , Nasir Khan made an agreement of providing military assistance and refused to give asylum to his opponents.And then Ahmad Shah married cousin of Nasir khan for matrimonial alliance.Nasir khan after freeing of Kalat from Pashtun rule and possession of the plain of Kacci ensured agricultural surplus,it allowed khan to strengthen its power within few year from outright conquest reign of Kharan,Las-Bela, Makran and territories of Bugti ,Marri entered Khan's orbit.Kahn Nasir Khan a impetus ,given to trade and agriculture, his skillful internal policy directed to strengthen power and figures of khan. He introduced certain innovations into traditional and habitual mechanism of Baloch power which modified the play relations between local tribal chiefs and central authority.Certain important innovation in khanat were of 1.Wazir and 2.Wazir -i- Azam,to manage Khan's personal land manage relations with foreign princes and potentates the administration of justice, settlement of inter-tribal wrangling. 3.Mustaufi ,for collecting taxes and running of khan's treasury. 4 Lashkar ,which was divided into 3 groups,one is Dasta-e-Sarawan,Dasta-e-Jalawan and Dasta-e-Khan (the sovereign guard,makeup of mercenary and mainly Balochi troops and of freed slaves directly dependent upon khan).In 1795, with death of Nasir khan 1 political synthesis he had created crumbled . Some territories of khanat fell under Pashtun and Sindhi rule.Lasbela and Makran gained virtual independence, sardars rebelled against authority of Khan.Next khan, Khan Mahmusmd khan 1 was weak ,decline of economic resources. Khan Mehrab Khan 2 ,policy of persecution in relation of his Sardars (murdered)intensified internal crises of the Khanate.

According to the English, scheme of things, the khanate of kalat was to guarantee same passage of military columns of the Indus as well as supplying assistance in form of provisions and animal forage in exchange to annual subsidy the intrigues of the Khan's representatives, Mullah Mohammed Huseyn played a double game.He convinced English that the Khan was not genuinely well disposed towards passage of army of Indus ,but actually preparing to attack it. Meanwhile he was feeding the suspicions of Khan of Kaalat, warning him not to trust the English .He wrote bogus letters from the Khan in which the Brahoi tribal chiefs were invited against the Government of India . He also stimulated attacks upon British troops. English army attacked city of Kalat on 13 November 1839, killing the Mehrab khan himself and a course of bloody battle.Weak Shah Nawaz was installed as a new khan and Shah Shuja appointed as amir of Afghanistan but due to the spreaded hostility Nasir khan 2 .son of Mehrab khan formed the British government to recognize him as khan of kalat and return the khanate territories they had taken from it in 1839.After the disastrous expedition and the death of amir of Kabul, the treaty of 1842 was in practice annulled.In the second half of the century ,after the conquest of Sindh and Punjab ,the internal strife had increased between khanat of kalat and sardars.To solve this problem a solution was urgently needed the government of India regarded khanate if kalat as feudal state. Then new khan khan khudadad khan was given full support by English in the form of provision of arms and subsidies to the new khan Mir khudadad khan in his struggle against tribal chiefs and feudal rebels.Merewether, commissioner Sindh put it that as long as the khan of kalat remains free and independent sovereign, our great object is to increase his influence and strengthen his power within his country as much as he can. This point of view was bitterly contested by his direct sub-ordinate Colonel Phayre (political superintendent of the Frontier of Upper Sindh).Phayre's political line was to abandon the khan to his fate and rely on the individual Sardars dealing with them directly which was also supported by provincial administration of the Punjab, Major Robert Sandeman,(at post of DC Dera Ghazi Khan). Colonel Loch ,whose views were those of Sir W Merewether,not those of officer with whom he was required to act . Major Sandeman was to be subordinate to Sir W.Merewether and to act under his orders, not independently, or under orders from other authorities. Sandemans policy was aimed at establishing direct relations with the Sardays and tribal chiefs bypassing the khan.Sandeman managed to have this way and earned the loyalty of the tribal chiefs by granting them allowances.The khan on the other hand ,deprived of traditional supports,the tribal chiefs resistant to his authorities exploited the tension within the colonial administration and gradually carved themselves as of greater autonomy from khan due to close direct relations with British official who offered them jagirs allowances personal prestige political status.In the mid seventies the Commissioner of Sindh was relieved of all responsibility in the conduct of relations with kalat ,this task now became the exclusive province of the Afency for the Punjab,and in particular Sandeman granting extensive authority to tribal chiefs.In 1876 treaty of Jacobabad signed between the British Government and the Khanate of kalat provided for an exchange of Representatives between respective governments, the free circulation of English merchandise,and permission for the Government of India to occupy with its Army certain areas of the region regarded as of strategic value.

Sandeman appointed as Agent to the Governor General in Balochistan. For him the constitutional nature of Khanate of Kalat was to be interpreted as being of a federal type.Robert Sandeman regarded as peaceful conquerer of Balochistan . His success was in creating a political administrative system which enabled the English to control a vast area such as Balochistan with relative ease and minimum deployment of men and means. He used to pay regular allowances  and granted fiscal favour tk the tribal chiefs to fortify the links between the tribal chief and British administration.Sandeman system's main policy points are as:

1.The minimum interference with the khan in his revenue paying area

2 The independence of each chief in the tribal area and the responsibility of each tribe for the misdeeds of individual members subject to the submission of important cases of joint judges

3. The management of inter tribal disputes or disputes between tribesmen and Khan's subject or officials by judges of Sardar

In the local jirgas Britishers appointed village chiefs leaders of tribal section as judges in all those cases involving local population. Shah-I-jirga, a sort of Grat council of main Sardar

5. The system of tribal troopers Levy corps was conceived of by Sandeman in 1867, when he was DC Dera-Ghazi Khan,it involved deployment of a certain number of men in tribal areas.

6. English used the Thana System for control of the territory through the creating of military postings independent of the traditional tribal authority.

Negative effects rose in 20th century that reduced authority of local Sardars . Due to incapacity of Sardars(result of over interference) 

On 1 April 1883 Quetta was leased by khan to English Administration for the annuity of 2500 rupees, all fiscal and administrative rights control to English but not its actual ownership. The administration system created by Sandeman did not ,however succeed in eliminating the hostility and strife between Sardars and Khan of Kalat. On 29 January 1892, Robert Sandeman died suddenly in Lasbela.In 1893, khudadad khan was removed from office of Khan due to assassination of local notable, who held the post of Maustaufi by General Sir James Browne. In 1893, Quetta jitha,Mahmud khan was appointed new Khan,who was weak he failed to exercise control over the Sardars in tribal system. In 1913, PA of kalat,Armine Dew and Sir John Ramsay occupied post of AGG in Balochistan tried to remedy this situation. Sir Shams Shah new wazir-I- aam handled all matters very well but after his death Brahoi and Makrani Sardars announced their independence. In September 1933,Azam jan died after having resigned for less then 2 years (son of Khudadad khan) Mir Ahmad Yar Khan sat on the throne (son of Azam jan). I'm 1933,Khanate of kalat was made up of a central region with Brohoi majority, and territories conquered by Nasir khan 1 with majorities that were Baloch or Pashtun.Some territories had been absorbed by British Empire or administered by means of the formula of perpetual leasing other regions as Kharan,Makran and Lasbela gained almost total defacto autonomy. Mir Ahmad Yar Khan ,came to power in 1933,was to try to break Sandeman System but his actions were inadequate with newly emergent situation. The 3 challenges faced were:                                   1.Unruliness of the local Balochi chiefs     2.Well-oiled administrative machine of the British colonial administration             3. Astute policy of rising power represented by Muslim Legue and it's leader Muhammad Ali Jinnah. In Baloch region, Mullahs were not as strong and influential as in Pashtun areas. The masjids even were not considered symbol of pride. Different minorities also lived freely taking part in political and economical matters like Hindus , zikris,parses. Balochis were not orthodox or fanatic Muslims. Due to the increased involvement of the English in internal tribal affairs ,the conditions worsened. The PA's had duty to mediate in problematic relations of khans and Sardars but his interference was more.NA's had duty to note complaint of Sardars against each other and tribesmen to complain about Sardars rise multitude of annoying cases,would be settled in accordance with ancient usage without reference to officers under PA cause difficulty in work of PA's.Tahsildaar's , Naib Tahsildaars (non-European officials) were given responsibilities.

In last decades of 19th century English established forward policy to influence and establish law and order on that part if border where anarchy, murder and robbery . Various treaties signed by the Persian Government not helped to decrease the instability. Traditionally, the Khanate was made up of 6 different elements:                                                           1. The so called Niabat,the Khan's direct possession, administered by him in an autocratic fashion.                                           2. The tribal area if Sarawan and jhalawan, where the Khan seemed to have the position of primus inter pares with Sardars ,who were completely autonomous but obliged to provide military support to khan.                               3. The territory of Las Bela ,formally part of Khanate but autonomous                          4. Kharan                                                           5. The area of Kacchi                                      6. Makran

Government of India always tried not to interfere in internal matters although political anarchy and economical collapse prevailed.

Mir Ahmad Yar Khan ,the first years of his reign(1933-1939) he was born in 1902 in Loraloai, where Khudadad Khan had been interned with his family after his enforced abdication in 1893 transferred to Pishin two years later,he remained their until the death of the old khan in 1909. In 1920 he was appointed PA to AGG and entered the ranks of British Imperial Army as an officer,finally attained the rank of major. The period of military service undoubtedly gave the Government of India the opportunity for close acquaintance with one of the possible Khan's of Baloch khanate. Although Mir Ahmad Yar Khan was not the elder son of Mir Azam jan but his elder son Akram jan was mentally incapable then jitha of Sardar chose his second son Ahmad Yar Khan.The new khan frequently stressed the English to give him back the control of Las bela, kharan as in Nasir khan 1 tenurebut the English denied to do so.Ahmad Yar Khan didn't want to loose his good ties with the English but tried to get the Khanate as sovereign and powerful as in Nasir khan 1 tenure.

  The enclave of Gwader

Said Saiyid,brother of Sultan of Muscat. A fugitive from Oman following an abortive attempt at an uprising against sultan then in power. Said Saiyad had taken refugee in territories of Khanate of Kalat .Khan presented him the village of Gwader  to ensure him a fitting livelihood but in 1797, Said Saiyad managed to gain possession of the throne of Oman and to return to Musqat though maintaining control of the Makrani port which was governed by one of his wli or sultan's representative Gwader soon became economically strong.

In 1861,Khan had suggested British administration to purchase Gwader , from sultan of Oman and then return it to Khanate of Kalat this proposal was rejected. In 1928 a new demand by Khan for the return the port of Gawader were rejected by the British Administration. In 1936,the Khan tried to boost the commercial importance of Makrani ports under his direct control as Jiwani and Pasni. In 1934, the Sultan of Masqat had decided to double the customs tariffs on good in transit through the port of Gwader from 5 to 10% . The influential trading communities of Hindus and Ismailies thus found the use of other Makrani ports less expensive.  This brought a sudden drop in trade through Gwader port. Mir Ahmad Yar Khan upheld the Masqats right to occupy and control the port of Gwader but denied Omanite sovereignty over it . Gwader is a jagir granted by Khan of Kalat to a refugee of standing from and is upheld by Musqst in same manner as the other jagirs are held by Kalat Sardars. The term jagir refers to nature of donation made by a superior to an inferior . The government of India did not pay a heed to this issue. The controversy over Gwader was therefore inherited by the new state of Pakistan which resolved it peacefully in 1958.

 The Dawn Of Balochi Nationalism

The first political movement active in Balochistan was Anjuman -e-Ittehad-e-Balochistan which was the brain child of two most important figures in early baloch nationalism Mir Yousuf Aziz Magsi and Mir Abdul Aziz Kurd. The Anjuman organized two Balochistan and All India Conferance. The requests and objectives were represented and defined to English. The main being:                           1. The request for a representative constitutional government in an administratively unified Balochistan no longer divided into British and Native Balochistan.                   

2. The creation of Shah-I- jirga or Parliamentary Assembly whose members were to be partly appointed and partly elected 

3. The abolition of Frontier crimes regulation and codification of customary law drawn up in the light of Shariat and Moder Equity.

4. The defining of discretionary powers of British officials in Balochistan with particular reference to those of the Kalat.

5.Balochistan acceptance of the proposed Indian federation.

These requests were transmitted to the joint select committee of the house of lords in London on the first of May 1933 together with a long memorandum signed by president of Balochistan and All India Baloch Conference Abdul Samas Achakzai. The British colonial officials opposition to these proposal was particularly firm. The action of the Anjuman was subsequently weakened by two factors:                                                    1. The death of Mir Yousuf Magsi  during the earthquake in Quetta                               2. British Administrations hostility             The Anjuman separated into two,Maximalist which give rise to Kalat State National Party and Moderate Nationalists being interested in the economis advantages that might accrue from such an agreement. After world war 2 ,the nationalist party was legalised again fighting for Independent Balochistan. Muslim league movement which was alive during the last years of English rule in Balochistan with the opening of Quetta headquarter for the Baloch Provincial Muslim League under Impetus lawyer from Pishin Qazi Faiz Isa. The emergence of Islam became an explosive factor for political aggregation in the Indian Subcontinent.  Pashtun's were greater supporters then Balochs to get merged into a country formed on Islamic basis.

The feudatory states as Lasbela , Kharan their status was stuck a mystery but according to Khan of Kalat these states as during Naseer khan 1 tenure should be under Khanate of Kalat when the English will leave. The leased areas called British Balochistan also should be under Khanate as after English  leave their status will be back as before the agreement in which these were leased to English. On 15th  August 1947,Mir Ahmad Yar Khan officially proclaimed Indepandence of his own state;a few days later he proclaimed s written constitution which ratified the end of dependence upon the British Administration in India. The unity and Indepandence of Balochistan and the creation of two chamber legislative body subdivided into a non-executive Upper house:made up of main Sardars of Khanate and a Lower house:55 members ,50 elected and 5 appointed by khan.

The khanate's existence as an independent state was brief on 19th March 1948 after a secret negotiation Kharan ,Las Bela and Makran presented a request to become part of Pakistan, although  the powers of Khan of Kalat included conduct of Foreign policy,so that he was responsible for the signing of any treaty. Pakistan accepted the requests of Feudatory States without consulting Mir Ahmad Yar Khan.Khan after being stripped off from more then half territory ,now without access to sea asked Nehru if Kalat could become part of Indian Union which arouse serious protests among Muslim movement and Government of Pakistan. On 27th March 1948,without consulting the recently established Parliament the Khan decided to ask for Kalt to become part of Pakistan.After which Balochistan became a province of Pakistan.