Jhalawan

Map of the Baluchistan Agency.

Jhalawan (Urdu: جھالاوان‎) was an administrative division of the Khanate of Kalat, a princely state that joined Pakistan in 1947. It was established in the 17th century and its boundary was fixed with Sindh in 1853. It was located in the southeastern part of Kalat State, north of Las Bela, west of the Kachi and Sindh and east of the Kharan and Makran. Jhalawan has important valleys of Baluchistan, such as Kalat, Gidar, Baghbana, Mola Valley, Zehri, Firozabad valley, Wadh, Nal, Saruna, Jau and the Mashkai river. In Jhalawan, Khuzdar is the city that is the second largest city of Balochistan Province.

History

In the 15th century, the country fell under the control of Mirwari. They governed an area extending from a region near Surab (Nighar) to the hills of Jhalawan. Before Mir Khudadad Khan, the country was a part of Kalat state for many years, but Mir Khudadad Khan's rule brought a period of unrest in the region. This resulted in a number of Jhalawan tribesmen revolting against Mir Khudadad Khan's reign; their chief, Taj Muhammad Zarakzai was strangled as a consequence.

1869 saw the death and defeat of the ruler of Las Bela, Jam Mir Khan, near Khuzdar. He is reported to have started a rebellion by the inhabitants of Jhalawan under the supervision of Nur-ud-din Mengal. Gauhar Khan, the chief of Zehri tribe and his sons, who started a resistance movement against Mir Khudadad's rule were defeated and killed by Kalat's army at Garmap. The uprising started in 1893 and continued until 1895.

Population

In 1901, the total population was 224,073. The majority were Brahuis The tribes in region were Mirvani,(Ahmedzai), Mengal, Muhammed Hasni, Bizenjo, Sajdi, Rodeni, Rekizai, Gurgnari, Sumalani, Qambarani, Zehri and Kalandarani. All these tribes have sub-clans.

Further reading

• Swidler, N. (1972) "The Development of the Kalat Khanate" Journal of Asian and African Studies 7: pp. 115–21

External links

• Kalat District - Planning and Development Department of Balochistan Government
• The Land and People of Baluchistan
• A synopsis of the modern history of Balochistan and the state of Kalat
• Genealogy of the Khans of Kalat