Baloch people
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| Baloch | |
|---|---|
| Total population | 8 million[citation needed] |
| Regions with significant populations | Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan |
| Language | Balochi and Brahui |
| Religion | Islam (predominantly) Sunni and Zikris around Turbat |
| Related ethnic groups | Persians |
The Baloch (بلوچ; alternative transliterations Baluch, Balouch, Balooch, Balush, Balosh, Baloosh, Baloush et al.) are an Iranian people inhabiting the region of Balochistan in Iran and Pakistan as well as neighboring areas of Afghanistan and the southeast corner of the Iranian plateau in Southwest Asia.
The Baloch speak Baluchi, which is considered a north-western Iranian language and the Baloch are accordingly generally considered an Iranian people. The Baloch are predominantly Muslim, with most belonging to the Hanafi school of thought of Sunni Islam, but there are also a significant number of Zikri in Balochistan. Some 70 percent of the total Balochi population live in Pakistan. About 20 percent inhabit the coterminous region of southeastern Iran. Balochi population is estimated at about 4,800,000. In Pakistan the Balochi people are divided into two groups, the Sulaimani and the Makrani, separated from each other by a compact block of Brahui tribes [1].
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[edit] Geographical homeland, demographics, and sub-groups
The Baloch-speaking population is estimated to be in the range of 10 to 15 million. However, the exact number of Baloch and those who are or claim to be of Baloch ancestry is difficult to determine. It is possible that there are more Baloch than simply those who claim Balochi as their mother tongue. This, however, raises the question as to who is and is not a Baloch as many surrounding peoples claim to be of Baloch descent, but do not speak Balochi. The Brahui, having lived in proximity to the Baloch, have absorbed substantial linguistic and genetic admixture from the Baloch and in many cases are indistinguishable. Despite very few cultural differences from the Baloch, the Brahui are still regarded as a separate group on account of language difference. The higher population figure for the Baloch may only be possible if a large number of "Baloch" are included who speak a different languages, such as Seraiki, Sindhi and Brahui, and who often claim descent from Baloch ancestors. Many Baloch outside of Balochistan are also bilingual or of mixed ancestry due to their proximity to other ethnic groups including the Sindhis, Brahui, Persians, and Pashtuns. There are also a large number of Baloch who have been migrating or have been living in adjacent provinces to Balochistan for centuries. In addition, there are many Baloch located in other parts of the world with the bulk living in the GCC countries of the Persian Gulf. Their homeland, Balochistan, is divided between three countries with portions of it in Pakistani Balochistan, Iranian Balochistan, and the southern parts of Afghanistan.Research also has been done by several authors, that the Baluch ancestry goes back to the Median Empire (Kurdish Empire) times, when the Baluch tribes or Kurdish tribes were sent to protect the borders of the median empire in regions of Makran and Toran.
[edit] History of the Baloch people
The Seljuk invasion of Kerman in the 11th century CE stimulated the eastward migration of the Balochi. The Seljuk ruler Qawurd (Kavurt) sent an expedition against the Kufichis (Qufs), Balochi mountaineers whose banditry had long threatened the region's southern and eastern parts. After suppressing the Balochi, the Seljuks put watchtowers, cisterns, and caravansaries along the desert route to encourage trade with India. The Balochi remained rebellious under Safavid rule (1501–1736). Western Balochistan was conquered by Iran in the 19th century, and its boundary was fixed in 1872. The Iranian government began to assist settlement and economic development in the 1970s by building dams and thermoelectric-power plants, though these efforts slackened after the Iranian Islamic Revolution [2].
[edit] Languages
The national language of the Baloch is Balochi. In Balochistan, their second-most commonly spoken language is Brahui which is a Dravidian language. Some misunderstanding exists in the the West that Brahui speakers are different from Balochi speakers.[citation needed] In fact the Baloch is a single race with many languages.[citation needed] Those who speak Brahui are known as Brahuis (or Brahui Baloch).
The Baloch do not only live in Balochistan (Pakistan) but also are in majority in Sindh, South Punjab, Bahawalpur,Southern Afghanistan, Eastern Iran, Gulf States and Mari region of Turkmenistan . The Baloch (Talbur/Leghari) ruled Sindh before the British annexation of Sindh to the British Empire. The Baloch in Sindh, South Punjab and Bahawalpur speak Sindhi and Seraiki.
Baloch society is divided in tens of tribes, some tribes speak Brahui and some speak Balochi, and there are many tribes who speak both. The Marri tribe and the Bugti tribe (both are amongst the largest Baloch tribes) speak Balochi. The Langov tribe, who live in central Balochistan in the Mangochar area, speak Balochi as their first language and Brahui as their second. The Bezenjo tribe that live in the Khuzdar, Nal and parts of Makkura, along with the Muhammadsanis, (one of the largest Baloch tribes) speak both languages. The Bangulzai tribe is a Brahui-speaking tribe but a sub-tribe of the Bangulzai, the Garanis, speak Balochi and are known as Balochi speaking Bangulzais.
The Mazari the largest Baloch tribe in Rajanpur speak Balochi while the Leghari the largest Baloch tribe in Dera Ghazi Khan and Rahim Yar Khan speak Seraiki. The Leghari in Sindh speak Sindhi. The Talpur, Jatoi, Gabol, Lashari, Chandio, Bozdar, and other Baloch tribes settled in Sindh speak both Sindhi and Balochi.
[edit] References
[edit] See also
- Baloch tribes
- Brahui people
- Balochistan
- Demographics of Iran
- Demographics of Pakistan
- Demographics of Afghanistan
[edit] External links
- Baluch People, Encyclopaedia Britannica.
- Baask - Home of Balochi Literature
