Page:The Imperial Durbar Album of the Indian princes, chiefs and zamindars.djvu/43

 Kalat

THE State of Kalat which is situated in western Baluchistan is a confederacy of tribal groups. These originally consisted of three great divisions, (1) the Khan's ulus or following, which was scattered throughout the country; (2) the Sarvan tribesmen living to the north of Kalat under their hereditary Chief, the Raisani Sirdar; and (3) the Jhalawan tribesmen living to the south of Kalat under the Zahri Sirdar. The Khan of Kalat, though no more than one of these chiefs, has been, more or less, recognised as their leader, whose authority, however, was hitherto very loose. In internal managemet, each tribal group has the fullest right of self-government, but by an unwritten rule, fixed by lapse of time, the Khan of Kalat has a right to interfere in the affairs of each tribe, while in regard to external matters he is supreme.

Tradition says that the original rulers of Kalat were Hindus who were connected with the Rai dynasty of Sindh; but they must have flourished long before the seventh century, since from that time, forward Baluchistan has been uninterruptedly under Mahommedan sway.

The Ahamadzai clan, to which the Khans of Kalat belong, traces its descent to the Mirwaris who claim an Arab origin. In their earlier legends we find them living near Kalat and extending their power on all sides. The first effort at consolidation and coherence to form an organised State out of the several tribes commenced really during the time of Mir Ahmad, who came into power in 1666 A.D.

The rulers of Kalat have never been independent. There has always been some paramount power or other to which they have been subject. Their first over- lords were the Moguls; then came in the rulers of Kandahar, to whom the Khans of Kalat supplied military levies on demand; and lastly the British, who are the suzerain lords. Their relations with Kalat are governed by the treaties of 1 854 A.D. and 1 876 A.D. The treaty of 1876 A.D. re-affirms the former one, except that the subsidy payable to the Khan has been raised from fifty thousand to one lac of rupees. The Khan has agreed to act in subordinate co-operation with the British Government, and to permit the presence of British troops in Kalat. Likewise, the construction of railways, laying of telegraphs, and freedom of trade have been provided for. The cession of jurisdiction on the railways and in the Bolan pass, as also the permanent lease of Quetta, Nushki, and Nasirabad have been secured to the British Government.

As mentioned above Mir Ahmad established a fairly firm control over his feudatories. It was not, however, until the reign of Nasir Khan 1 (1750 A.D.) that the tides of Belgar-Begi (Chief of Chiefs) and Wali-i-Kalat (Governor of Kalat) were conferred on the rulers of Kalat by the Kings of Afganistan.

It is not possible to give a full account of the vicissitudes through which the State passed and how it expanded under successive Khans. Suffice it to say that the work of expansion, which began with Mir Ahmad, went on till the time of Mir Mahammad Nasir Khan I.