Balochistan, way before 1947: Pics, Paintings & other Memorabilia

[BaluchiZB]

A thread & discussion for the ancient history & Balochs constant struggle & wars with foreign occupations. Hope others would contribute with comments & feedback to inform & educate others about the history & the land of Balochistan.


This drawing was made during the first Anglo-Afghan war of 1839-42, when Atkinson served as the official Superintending Surgeon of the Army of the Indus, a combined force of British and Indian troops that marched on Kabul in 1839. On route to Afghanistan they passed through the Khojak Pass which is five miles long and 5,757 feet tall at its highest point.

The descent into the pass was done in three stages and Atkinson presents us with a spectacular view of each. He writes that this second descent was just as perilous as the first, "threatening equal destruction among the camels, and it was not long before these fears were painfully realized by a great number of the camels falling head-long into the ravines, being unable, from the soft and loose state of the earth, to obtain any secure footing. The column and innumerable camp followers, here took three different routes, and encamped near the bottom of the hills, about two miles distant from the plain of Chumum, where the First Brigade had already encamped."

[BaluchiZB]

Meeting of Baloch Sardars, 1893

[BaluchiZB]

Pen and ink drawing of the military cantonment at Quetta by George Boyd (1800-1850), dated between 1821 and 1844.

The military station was designed by Sir Hugh Barnes in 1881 and laid out on systematic lines of which broad axial roads were a predominant feature.

[BaluchiZB]

"THE QUETTA SPHINX" LOCALLY MORE WELL KNOWN AS THE "MUM" (QUETTA BALOCHISTAN).IT WAS IN REALITY A WAR MEMORIAL FOR THE FALLEN BRITISH SOLDIERS OF THE ANGLO AFGHAN WARS OF LATE 19TH CENTURY.AND WAS LOCATED IN A CHRISTAIN CEMETRY,STILL EXCITING, IN FRONT OF THE QUETTA FORT ON ZARGHOON ROAD.

IT WAS MUCH FEARD LOCALLY AS A SORT OF A DEMON WHO DEVOURED ANY1 PASSING THERE ALONE AT NIGHT.

UNFORTUNATELY IT WAS DESTROYED BY RELIGIOUS FANATICS AS A REACTION TO THE DESTRUCTION OF THE BABRI MOSQUE IN INDIA IN 1980's.

[Zahida Raees Raji]

Thanks brother BALOCHZB for this wonderful sharing.

[Hameed Maoj حميد موج]

menat war wajahen brat baloch zb

baaz wash 

[Nood Bandag]

jwan

[BaluchiZB]

^^ Glad you like this thread. I believe history teaches us a lot, if we care to listen.

Sir Mir Mohammed Khan -ruling chief of Kalat (1864- 1931)


"Sir James Brown [the British Governor] met the Khan in a hall where the public were admitted. I happened to be one of the audience. When Sir James appeared on the platform the Khan made a rush forward to greet him. He was immediately repulsed by the Governor, who shouted, 'Stand back, you murderer,' and reviled him in severe language on the tragedy he was guilty of [the execution of his Prime Minister and son]. The Khan was afterwards consigned to a Fort for safe keeping. He died a few years later." Frederick Bremner c.1894

(Meanwhile in the same year, a poor old Baloch shepherd works in the blazing sun)
Come to think of it, not much has changed in over 100 years.

I recommend this book, written in 1864. I read it in one night and later donated it to the little library of Abdul Ghaffar, owner of Sadaf Resort in Gwadar, so other guests there can learn about ancient Balochistan too. I love Balochistan.

"The journey through the Bolan Pass is barren, devoid of any trees or even a blade of grass, only steep mountains on either side, and yet there are to be seen flocks of sheep - grazing on what! One wonders until they are told that the soil contains a herb which the sheep find and by their appearrance it is evident they fatten on the product. I never saw such healthy looking animals anywhere and covered with great masses of woolly coats. The mutton in Baluchistan is famed for its fine quality. Honestly I have never tasted better anywhere, not even in Scotland."

[BaluchiZB]

Sibi, Feb 19, 1841

Pen-and-ink drawing of Sibi at the end of the Bolan Pass by George Boyd (1800-1850) dated between 1821 and 1844. This is one of 95 drawings (90 folios), chiefly of landscapes and monuments in the Deccan, West India and Afghanistan.


Sibi is situated in Balochistan, at the eastern end of the Bolan Pass which, along with the Khyber Pass, is one of two main routes through the Hindu Kush mountain range from Afghanistan to South Asia. Since the 15th century, Sibi has been the meeting place of all the tribal chiefs of the area and a centre of business for traders dealing with the nomadic Baloch tribes. A famous fair (the Sibi Mela) has developed over the centuries where tribesmen flock from all over Baluchistan, parts of Sind and Punjab with their animals. The town was of great strategic importance during the First (1839-42) and Second (1878-79) Anglo-Afghan Wars.

[Nood Bandag]

welldone

[بلوچ]

Great work, nice sharing, deserved appreciation.
Please keep it up. 

[BaluchiZB]

Bolan Pass, 1870

[BaluchiZB]

The narrow pass above the Siri Bolan (Baluchistan); Baluchi snipers attacking British troops from the heights as they pass through.

Water-colour showing British troops being attacked in the Bolan Pass, Baluchistan by Baluchi snipers, painted by James Atkinson (1780-1852) between 1839 and 1840. This is plate 7 from the album, 'Sketches in Afghaunistan'. Inscribed on the mount is: 'The opening into the narrow pass above the Siri Bolan.'
While serving with the Army of the Indus as Superintending Surgeon, Atkinson made many sketches recording the landscape of Afghanistan, and of the military campaigns of the first Anglo-Afghan war of 1839-42. In this scene British troops are shown fending off an attack from the fierce Baluchi tribe, who continually sprang out of their hideaways in the steep ravines of the pass.
Atkinson wrote: 'The rocks on each side of this Pass are projecting and stupendous, and in the narrowest passages, almost perpendicular. Immense blocks of stone are scattered about all the way and the scenery is of a more magnificently wild character and of a bolder form than any hitherto met with. Many impediments to the march through the Pass, had been removed by the Engineers, but it was still an arduous task ...'


Water-colour view of Sepoys attacking Baluchi snipers in the Siri-Kajur Pass (Baluchistan) by James Atkinson (1780-1852) between 1839 and 1840. This is plate 6 from the album 'Sketches in Afghaunistan'. Inscribed on the mount is: 'The wild pass of Siri-Kajoor.'

[BaluchiZB]

Famous Pyramids of Egypt is only 4500 years old. But MeherGhar is more then 9000 years old. It is “the world’s first city” with mud & brick houses, grain production & granaries, especially rooms for livestocks like sheep, goat etc, production of hand-made Pots and much more!

[Jannat Baloch]

wow.its marvellous.i actually dont like history but im pretty impressed with this......