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Baluches The word Baluch has a simple meaning. Originally it consisted of two parts. Its first part "Ba" (pronounced as bar) means "outside", "desert" and "plateau". while the second "luch" describes "bareness" and "nakedness". Therefore, "Baluch" is a people who live in a naked desert, and a people who lead a nomadic way of life. Baluch has been known as a people since long. There are different views on the affiliation of Baluches. Some historians try to prove that they are Arabs by racial origin, while others refer to them as Turks. There is also a third group that regards Baluches as the descendants of Indian Rajputs. History L. M. Dames, English historian who is well-versed in the history and ethnography of Baluches, believes that Baluches migrated from the northern parts of Iran (south-eastern shores of the Caspian Sea). Soviet scholars were of the same opinion. Most of the Baluches living in East and South Baluchistan consider themselves Arab descendants and Halab (a Syrian city) their native place. But there is no evidence to prove the claim that Baluches are of the Arab origin. And the explanation of Dames and others who affiliate Baluches to Indo-Aryan origin seems to be more logical and appropriate. References and facts do not give concrete information about the time of migration of the Baluches from the north of Iran southward, to Fars (Persia) and Karman. Some consider that the time of migration was the late sixth — early seventh centuries A. D. They do not give direct response, but regard the attack of Yaphtals in the second half of the 5th century A. D. as the main reason that caused the migration of Baluches. Anyway, until the conquest of the south of Iran by Arabs (they conquered Karman in 643 A. D.) Baluches lived in the south-west of Karman. At the beginning of the 10th century A. D., for the first time, owing to the increase of the population, some of Baluch tribes moved eastward, to Sistan, and northward to Khorasan in search of more and better pastures. Baluches did not remain in Sistan and Khorasan for long, but were forced by some internal and external causes to move to the south and south-east of Western Mokran and the west of Eastern Mokran. One of these causes was the assault of Saljukis on Khorasan in the 12th century A. D. Saljukis took the upper hand over Baluches both from the points of view of numerical strength and military means. And though Mokran was not much favourable for live-stock breeding, Baluches had to move there. A large number of Baluches continued to live up to 13th century A. D. in the western parts of Mokran, however some strong Baluch tribes like Randamagasi, Korjani and others continued their migration northward due to the shortage of agricultural land and pastures. During these migrations, Baluches grabbed the lands of other tribes like Mid, Hot, Kodar and Maki and in the centre of East Baluchistan gypsies. Rajputs and others and enslaved them. This prevented the ethnic formation of Baluches. During their migration from Mokran to the east of Sionistan (Sibi) and Kalat, Baluches faced with tribes of Brahoviha, and most probably, were not able to take over their lands in the centre of East Baluchistan. After passing through the western and eastern parts of this region, Baluches reached Kalat, Sibi and Kaj Gandawa areas and left there for Sind and settled in the South that extended up to Haidarabad and Karachi. Later, i. e. at the end of the 14th century A. D., Baluches shifted from Sionistan and Kaj Gandawa northward, to Multan and Panjab. The Baluch tribes who settled in Sind and Panjab, left their impact on the political life of this region. They served greatly during the reign of Babur (1526—1530) and his son Homayon (1530—1556) and took part in their military expeditions. Later, Baluch feudals set up their government in Sind. In short, the process of settlement of the Baluches in the areas where they live now and their struggle to have more lands, continued from the 11th up to the 16th centuries A. D. The spoken languages of Baluches and Persian can be considered the two branches of a single tree. Area Today Baluches are living in a vast area ranging from Marw, Sarkhas and Ashkhabad in Turkmenistan to Saudi Arabia, from Abas port to Sind, Panjab and Kandahar. They speak Baluchi with some regional variations. Baluchistan, the place where Baluch tribes live, is located from Karman in the west to Sind in the east, the shores of the Arabian Sea to the south-eastern highlands of Iran. Dry deserts having unfavourable climate and rocky mountains constitute a great part of this region. West Baluchistan is considered to have an area of more than 150,000 square km. It is divided into the following four parts from the geographical and political points of view: Surhad, Sarwan. Bambpur and Mokran. Surhad is located in the north of West Baluchistan. It is a mountainous area and favourable for cattle-breeding Both Baluches and Kurds raise their animals there. Sarwan is located in the south-western part of West Baluchistan. The ranges of the Bampusht Mountains separate Sarwan from Mokran. The Mashakil River originates from the northern mountain ranges and gives water to the western and eastern plateaus of Baluchistan. Bambpur consists of high lands and is surrounded by mountains. The Bambpur River which is the second longest river of West Baluchistan, divides these high lands into northern and southern parts. The vast area called Mokran is located in the south-west of the West Baluchistan. The central and northern parts of Mokran are rich in fertile land and favourable for agriculture, and a great part of its lands are covered with date-palms. It is considered that East Baluchistan includes Zawb. Quetta, Pishin, Suibi, Loralaie, Kaj Gandawa, Chakai. Kharan, Sarwan, Kalat, Jalwan and Wols Bila. Zawb is located on the edge of the north-west of East Baluchistan. while Quetta, Pishin, Suibi, Loralaie and Kaj Gandawa in the west and north-west. Chakai and Kharan are in the west while Kalat, Sarwan and Jalwan are located in the central part of East Baluchistan. Located between Quetta city up to Lasbila border, i. e., from the north to the south, is Sardar Nishin region. Baluchistan is known for its hot and burning summer, very cold winter, freezing winds, strong stormy floods, much dust, rocky or sandy lands, insufficient rainfalls and earthquakes. Population Researchers have different views on Baluch population. For instance, Pikolin regards the total number of Baluches as 2.5 million, of which 1.5 million live in East Baluchistan (Pakistan), 600,000 in West Baluchistan (Pakistan and Iran), 200,000 in Afghanistan. 50.000 in India, 40,000 in Turkmenistan and 10.000 in Arab countries. But Mohammad Sardar Khan Baluch numbers them at 18 million which is at variance from the number stated by Pikolin. According to researches conducted recently in our country, some small groups of Baluch tribes have also been traced in Herat, Mazar-e-Sharif, Jauzjan, Kabul and Kandahar. They also live in remotest areas of Badakhshan, in Rostagh and its villages like Dehak Kaiwan, Pastiki and so on. Baluches of these regions whose number is 50.000—60.000 have lost their native languages and speak Dari, Pashtu and Uzbek. Afghan Baluches The information presented henceforth about the Baluch people belongs to those living in Sistan of Afghanistan. This contains my direct contacts and eyewitness accounts in this area from 1973 to 1975. i. e. before the April Revolution 1978.   In Sistan of Afghanistan, 85 per cent of people are engaged in agriculture. Agricultural lands are in the possession of a minority of three to four per cent of the population, and 96—97 per cent of the Baluches do not have land. Agricultural work is carried out by very old and primitive implements made of wood and iron, tractors and other agricultural machinery are rarely employed. For irrigating agricultural lands, people have built local dams and canals on rivers. Based on accumulated experience, they dig small ditches 2—3 metres in width. The depth of these ditches differs. Farmers became aware of the use of fertilizers in 1972. Agricultural tools are very simple and are made by carpenters and blacksmiths. These are yokes, oxen-drawn plough, leveller, spade, sickle, fork and oxen-drawn thresher. Negotiable instruments are various in this part of the country and do not exist in other areas. However, none of these can supply the life of peasants. For instance, one of the negotiable instruments is called Pagawi. In this six peasants work on a plot of agricultural land which covers an area of 12 to 16 hectares of land. Land, water, seeds and agricultural cattle belong to the owner, and every one of the six has the following separate duties. One of them is Salar: his duty during the whole year is to undertake irrigation and preparation of lands for cultivation; three other members of the Pagwi are Ghaminha. They shoulder a great part of agricultural work. i. e., the levelling, ploughing, cultivation and harvesting. Remaining two farmers are called Bigham or Mardi Murda (dead men). Their main task is to serve the land owner. They prepare fuel. guard the land and breed their animals and so on. However, now the landlords do not employ these two farmers, and deduct their wages from the agricultural yields. In dividing agricultural crops, five elements, i. e. land, water, agricultural cattle, seeds and labour, are taken into account in most of the parts of our country. But other factors are also regarded in the distribution of agricultural crops in Sistan. In Nimroz province, particularly in Charburjak and areas belonging to Qalai Fatah, a landowner obtains one fourth of the harvest under the name of tax. Mullah, supervisor, district administrator, blacksmith, carpenter, water superintendent, and barber are also the share-holders of the harvest of a peasant and obtain their shares from the harvest which the peasant collects. The annual harvest of a peasant would be around 1,100 kg of wheat which may give only bread to a four-member peasant family for a year, while he and his family need other essentials as well, which can, by no means, be met by his labour.   Industry Industry has not developed considerably among the Baluches of Sistan. Surprisingly, in Saflai area on the Helmand River and surroundings of Hamon the cloth industry that was considerably developed in the past. does not exist now. Samples can still be observed in some historical places. Despite having proper clay soil for pottery and fuel needed for its baking, the people of this region purchase their clay utensils from Lashkargah and Kandahar. Masonry in Afghan Sistan has also remained primitive. Except Khans, other people do not have their own permanent houses. Most of the houses in Saflai region of the Helmand River (from Darsishan to Zaranj) are very simple and made of tamarisk timber in which modern architectural techniques are not employed. Blacksmithy is another occupation needed by the people. This craft is only devoted to making and repairing agricultural tools. The blacksmith would make every year a knife, a stand for cooking, a packing needle and a sickle free of charge for every peasant, and receives half the price of other agricultural tools in case the iron used for them was prepared by the user, otherwise, he would receive the cost price from his customer. Another craft, which is mostly done by Baluch women, is weaving of woolen carpets, long-napped rugs sacks, hats, tablecloth and so on. They weave carpets with very old desings and do not have any standard or norm in their length and width. Wool is not sorted, and the wool cut from different parts of hide of sheep of different sheep breeds, and even the spring and autumn wools, which ought to be kept and used separately, are mixed in weaving the carpet. In some parts of Sistan, plant dyes are used in colouring the carpets. The carpet-weaver has to sit on the loom while weaving. Among Baluch people clans like Madadkhani, Rokhshani, Lajdaie and Sanjrani carpet-weaving is common. But the most famous Baluch carpet is that by women Madadkhani. Hand embroidery is another craft in which Baluch women are especially skilled. Some beautiful pieces of needle work can be found in some parts of Afghan Sistan. Girls begin to learn this craft from the age of seven, and continue it as long as their eyes work. It is due to this, that one can see in all parts of Sistan the thin and tall Baluch women in long dresses sewn with embroidery piece and needle works. The spinning and knitwear industry died away in Afghan Sistan. This industry had once existed in Kang. Karim Koshta, Chakhansor and around Hamon Julaha and produced a part of the clothes to be used by the people. Now not even a metre of cloth is knitted throughout this region, traditional industry being affected by the import of foreign goods. Family relations among Baluches are the same with those of other tribes of Afghanistan. Young boys live with their parents, brothers and sisters even after their marriage. And they call such families big from the viewpoint of sociology. Tribal affiliations and ties belonging to the clan have more value than other social relations. All members of a family jointly take part in production, and put most of their income at the disposal of the oldest member of the family. The property of the family would be the common property of all of the family members till the demise of its chief. Head of the family makes decision on its life, and deals with all outside affairs concerned with every member of his family. The family itself is considered a centre of training, education and rearing and protects its members. As one of the main characteristics of a clan system, family members strive for gaining more fame for their family rather than personal ends. This prevents the individual growth of family members. Shortcomings of one of the members of the family would effect the others and bring disgrace and shame to all other members. The status of women in the Baluch society of Sistan is comparatively low. Baluches prefer to have a son rather than a daughter. This badly effects women and creates inferiority complex in them. They even have to obey their younger brothers. Girls are kept in seclusion after the age of 11, and the life would be further limited for them. Daughters of rich families are confined in their houses after they are 11. They do not have the right to select husbands for themselves, and no heed is paid to their views in their marriage. The marriage takes place in accordance with the proposal of the head of the family of bridegroom and the acceptance of the other side. Expression of view on her husband is considered disgraceful for a girl. Most of the Baluch girls are engaged at the age of 10—14. The age of a girl to be married is not of much importance for these people, what is very significant for them is the economic aspect, i. e.. the bride-money which amounts to a considerable sum as compared to the financial income of these people. Usually the bride-money would be fixed at 20.000 100.000 Afs. This amount is determined according to the beauty of the girl and the social and economic status of her family. One third of the bridemoney is paid in cash and the rest in kind and animals. The area we are talking about is one of the remotest corners of the country and is poor from the viewpoint of social welfare. The number of schools and teachers is very limited as compared to its residents. According to the statistics surveyed in 1973. in Nimroz province the total number of teachers reached 207, of students 6,909, including both boys and girls, and of boys and girls’ schools 60. In Helmand province, which also covers a part of Sistan, the number of teachers was 554, students 23,348 and boys' and girls' schools 40. The number of students constituted 5.14 and 6.69 per cent of the population of Nimroz and Helmand province respectively. Most of the inhabitants of Afghan Sistan are Baluches who speak their mother tongue, Baluchi. However teaching is conducted at schools in Dari. Most of Baluch children who do not know Dari. still cannot take much advantage of schools. In 1973, there existed in Zaranj, the capital of Nimroz province, one 15-bed hospital and one X-ray unit run by two physicians. The population of the province in that particular year was estimated at 134.336. This way one physician used to serve 67.167 people, one hospital bed was devoted to every 8,655. In that year, two hospitals (in Lashkargah and Girishk), three physicians, 70 hospital beds, three laboratories and one X-ray unit were functioning in Helmand province. At that time, the population of the province was about 350 thousand. It means one physician for more than one hundred thousand persons, one hospital bed for about a thousand. Prices of medicine were much higher than the people could afford. Therefore, the shortage of necessary treatment facilities forced the people to employ the old treatment system in most of the cases. * * * However, after the victory of the April Revolution 1978, in the light of a general national policy, considerable steps were taken to improve the living standards of all nomadic population of the country, the Baluches among them. Among the measures, one can name dispatch of relief caravans, introduction of education in the native tongues of the national minorities and broadcasting of radio programmes in their languages. All this was lost after the defeat of the Revolution. But the better times will soon come!   By Amiri