Kalat (princely state)

Infobox Former Pakistan subdivision
subdivision = Kalat

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capital = Kalat
area = 91,909
languages = Persian, Baluchi
established = 1638
abolished = 14th October 1955
footnotes = [http://www.baloch.gov.pk Government of Balochistan]

Kalat or Qalat (Urdu: قلات) was a princely state located in the centre of the modern province of Balochistan, Pakistan. The state capital was the town of Kalat.

Geography

The State of Kalat was located between 25°1′ and30°8′N. And 61°37′ and 69°22′E., with a total area of 11,593 square miles. It occupied the whole of the centre and south-west of the Province of Balochistan, with the exception of the indentation caused by the little State of Las Bela. It was bounded on the west by Persia; on the east by the Bolan Pass, the Maxi and Bugti hills, and Sindh; on the north by the Chagai and Quetta-Pishin Districts; and on the south by LasBela and the Arabian Sea. With the exception of the plains of Kharan, Kachhi, and Dasht in Makran, the country is wholly mountainous, the ranges being intersected here and there by long narrow valleys. The principal mountains are the Central Brahui, Kirthar, Pab, Siahan, Central Makran and Makran Coast Ranges, which descend in elevation from about 10,000 to 1,200 feet. The drainage of the country is almost all carried off to the southward by the Nari, Mula, Hab, Porali, Hingol and Dasht rivers. The only large river draining northwards is the Rakhshan. The coast-line stretches for about 160 miles, from near Kalmat to Gwadar Bay, and the chief port is Pasni. Round Gwadar the country was in the possession of the Sultan of Muscat. [ [http://dsal.uchicago.edu/reference/gazetteer/pager.html?objectid=DS405.1.I34_V14_305.gifKalāt State - Imperial Gazetteer of India, v. 14, p. 299.] ]

History

The state of Kalat was founded in 1638. The territories controlled by the state fluctuated over the centuries but eventually were established by treaties with the British Agent Robert Sandeman in the late 19th century. Parts of the state to the north and northeast were leased or ceded to form the province of British Baluchistan which later gained the status of a Chief Commissioners province.

On 31 March 1948, the state acceded to Pakistan and went on to form the Baluchistan States Union on 3 October 1952 with three neighbouring states. The state of Kalat ceased to exist on 14 October 1955 when the province of West Pakistan was formed.

Rulers of Kalat

The rulers of Kalat held the title of Wali originally but in 1739 also took the title (Begler Begi) Khan usually shortened to Khan. The last Khan of Kalat (Urdu: خان قلات) had the privilege of being the President of the Council of Rulers for the Baluchistan States Union.

See also

* Baluchistan States Union
* Balochistan region
* Khan of Kalat
* Kalat
* List of Indian Princely States

References

External links

* Swidler, N. (1972) "The Development of the Kalat Khanate" "Journal of Asian and African Studies" 7: pp. 115-21
* [http://www.bdd.sdnpk.org/kalat.htm Kalat District - Planning and Development Department of Balochistan Government]
* [http://www.geocities.com/pak_history/baluchistan.html The Land and People of Baluchistan]
* [http://www.chapatimystery.com/archives/homistan/the_baluchistan_issue.html A synopsis of the modern history of Balochistan and the state of Kalat]
* [http://www.uq.net.au/%7Ezzhsoszy/ips/k/kalat.html Genealogy of the Khans of Kalat]