Kalat, Balochistan Explained

Kalāt or Qalāt (Brahui/Balochi: قلات), historically known as Qīqān,^{[2] [3]} is a historic town located in Kalat District, in Pakistan's Balochistan province. The town of Kalat is the headquarter of Kalat District and is known locally as Kalat-e-Brahui and Kalat-e-Sewa.^[4]

Qalat, formerly Qilat, is located roughly in the center of the Balochistan province, It was the capital of the Kalat Khanate. The Khan of Kalat is presently a ceremonial title held by Mir Suleman Dawood Jan, and the Pakistan government has made efforts to reconcile with him; his son, Prince Mohammed, who is next in line to be the Khan of Kalat, is pro-Pakistan.^[5]

History

See main article: article and Khanate of Kalat.

The town of Kalat is said to have been founded by and named Qalat-e Sewa (Sewa's Fort), after Sewa, a legendary hero of the Brahui people.

The Brahui Speaking tribes arrived from east in the Qalat area way before the arrival of Balochi speaking tribes from the west. The Brohis established a large kingdom in the 15th century, but it soon declined and the region fell to Mughals for a short period. The brahui speaking Khans of Qalat were dominant from the 17th century onwards until the arrival of the British in the 19th century. A treaty was signed in 1876 to make Qalat part of the British Empire.

In 1947, the Khan of Kalat reportedly acceded to the dominion of Pakistan. In 1948, Qalat became part of Pakistan when the British withdrew. The last Khan of Qalat was formally removed from power in 1955, but the title is still claimed by his descendants. The current Khan of Qalat is Mir Suleman Dawood Khan Ahmadzai.

Climate

Kalat features a cold desert climate (BWk) under the Köppen climate classification. The average temperature in Kalat is, while the annual precipitation averages . June is the driest month with of rainfall, while January, the wettest month, has an average precipitation of .

July is the warmest month of the year with an average temperature of . The coldest month January has an average temperature of . The all-time lowest recorded temperature in Kalat was on 20 January 1978,^[6] while the highest temperature ever recorded was on 19 June 1977.

Demographics

The population is mostly Muslim (97 percent), with a Hindu population of three percent,^[7] out of which many are Hindkowan merchants who regard Kalat as their homeland.^{[8] [9]}

Religious
group! colspan="2"

1941[10]	2017[11] [12]
	2,049		35,547
	381		1,234
	33
	0		13
			2
Total population	2,463		36,796

Kalat Kali Temple

There is a Hindu temple devoted to Kali.^[13] On 21 December 2010, the 82 year old chief-priest was abducted in what was reported as part of increasingly routine targeting of minority Hindus in the province.^[14]

References

• Kalat district - The Planning and Development Department of the Government of Balochistan

External links

• The Land and People of Baluchistan

Notes and References

1. Web site: "Final Results of Census-2017 Table 2: Urban localities by population size and their population by sex, annual growth rate and household size".
2. Web site: باب الاسلام سندھ ؛ محمد بن قاسم سے قبل سندھ پر حملے کی اسلامی جنگی مہمات. Zeeshan Muhammad. Baig. December 10, 2017. Express.
3. Book: Asif, Manan Ahmed. A Book of Conquest. September 19, 2016. Harvard University Press. 9780674660113. Google Books.
4. Book: Viking fund publications in anthropology, Issue 43. Below the citadel lies a Hindu temple of Kāli, probably of pre-Muhammadan date.. 1908. Viking Fund. 2008-08-17.
5. Web site: Khan of Kalat being persuaded to return home. Saleem. Shahid. June 29, 2015. DAWN.COM.
6. Web site: Historical Events. 2021-10-07. rmcbalochistan.pmd.gov.pk.
7. Book: Encyclopædia Britannica: a new survey of universal knowledge, Volume 3 . Almost all the people are Muslim ; the largest Hindu minorities are in the Sibi (9%) and Kalat (2%) districts.. 1964. Encyclopœdia Britannica. 2008-08-17.
8. Book: Viking fund publications in anthropology, Issue 43. ...is in the hands of a small caste of Hindu merchants. These Hindus are Hindko-speaking and regard Kalat as their homeland, where they generally keep their families and go for some months every year to visit and to obtain supplies. While in the Marri area, they must be under the protection of a local Marri chief or the sardar himself.. 1966. Viking Fund. 2008-08-17.
9. Book: The social organization of the Marri Baluch. ...is in the hands of a small caste of Hindu merchants. These Hindus are Hindko-speaking and regard Kalat as their homeland, where they generally keep their families and go for some months every year to visit and to obtain supplies. While in the Marri area, they must be under the protection of a local Marri chief or the sardar himself.. 1977. Indus Publications . 2008-08-17.
10. Web site: CENSUS OF INDIA, 1941 VOLUME XIV BALUCHISTAN. 27 January 2023.
11. Web site: Final Results (Census-2017). 27 January 2023.
12. Web site: District Wise Results / Tables (Census - 2017) TABLE 9 - POPULATION BY SEX, RELIGION AND RURAL/URBAN. 27 January 2023.
13. Web site: Notezai . Muhammad Akbar . 2017-10-15 . FOOTPRINTS: DESCENDANTS OF ROYALTY . 2022-05-24 . DAWN.COM . en.
14. Web site: Baabar . Mariana . 2022-02-05 . No Country For Kafirs? . Outlook . en.