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Baloch بلوچ
Total population
approximately 9 million
Regions with significant populations
Baluchestan (region)6.2 million (2008)[1]
 Iran1.484 million (2009)[2][3]
 Afghanistan567,920 (2009)[4]
 Oman425,000 (2009)[5][6]
 United Arab Emirates100,000[7]
 Turkmenistan28,000 (1993)[8]
 Kuwait20,000 (1993)[9]
 Qatar13,000 (2007)[9]
 Saudi Arabia12,000 (2007)
[9]
 Somalia8,200 (2007)
[9]
 Bahrain25,000 (2009)
[9]
Languages
Baluchi, Kurdish, Pashto, Mazandarani, Persian and Avestan
Related ethnic groups
Kurdish people, Pashtuns, Mazandaranis, Lurs and other Iranic groups

The Baloch' or Baluch (بلوچ) are an ethnic group that belong to the larger Persian people including Kurds and Lurs. Baluch people mainly inhabit the Baluchestan region and Sistan va Baluchestan in the southeast corner of the Persian plateau in Western Asia since their departure from Mesopotamia due to reasons largely believed to be continuous wars and chaos in Ancient Persia that pushed them towards their present location in Sistan va Baluchestan in present day Iran and later towards Baluchestan and parts of Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, as well as on the other side of the Gulf of Oman in Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain.

The Baluch people mainly speak Baluchi, which is a branch of the Persian languages is highly influenced by that of Mesopotamia and share similarities with the Kurdish language. Baluch inhabit mountainous terrains and deserts and maintain a very distinct cultural identity.

Some 70 percent of the total Baluch population live in Baluchestan. About 22 percent inhabit the Iranian region of Sistan va Baluchestan. Much of the remaining live in Afghanistan, Oman, Bahrain, Kuwait. Small communities of Baluch people also live in Sweden, and Perth, Australia where they arrived in 1800's.

Origins and History

File:Iranburntcity.jpg
Ancient Temple in the region of Sistan va Baluchestan province of Iran. One of the most ancient sites in Iran is The Burnt City, located in the Eastern part of the country, South of Zabol in the region of Sistan

[10]

File:BMedia.jpg
Seb Castle in historical city of Sistan va Baluchestan

[11]

Baluch by many historians are widely believed to have first arrived in the region of Sistan va Baluchestan province of Iran in the twelfth century to protect the Median borders. In the epigraphs of Bistoon and Persepolis, Sistan is mentioned as one of the eastern territories of Darius the Great (Darius I of Achaemenid).[12] Their name, "Baluch" is shrouded in controversy. According to historians like Ernst Herzfeld, the word “Baluch” is derived from the Median word brza-vaciya which means a loud cry, while others claim the word derives from Ancient Persian languages which also has a Median history. Baluch people are believed to have migrated many years ago due to reasons widely blamed on the general beginning of breakout of chaos and wars in the region, to present day Sistan va Baluchestan province of Iran and later expanded to other parts of Baluchestan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan and other.


Baluchi Culture

Baluchi women.
Baluch women in Sistan va Baluchestan province of Iran

[13]

The Baluch are an ancient Iranians who to this day follow many of their exclusive and unique celebrations and feats. The Baluchi culture is mentioned in the Pirmohamad M. Zehi's travel to province of Sakestan, or today Sistan va Baluchistan province of Iran that holds a strong importance in shaping the present culture of Baluch, the most interesting fact about this region is that the way Baluch people follow their traditions and customs. For example, taking pride in their traditional clothing and . Baluch people have been able to preserve the way they dress with a little change. The Baluch men wear long shirts with long sleeves and loose pants resembling that of Partho-Sassanids outfits of ancient Persia, the dress is occasionally accompanied by a turban or a hat around their heads. The dress worn by Baluch women is one of the most interesting aspect of Baluchi culture. They are of strong significance to the culture of Iran and hold their special place in the society. The women put on loose dress and pants with sophisticated and colorful needle works including a large pocket at the front of the dress to hold women accessories. The upper part of the dress and sleeves are also decorated with needle works, performing artistic work that is specific of the clothing of the Baluchi women. Many of the time the dress may also contain round or square pieces of glasses to further enhance the presentation. They cover their hair with a scarf that is called ‘Sarig’ in the local dialect.[14] These customs are unique of the people of Iran and the art of performing this needlework on women clothing may also provide one with the picture of the freedom and high status of women in Baluch culture.

Baluch Couple.
Baluch couple in Sistan va Baluchestan province, Iran

[15]

Gold ornaments such as necklaces and bracelets are an important aspect of Baluch women’s traditions and one of their most favourable jewelry is `Dorr' or heavy earrings that are fastened to the head with gold chains so that the heavy weight will not cause harm to the ears. They usually wear a gold brooch called ‘Tasni’ that are made by local jewelers in different shapes and sizes and are used to fasten the two parts of the dress over the chest together. In the ancient times especially the pre-Islamic it was common of Baluch women to perform dances and sing folk songs in different events. Tradition of singing lullaby to her children by a Baluch mother plays a great role in the transfer of knowledge from generation to generation since the ancient times. Apart from the dressing style of the Baluch, Indigenous and local traditions and customs are also of greater importance to the Baluch.[16] However, Baluch women is highly misrepresented in the Pakistani media as backward and subject to extreme tribal punishments. [[2]].The fact that the media is controlled and run by larger populations make it easier to vandalize information about Baluch people and prevent Baluchi culture from coming forward in the 21st century which has done a lot of damage to Baluchi culture. Due to lack of sense of importance of cultural identity and language in the Pakistani society which is largely influenced by the Indian cultures, Mughals and the fact that larger populations represent the media and are able to vandalize and hide information on Baluch people as the population of region of present day war torn Baluchestan is little and has suffered from this delebrate acts of violation of Baluchi culture and resources through invasions to Baluchi lands and interfering in internal Baluch affairs by using local tribal chieftains as dictatorship and subject to strict Islamic laws for many years. [17]



Ancient Baluchi Customs and Traditions

Baluch customs and traditions shape their way of life and how they deal with every day. These strong traditions and cultural values are very important to Baluch people and have enabled them to keep their distinctive ancient cultural identity and way of life with a little change to this day. The beginning of Baluchi culture, the way they live their lives and their traditions can be traced back to Mesopotamia which is also widely accepted as the origins of Baluch people.

Women
Women performing Baluchi dance in Iranshahr, Iran

[18]

Baluchi Music and Major Instruments

The folk music has always played a great role in Baluchi traditions. The Baluchi music and instruments belong to the same branch of Persian music performed by many other Iranian people including Kurds, Lurs, Tajiks and others. Traditions like transfer of knowledge from generation to generation by singing lullaby to children and praising warriors also have a significant role in Baluchi music traditions. The fact that both men and women participate in folk music reflects on the pre-Islamic significance of folk music in Baluchi culture. Many years of invasions, wars and later adopted religious values have prevented Baluchi music from prevailing further in the 21st century. However, a Swedish folk band Golbang has made achievements in introducing Baluchi folk music in the western world. The instruments used in Baluchi music can also be found throughout modern day Kurdistan,Iran, Afghanistan and present day occupied Baluchestan. The most commonly used instruments in Baluchi folk music are Tanbur, long-necked lutes. Lutes have been present in Mesopotamia since the Akkadian era, or the third millennium BCE. Dohol a large cylindrical drum with two skin heads, it is the principal accompaniment for the Surna an ancient Iranian woodwind instrument that dates back to the Achaemenid Dynasty (550-330 B.C.E.). Ney which is also commonly played with using single or double flutes. Suroz, a Baluchi folk violin is also commonly played. Other Baluchi musical instruments include: Tar, Saz, and others.

Baloch Women.
Baluch women performing their traditional needlework

[19]


Baluchi Language

Balochi language is spoken in Iran, Baluchestan (region), Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf Arab-States, Turkmenistan and also as far as East Africa and some western countries. It is classified as a member of the Iranian group of the Indo-European language family which includes Kurdish, Persian, Pashto, Dari, Tajik, Ossetian. Baluchi is has closest similarities to the language Kurdish people, Persian, Avestan and also other Iranian languages.


English Baluchi Kurdish Pashto Mazandarani Persian Middle Persian Old Persian Avestan
beautiful sharr, soherâ rind, delal/cwan ʂkulai/xkulai, ʂɑjista/xɑjista ṣəmxâl/ Xəş-nəmâ zibâ/ xuš-chehreh hučihr, hužihr naiba vahu-, srîra
brother brāt, brās bira wror birâr barādar brād, brâdar brâtar brâtar-
daughter dohtir, duttag keç, kîj, dot/kiç, kîj, kenîşk lur kijâ/ dether doxtar duxtar unknown duxδar
dark thár tarî/tarîk tjɑrə siyo târīg/k tarik tarik sâmahe, sâma
father pit, piss bav/bab, bawk plɑr piyer pedar pidar pitar pitar
man merd mêr/ pyaw saɺ̡ai, meɺ̡ə merd mard mard martiya- mašîm, mašya
mother mât, mâs dayik, mak mor mâr mâdar mâdar mādar mâtar

More examples: Persian languages


Two main dialects are mainly spoken in Sistan va Baluchestan and Baluchestan, Eastern and Western mostly spoken all over location where Baluch people inhabit. The exact number of Baluch people is difficult to know since they settle in different locations, but the estimated number could be around six million, most of whom speak Western Baluchi, which is also the dialect that has been most widely used in Baluchi literature. Within the Western dialect are two further dialects, Rakhshani (in the northern areas) and Makrani (in the south).[[]][20] Like many other Iranian people, the Baluch have several tribes and also sub-tribes. Some of these tribes speak Brahui, while most speak Baluchi. Multilingualism is common, with many Baluch speaking both Brahui and Baluchi. The Marri tribe and the Bugti tribe speak Baluchi. The Mengal tribe, who live in Chagai, Khuzdar, Kharan and in southern parts of Afghanistan, speak Brahui. The Lango tribe, who live in central Baluchestan in the Mangochar area, speak Baluchi as their first language and Brahui as their second. The Bizenjo tribe living in the Khuzdar, Nal, and parts of Makkura, along with the Muhammadsanis, speak both languages. The Bangulzai tribe mostly speaks Brahui, but has a Baluchi-speaking minority (known as Garanis).

The Mazaris widely speak Baluchi or both dialects. The Malghani are part of the Nutkani tribe, which is the largest tribe of the Tehsil. The Talpur, Mastoi, Jatoi, Gabol, Lashari, Chandio, Khushk, Khosa, Bozdar, Jiskani, Heesbani, Magsi, Zardari, Rind, Bhurgri, Jakhrani and other Baluch tribes that settled in Sindh speak Sindhi, Baluchi and Siraiki. Qaisrani Baluch living near Taunsa Sharif speak Saraiki and Baluchi, while their clansmen living the Dera Ghazi Khan tribal areas speak Balochi. Lund Baluch living in Shadan Lund speak Sindhi, Sairaki and Balochi. The Leghari, Lashari, Korai, Kunara Baluch settled in the Dera Ismail Khan and Mianwali Districts of khyber pakhtoonkhwa speaks Siraiki as their first Language.The Tauqi Baloch settled in the Khara, Noshki, Chaghi and Washuk Districts of Balochistan and can speak both Baluchi and Bravi, but their primary language is Baluchi.Buzdar is one of the largest tribe of baloch in southern Punjab, living in Koh-e-Suleman. The Buzdar Tribe is comprised of 4 union councils in District Dera Ghazi khan. It is headed by Sardar Fateh Muhammad Khan Buzdar, While Sardar Farooq Buzdar, also belonging froms same family, hold a very prominent position among the Buzdar tribe. [21]

Baluch in Oman

The Southern Baluch of Oman began migrating from coastal Baluchestan to the Arab lands some 200 years before oil was discovered. The Baluch in Oman have maintained their ethnic and linguistic distinctions. The Southern Baloch compose approximately 22% of the country's population. The traditional economy of Baluch in Oman is based on a combination of trade, farming and semi-nomadic shepherding. [22]


See also

References

  • Iran". International Monetary Fund. [23]. Retrieved 2010-04-21.
  1. ^ [1], Wapedia.mobi . Retrieved September, 2010.
  2. ^ Languages of Iran, Ethnologue.com . Retrieved June 7, 2006.
  3. ^ Iran, Library of Congress, Country Profile . Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  4. ^ Afghanistan, CIA World Factbook . Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  5. ^ Languages of Oman, Ethnologue.com . Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  6. ^ Oman, CIA World Factbook . Retrieved December 5, 2009.
  7. ^ Languages of United Arab Emirates, Ethnologue.com . Retrieved 5 December 2009.
  8. ^ Languages of Turkmenistan, Ethnologue.com . Retrieved June 7, 2006.
  9. ^ a b c d e Languages of Kuwait, Ethnologue.com . Retrieved June 7, 2006. Cite error: The named reference "pbt" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
  10. ^ "Google Image Result for http://www.kavehfarrokh.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/burnt-city.jpg". Google.com.au. Retrieved 2010-09-07. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  11. ^ "Historical Iranian sites and people: Seb Castle". photobucket.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  12. ^ "Iranian Provinces: Sistan and Baluchistan". Iranchamber.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  13. ^ "Mind & Body". IranDokht. 2005-10-08. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  14. ^ "People of Iran: A Cultural Anthropology of Baluchis". Iranchamber.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  15. ^ "Photopage". iranbaluch.4t.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  16. ^ "Baloch Society & culture". Baask.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  17. ^ "Balochistan: Dishonored killings | Women Living Under Muslim Laws". Wluml.org. 2010-01-01. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  18. ^ "Mahalli Dancers". Robertdewarren.org. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  19. ^ "Sistan-Baluchestan Province". Persiancarpetguide.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  20. ^ "Languages of Iran. Iran at Middle East Explorer". Middleeastexplorer.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  21. ^ "Apart from Baluchi the principle language of Baluchestan". Balochonline.com. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  22. ^ "Joshua Project - Baloch, Southern of Oman Ethnic People Profile". joshuaproject.net. Retrieved 2010-09-07.
  23. ^ "Report for Selected Countries and Subjects". Imf.org. 2006-09-14. Retrieved 2010-09-07.


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