Sir Robert Groves Sandeman, KCSI (1835–1892) was a British Indian Army officer and colonial administrator. He was known for his activities in Balochistan, where he introduced a system of "tribal pacification" that endured until the partition of India in 1947.
Sandeman was born on 25 February 1835, the son of General Robert Turnbull Sandeman. He was educated at Perth and University of St Andrews, and joined the 33rd Bengal Infantry in 1856. When that regiment was disarmed at Phillour by General John Nicholson during the Indian Rebellion of 1857, he took part in the final capture of Lucknow as adjutant of the 11th Bengal Lancers. After the suppression of the Mutiny he was appointed to the Punjab Commission by Sir John Lawrence.
Careeredit
In 1866 he was appointed district officer of Dera Ghazi Khan, and there first showed his capacity in dealing with the Baluch tribes. He was the first to break through the close-border system of Lord Lawrence by extending British influence to the independent tribes beyond the border. In his hands this policy worked admirably, owing to his tact in managing the tribesmen and his genius for control.[citation needed]
In February 1871, he was given political control over the warring Marri, Bugti and Mazari tribes of the Sulaiman Hills at the Mithankot conference between the then governments of Punjab and Sindh provinces.
In 1876, with the help of Nawab Sir Imam Baksh Khan Mazari of Rojhan, he negotiated the Treaty of Kalat with the Khan of Kalat, which subsequently governed relations between Kalat and the government. He became agent to the governor-general of Balochistan in 1877, an office which he held until his death.
Sandeman introduced an innovative system of tribal pacification in Balochistan, informally termed 'Sandemanization', that was in effect from 1877 to 1947. He gave financial allowances to tribal chiefs who enforced control, and used British military force only when necessary. However, the Government of India generally opposed his Forward Policy methods and refused to allow it to operate in India's North West Frontier. Historians have long debated its scope and effectiveness in his mostly peaceful spread of Imperial influence.[2]
Second Afghan War and aftermathedit
During the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878 his influence over the tribesmen was of the utmost importance, since it enabled him to keep intact the line of communications with Kandahar, and to control the tribes after the British disaster at Maiwand. For these services he was made K.C.S.I. in 1879. In 1889 he occupied the Zhob valley, a strategic advantage which opened the Gomal Pass through the Waziri country to caravan traffic. Sandeman's system was not so well suited to the Pashtun as to his Baluch neighbours. But in Balochistan he was a pioneer, a pacificator and a successful administrator, who converted the region from a state of complete anarchy into a province as orderly as any in British India.
Legacy and evaluationedit
Sandeman died at Bela, the capital of Las Bela state, on 29 January 1892. His nephew by his sister Julia was Walter Massy-Greene, who became a cabinet minister in Australia.[3]
Recent scholarship in postcolonial studies and on colonial Balochistan has disputed this overtly laudatory account of Sandeman's life and career as explicated in books such as Tucker's "Sir Robert G. Sandeman: Peaceful Conqueror of Balochistan" and Bruce's "The Forward Policy and its Results". At a conceptual level, the idea of colonial rulers bringing order to the colonized territory has been questioned by authors such as Edward Said and Nicholas Dirks who argue that this myth resulted from a misunderstanding of (mostly unwritten) local social and cultural norms. It was the product of an effort to make alien peoples and territories governable through the invention of categories of savage and civilized. In respect of colonial Balochistan, Simanti Dutta points out that Sandeman skillfully exploited an existing rift between the Baloch ruler, the Khan of Kalat, and his subordinate tribal chiefs to leverage his influence and project British power into a region which was strategically significant in the context of Anglo-Russian rivalry in Afghanistan. A careful examination of historical records[by whom?] suggests that there were a number of armed uprisings against British rule in Balochistan during and after Sandeman's tenure which had to be put down through the use of lethal force and imposition of crippling financial penalties on the defaulting tribes[citation needed].
Notesedit
^"Sir Robert G. Sandeman, K.C.S.I., peaceful conqueror of Baluchistan". 1921.
^Christian Tripodi, "'Good for one but not the other': The 'Sandeman System' of Pacification as Applied to Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier, 1877–1947." Journal of Military History 73#3 (2009): 767–802. online
Tripodi, Christian. "'Good for one but not the other': The 'Sandeman System' of Pacification as Applied to Baluchistan and the North-West Frontier, 1877–1947." Journal of Military History 73#3 (2009): 767–802. online
Tucker AP (1921) Sir Robert G. Sandeman, K.C.S.I., peaceful conqueror of Baluchistan.
Thornton, Thomas Henry (1895) Colonel Sir Robert Sandeman: His Life and Work on Our Indian Frontier
Dutta, Simanti (2002) Imperial Mappings in Savage Spaces: Baluchistan and British India.ISBN9788176462365
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Sandeman, Sir Robert Groves". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 24 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
Moreman, T. R. "Sandeman, Sir Robert Groves (1835–1892)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/24616. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
robert, groves, sandeman, kcsi, 1835, 1892, british, indian, army, officer, colonial, administrator, known, activities, balochistan, where, introduced, system, tribal, pacification, that, endured, until, partition, india, 1947, born, 1835, february, 1835perth,. Sir Robert Groves Sandeman KCSI 1835 1892 was a British Indian Army officer and colonial administrator He was known for his activities in Balochistan where he introduced a system of tribal pacification that endured until the partition of India in 1947 Robert Groves SandemanBorn 1835 02 25 25 February 1835Perth Scotland 1 Died29 January 1892 1892 01 29 aged 56 Bela Lasbela British India now Bela Balochistan Pakistan Occupation s British Indian Army officer and colonial administratorRelativesWalter Massy Greene nephew Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 2 1 Sandemanization 2 2 Second Afghan War and aftermath 3 Legacy and evaluation 4 Notes 5 ReferencesEarly life editSandeman was born on 25 February 1835 the son of General Robert Turnbull Sandeman He was educated at Perth and University of St Andrews and joined the 33rd Bengal Infantry in 1856 When that regiment was disarmed at Phillour by General John Nicholson during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 he took part in the final capture of Lucknow as adjutant of the 11th Bengal Lancers After the suppression of the Mutiny he was appointed to the Punjab Commission by Sir John Lawrence Career editIn 1866 he was appointed district officer of Dera Ghazi Khan and there first showed his capacity in dealing with the Baluch tribes He was the first to break through the close border system of Lord Lawrence by extending British influence to the independent tribes beyond the border In his hands this policy worked admirably owing to his tact in managing the tribesmen and his genius for control citation needed In February 1871 he was given political control over the warring Marri Bugti and Mazari tribes of the Sulaiman Hills at the Mithankot conference between the then governments of Punjab and Sindh provinces Sandemanization edit See also Baluchistan Agency In 1876 with the help of Nawab Sir Imam Baksh Khan Mazari of Rojhan he negotiated the Treaty of Kalat with the Khan of Kalat which subsequently governed relations between Kalat and the government He became agent to the governor general of Balochistan in 1877 an office which he held until his death Sandeman introduced an innovative system of tribal pacification in Balochistan informally termed Sandemanization that was in effect from 1877 to 1947 He gave financial allowances to tribal chiefs who enforced control and used British military force only when necessary However the Government of India generally opposed his Forward Policy methods and refused to allow it to operate in India s North West Frontier Historians have long debated its scope and effectiveness in his mostly peaceful spread of Imperial influence 2 Second Afghan War and aftermath edit During the Second Anglo Afghan War in 1878 his influence over the tribesmen was of the utmost importance since it enabled him to keep intact the line of communications with Kandahar and to control the tribes after the British disaster at Maiwand For these services he was made K C S I in 1879 In 1889 he occupied the Zhob valley a strategic advantage which opened the Gomal Pass through the Waziri country to caravan traffic Sandeman s system was not so well suited to the Pashtun as to his Baluch neighbours But in Balochistan he was a pioneer a pacificator and a successful administrator who converted the region from a state of complete anarchy into a province as orderly as any in British India Legacy and evaluation editSandeman died at Bela the capital of Las Bela state on 29 January 1892 His nephew by his sister Julia was Walter Massy Greene who became a cabinet minister in Australia 3 Recent scholarship in postcolonial studies and on colonial Balochistan has disputed this overtly laudatory account of Sandeman s life and career as explicated in books such as Tucker s Sir Robert G Sandeman Peaceful Conqueror of Balochistan and Bruce s The Forward Policy and its Results At a conceptual level the idea of colonial rulers bringing order to the colonized territory has been questioned by authors such as Edward Said and Nicholas Dirks who argue that this myth resulted from a misunderstanding of mostly unwritten local social and cultural norms It was the product of an effort to make alien peoples and territories governable through the invention of categories of savage and civilized In respect of colonial Balochistan Simanti Dutta points out that Sandeman skillfully exploited an existing rift between the Baloch ruler the Khan of Kalat and his subordinate tribal chiefs to leverage his influence and project British power into a region which was strategically significant in the context of Anglo Russian rivalry in Afghanistan A careful examination of historical records by whom suggests that there were a number of armed uprisings against British rule in Balochistan during and after Sandeman s tenure which had to be put down through the use of lethal force and imposition of crippling financial penalties on the defaulting tribes citation needed Notes edit Sir Robert G Sandeman K C S I peaceful conqueror of Baluchistan 1921 Christian Tripodi Good for one but not the other The Sandeman System of Pacification as Applied to Baluchistan and the North West Frontier 1877 1947 Journal of Military History 73 3 2009 767 802 online Mrs Greene The Sydney Morning Herald 16 December 1932 References editTripodi Christian Good for one but not the other The Sandeman System of Pacification as Applied to Baluchistan and the North West Frontier 1877 1947 Journal of Military History 73 3 2009 767 802 online Tucker AP 1921 Sir Robert G Sandeman K C S I peaceful conqueror of Baluchistan Thornton Thomas Henry 1895 Colonel Sir Robert Sandeman His Life and Work on Our Indian Frontier Bruce Richard Isaac 1900 The Forward Policy and its Results Said Edward 1978 Orientalism Said Edward 1993 Culture and Imperialism Dirks Nicholas 1992 Colonialism and Culture Dutta Simanti 2002 Imperial Mappings in Savage Spaces Baluchistan and British India ISBN 9788176462365 nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Sandeman Sir Robert Groves Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 24 11th ed Cambridge University Press Broadfoot William 1897 Sandeman Robert Groves In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 50 London Smith Elder amp Co Moreman T R Sandeman Sir Robert Groves 1835 1892 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 24616 Subscription or UK public library membership required Government officesPreceded byNew office Sir Oliver St John acting Chief Commissioner of Balochistan1887 1889 Succeeded bySir Harry Prendergast acting Preceded bySir Harry Prendergast acting Chief Commissioner of Balochistan1889 1891 Succeeded bySir Hugh BarnesPreceded byJohn Biddulph acting Chief Commissioner of Balochistan1891 1892 Succeeded bySir Hugh Barnes acting Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Robert Groves Sandeman amp oldid 1144525285, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
