Reconstructing Baloch Religious Identity through the Expansion of Deobandi Madrasas in Saravan: A Historical Analysis

The present article examines the transformation of religious life in Saravan across two distinct historical periods. The first, extending to the 1930s, was characterized by traditional Sufi influences and a locally embedded form of Sunni Islam rooted primarily in the Hanafi school of jurisprudence. The second period, beginning in the 1930s, witnessed the emergence and expansion of Deobandi religious influence in Saravan. Drawing on a qualitative historical approach, the article traces the evolution of local authority and institutional structures in Saravan. The findings indicate that the expansion of Deobandi madrasas contributed to a transition from a localized religious order toward a more structured and institutionally mediated system of religious authority. Deobandi madrasas played a significant role in systematically providing religious education, strengthening the position of ulama, and expanding networks of religious knowledge. The article argues that the development of Deobandi madrasas contributed to the reconfiguration of religious organization and collective religious identity in Saravan.