Exploring the religious and cultural aspects of Baluchistan

Balochistan: Architecture, Craft, and Religious Symbolism, by Dr Mohsen Keiany, is one of the few studies focusing on the culture, architecture and religious traditions of Balochistan (also spelt Baluchistan) and its people. The hardback (ISBN 978-0-19-906784-8) is published by OUP Pakistan, runs to 370 pages and costs £41.99 excluding VAT.                                                     

In this January 2015 research work Dr Keiany, an artist and lecturer in architecture and visual arts at the University of Arts in Isfahan and also at Azad University of Shiraz, Iran, explores the living tradition of Baluchistan and provides a deeper understanding of its religo-cultural aspects. The architectural and artistic traditions are well-documented in this book. The material presented on prayer rugs, tents, and aspects of the nomadic and semi-nomadic architecture is wholly original. 

The research first focuses on the social environment of Baluchistan, in order to understand the input of local culture and tribo-religious influences of local architecture. The Baluchi lifestyle is analysed on a broad plane, taking into account native architecture including mosques and symbolic minarets as key factors, together with their design, characteristics, social contextualisation and methods of production.