The Rise of Baloch Nationalism and Resistance – VI

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

The Period of Ambiguity and the latest Insurgency

The split in the ranks of the resistance composed largely of the Marri tribe meant Mir Hazar went openly into the arms of the Pakistani state. That meant a person who could have helped the armed struggle that began later was neutralised. Things were not in a good shape on the other side as well because three sons of Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, the tribe’s Sardar (chief), Jangez, Gazain and Hayrbiyar, despite his displeasure, became ministers in the Balochistan government headed by Zulfiqar Magsi. This came as a huge disappointment to a lot of Baloch who looked up to Khair Bakhsh as an uncompromising Baloch nationalist who put no faith in parliamentary politics. It was the lowest point in decades as people thought that even Khair Bakhsh had given up on the struggle for Baloch rights, which was contrary to the facts as he carried on study circles and nurtured and promoted those he felt could and would fight. Among others in this circle was his son Balach Marri.

On January 7, 2000, Justice Mohammad Nawaz Marri was killed. Khair Bakhsh was implicated in the case. He was arrested and remained incarcerated for 18 months. Eventually he was released on bail as the case was false. The arrest of Khair Bakhsh on trumped up charges created a lot of resentment among the people and it also meant the end of the wishful period during which the sons of Khair Bakhsh cooperated with the state. This was always and had to eventually be proved an exercise in futility that may have satisfied some egos but was always a zero-sum game.

The Rise of Baloch Nationalism and Resistance – V

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Changing economy and changed social and political consciousness

When I went to the Marri area in October 1971, it was a pastoral society. Apart from the few urban areas in Balochistan, the Marri area was a microcosm of Balochistan. Economic relations were simple, just an advanced stage of a barter economy as livestock was sold for goods and services required. In other words, economic relations were simple, the economy pastoral and life tribal. Simple lives meant simple ideas, although reinforced by oral history and traditions that emphasised the dignity of freedom even if only from the domination of neighbouring tribes, i.e. the concept of competition with the Siyal (an equal but opponent). This simple and rudimentary idea of independence could, in the larger context, be correlated and extended to independence from the domination of the Baloch by powers alien. The simple can be changed to complex as it provides the basis and foundation for the more complex idea of independence.

The changes in attitudes and mindsets that all people go through are partly influenced by inevitable economic changes that are not entirely subject to human desires. It is the march of history in the shape of changing economic relations amongst the people and the state’s attempts to engineer changes to its advantage that also matter a lot. Being determines consciousness is not an empty adage. It is the most crucial factor, which is either overlooked completely or misunderstood at best. Individual consciousness is something that cannot be divorced from one’s class or socio-economic group.

The Rise of Baloch Nationalism and Resistance – IV

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Although an amnesty was declared in 1970, the Farrars (rebels) of Marri area weren’t disbanded but continued as in the past and kept the government wary and unable to make any physical or political inroads into the Marri area. In 1970, before the general elections, Mir Ali Bakhsh Talpur of Mirpurkhas visited Babu Sher Mohammad Marri in the Tadri Mountain along with Mohammad Bhabha and Yusuf Nashqandi. Mohammad Bhabha was a political activist and believed that educated youth could be of help to the Baloch people. He put that proposition to Babu, who accepted it after consultation with Sardar Khair Bakhsh Marri and Mir Hazar Khan Ramkani. Thus began the involvement of Marxist revolutionaries with the Baloch resistance.

The 1970 elections in Pakistan saw the Awami League (AL) of Sheikh Mujib ur Rehman win a majority. Thereby the person who had been branded a traitor in the Agartala Conspiracy Case stood on the threshold of becoming the Prime Minister (PM) with a majority big enough to have his way. But for the Punjab-dominated establishment and army, this was an unacceptably bitter pill to swallow for it could have loosened their grip on power forever as the AL had the support of the National Awami Party (NAP) of Wali Khan in West Pakistan. Moreover, the Bengali people were more politically aware and would likely thwart any attempts at usurping civilian power. Then began the pantomime of how to deny the Bengalis their rightful share in power. The establishment found in Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto a willing partner in the efforts to thwart Sheikh Mujib from getting into the coveted position of PM.

The Rise of Baloch Nationalism and Resistance – III

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

The Baloch leaders were incarcerated or exiled from Balochistan to deprive them of the support and also interaction with people they had influence on and those whom they could potentially influence to resist the injustices against the Baloch. They thought by separating the fish (guerrillas) from the water (people), they could stifle the resentment that was now burgeoning.

One such exile was Sher Mohammad Marri (Babu). He was accused of getting arms for the fight against injustice to the Baloch. My father Mir Ali Ahmed Talpur had invited him for lunch at our house in Karachi in 1961. There, among other things, he said he was accused of procuring 500 rifles. He said he could confront the torturers of the Baloch if he had just 50 rifles. Sometime in 1962 he skipped bail that restricted him to Sindh. The bail was provided by a friend of my father. Babu went into the mountains, first near Quetta and then in the Marri area. This too was a watershed moment, a defining moment in the armed struggle history of the Baloch for this was the beginning of organised armed resistance by the people permanently under arms and committed to fighting for their rights.

The Rise of Baloch Nationalism and Resistance – II

 Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

The world was changing and the people of India were clamouring for independence. These developments did have a spillover effect and the idea of independence did politically infect some Baloch too who, despite Kalat having a special status, were insisting on more freedom and rights. These were the rudimentary beginnings of modern Baloch Nationalism and these whisperings were eventually to become louder and louder.

The Baloch not only militarily resisted the British, they were politically active as well. In 1920 Abdul Aziz Kurd formed the Young Baloch movement, which remained underground till 1926. Then Yusuf Magsi formed the Anjuman-e-Itehad-e-Balochistan. Then came the Kalat State National Party in which among others were Mir Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo, Mir Gul Khan Naseer and Abdul Karim Shorish. All demanded an independent Balochistan. Ahmad Yar Khan, who became the Khan of Kalat on December 20, 1933, supported the Anjuman. Though the British restricted political activities and the leaders faced exile, the political struggles didn’t wane.

The Rise of Baloch Nationalism and Resistance – I

Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur

Nationalism is not a factory-produced finished good. Like all social processes it is constantly evolving as economic relations and conditions, political ideals, awareness of history all contribute towards its growth or retardation. Moreover a lot depends on those who are the icons and opinion makers of that nation to determine which way it will evolve. A lot also depends on how a society is organised and what values the people hold close to their hearts. This being said, the natural corollary is that each nation and society will opt for the nationalism that is closer not only to its ideals but also to its needs. Hence it follows that Baloch nationalism has evolved in an environment specific to its people and towards goals cherished by the people. Let me add: the Baloch history of resisting aggressors forms the crux of its culture and the Baloch are brought up in an ethos that equates freedom with dignity.

کثیر لسانی تعلیم بین نسلی تعلیم کا ایک ستون ہے۔

ٹورنٹو میں پشتون کونسل کینیڈا کےتحت مادری زبان کےعالمی دن کی تقریب سےصدربلوچ ہیومن رائٹس کونسل آف کینیڈا ڈاکٹر ظفر بلوچ کا خطاب ۔

خواتین، حضرات، معزز ساتھی، اور متنوع ثقافتوں کے نمائندے۔

اس اہم تقریب کی میزبانی کرنے اور ہمیں اپنے ثقافتی ورثے اور تعلیم میں مادری زبان کی اہمیت اور انسانیت کی مجموعی ترقی کی یاد دلانے کے لیے پشتون کونسل آف کینیڈا کا شکریہ۔

Multilingual Education is a Pillar of Intergenerational Learning

Toronto: Pashtun Council Canada hosted International Mother Language Day to commemorate the heroic struggle of Dhaka University students for Bangla as their national language.

Pashtun, Baloch, Sindhi, and Bangladesh representatives delivered speeches on multiculturalism. Below is the text of the speech delivered by Zaffar Baloch on the occasion

Good evening,

Ladies, gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and representatives of diverse cultures.

Thank you Pashtun Council of Canada for hosting this significant event and reminding us of our cultural heritage and the importance of the mother language in education and the holistic growth of humanity.

BHRC-Canada Concerned about Canadian Government’s Handling of Karima Baloch’s Death

September 23, 2023

The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau

80 Wellington Street

Ottawa, ON K1A 0A2

justin.trudeau@parl.gc.ca

RE: BHRC-Canada Concerned about Canadian Government’s Handling of Karima Baloch’s Death

The Baloch Human Rights Council of Canada (BHRC-Canada) expresses deep concern regarding the Canadian Government’s perceived inconsistencies in its response to the mysterious death of Balochistan rights activist and protected individual, Ms. Karima Baloch, in December 2020, in Toronto. On December 22, 2020, Ms. Karima Baloch’s lifeless body was discovered by the Toronto Police near Lake Ontario on Toronto Island.

Sept 13: Shaheed Ali Ahmed Marri