By Dr Amjad Parvez
Professor Dr Mahmood Ali Shah hails from Gandaawa District Jhal Magsi, Balochistan and has come out with his autobiography that he also calls the autobiography of Balochistan, the fourth and the largest province of Pakistan. It was recently published titled Aap Beeti Baluchistan Beeti.
He got his initial education from Balochistan and his Doctorate from Karachi University in Political Science. He served in the field of education in Sibbi College, Degree College Saryaab Road, Quetta and Balochistan University. Currently he is employed in the University as an expert in education through Higher Education Commission. Muhammad Javed Iqbal Awan, currently Secretary Agriculture, Government of Punjab states in his prologue to the book that during his two and half years stay in Balochistan he came across both elite and masses of the province. He observed that Balochis are people that esteem themselves with self respect.
One can see the large areas abundant in different races of Balochis but these people should not be judged superficially. One has to understand the ego hidden in these people who have always lived happily within their limited means. Within this facet lies their power. If one needs to know the psyche of Balochis one has to look at the harsh weather this region and its inhabitants have been bearing since centuries. Surprisingly despite its dry weather its soil produces the sweetest fruit. So the consequence of weather affects their temperament too despite their broad mindedness, open heartedness and manhood. So they are prone to react if any action threatens their ego and tribal values. Problems therefore arise if these values are threatened.
Superimposed on this psychological scenario is the administrative chaos this province has seen in the past. Initially any Sardar of the tribe was accepted on the basis of merit and was assisted by the tribesmen both in financial and administrative areas but during the British Raaj, Sandman System corrupted this esteemed control. The British made this headship based on inheritance and not on consensus as in the past. As a result a common man feels left alone now. He desires to get education and better means of living. The successive governments and their administration have failed them on this accord. Any developmental project in consultation with them that makes them feel close to their aspirations is accepted well.
Large projects are seen with suspicion as a continuity of the British legacy. It is therefore time to address the issue of removal of ambiguities lying in the minds of the Balochis, concludes Javed Iqbal Awan. The author says that he got impetus from Javed Iqbal Awan to write this book. During his contact with Javed his relation became like the one between Roomi and Shams Tabraiz. He also thanks Ayub Baloch, his class fellow who after looking at the first chapter strengthened the author’s motive to complete it. The author also acknowledges the support of Fahim Baloch, Junaid Harooni, his wife and children.
The author says that he has tried to lay the emphasis on the economic growth and cultural aspects of his province in this book. He has mentioned various Vice Chancellors and friends in the book only to learn from their experiences. The first chapter discusses Dr Mahmood Ali shah’s native village Gandaawa. The foundations of this village were laid by Nausherwan-e-Aadil. It has been ruled by Arabs and later became part of Sindh. In 1745 Nadir Shah Qahaar gave this town to the Khan of Kalaat. Next he discusses his family members in the third chapter titled ‘relations of love’. A chapter is dedicated to various administrations that ruled district Jhal Magsi. About the culture of his town the author says that whenever a son was born, the town became jubilant. The second event worth noticing used to be that of circumcision. The ladies wore burqas. The minority Hindus were dealt with respect. The economy was not based on currency. It was based on food items. There was a middle school in the town till 1960.
The second portion of the book deals with means of communications. The author talks about his two journeys, two thefts, a memorable incident, the journey for knowledge, Jhal Magsi 1961-63, Mastaung 1963-65, Quetta 1965-67, Karachi 1967-69 and again stay in Karachi from 1986 to 1989. The third portion is titled ‘employment and service’ It gives details of stays in Sibbi, Quetta Degree College, Balochistan University and contacts with veteran personalities such as late Durrab Patel, Professor Karrar Hussain, Agha Akbar Shah and University teachers. The younger generation has to read and learn from these experiences as to how one should lead one’s life.
The fourth part of the book has specially been written for four of the author’s friends namely Professor Shukr Ullah Khan, Professor Dr Rasheed Jallundhri, Dr Anwaar Khalil and Anwar Khaitran. The author has also talked about University administration, students, his faculty, and then about his tenure as Principal of Law College. The latter happened on November 11, 2004 on the directions of Vice Chancellor Ghulam Muhammad Taj. The details show the efforts Dr Mahmood Ali Shah made to make this august institution a better place for the students. The next chapter gives details of the author’s stay in Khairpur and the sixth chapter comprises miscellaneous issues. This reviewer however finds the last chapter as the most constructive one as it contains suggestions for improvements in various facets of life in Balochistan.
This reviewer can write pages and pages on what Dr Saheb has written on his observations on various issues facing Balochistan. We shall first present his views on education sector. Till the disbandment of One Unit, the education was of acceptable quality as the schools were mainly till primary and middle school levels. Somewhere these were under the control of Khan of Kalaat and the other tribes like Murree, Bugti and Mengal who used to provide financial and administrative aid. When Balochistan became a province in 1969 all the teachers hailing from Punjab were sent back. The void became difficult to fill. Now the jobs are given because of political approach even from the Supervisor to Director Levels, observes Dr Saheb.
The trend of cheating is in abundance in the Examinations. He proposes that (1) Independent Education Directorates be installed for Turbat, Khusdaar, Zhob, Loralai, Sibbi and Dera Murad Jamali, (2) Intermediate Board should also be set up independently for these districts, (3) Medical Colleges should be set up at Khusdaar, Loralai and Dera Murad Jamali as presently there is only one college that caters for only 150 students, (4) attention should be diverted to Commerce and Business Management fields also.
About elections taking place Dr Shah observes that its history is not that old. Till fifteen years of post independence era no elections took place. Later they were held from 1970 to 2008 with irregular intervals. He gives details of all the elections; the commonality of the split mandate. Balochistan’s trends are always different from other provinces. BNP Mengal, JWP, BNM Dr Hye and Pachtunkhwa Milli Awami parties did not participate in most of the elections. In a culture that is based on tribal values and democracy has not been able to take roots, the number of parties and independents have naturally increased.
The political pockets are Quetta and Zhob Divisions followed by Kalaat and Makran. The latter has least tribal influence and Quetta and suburbs’ language is Pashtu. East of Balochistan comprises Sibbi and Naseerabad is more tribal oriented. That is why Sardars get elected from these areas. Anyhow the legacy of ‘British administrative means’ has kept different areas away from each other. That is one of the reasons of political chaos. With time one expects political harmony to develop among different divisions. All that is needed is to honour the constitution and keep the promises that different governments have made with the people.
Dr Muhmooad Ali Shah has taken pains to discuss the political developments of his province since last few centuries to date. All that matters is that our policymaking should be based on our needs and not to promote foreign agenda. The author has spoken on the respect given to womenfolk. In general Iqbal’s couplet for Baloch people is apt that says ‘Aa Tujh Ko Bataoon Mein Taqdeer-e-Umam Kaya Hei/ Shamsheer-o-Sanaan Awal Taoos-o- Rubab Aakhir’.
This reviewer would like to appreciate the ideas of Javed Iqbal Awan who says that in the present times it is also time for Balochis to unite for removal of any misunderstandings among various factions, exodus of the locals, to entice people to work and get education, reject artificial politics, to realize the resent geographic scenario and work for the betterment of its people. It is time for both the government to give them their due and give them the confidence that they are being consulted and honoured. People of Balochistan have to look beyond the tall mountains hindering their outside view. This reviewer congratulates this effort by Dr Shah and his mentor Javed Awan for getting this book printed.
http://splus.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online/Writers-Block/06-Sep-2008/Inside-Balochistan
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