Earlier 2020, frankly speaking, the news spread in social medias that Sajid Hussain had been abducted in Uppsala, Sweden. “Sajid Hussain”, I echoed in my mind, but could not bring into my account who Sajid Hussain really was.
Later on, Twitter and Facebook were loaded with tweets and feeds of Sajid Hussain, his identity, his works, his efforts, his voice, his goals, his dedication, his tireless moves, his Balochistan, his Balochism, his foreseeability, his insights, his influence, his cause, his immigration, his village and so forth. And then I was hinted of Sajid Hussain, about whom I had not known anything earlier. Like rest, I retweeted with quote #RecoverSajidHussain.
Unfortunate followed us once again when we were gifted with his martyred body near a river in the same city. Everything seemed shattered. Display pictures were blackened. Hashtags were mounting. Sajid Hussain became the talk of the world. I was one of the lifters of Sajid Hussain in the world of social media. #RestInPowerSajidHussain
One day, I got to see Sajid’s picture with a laptop at his very front and working. I imagined: what did Sajid want? Recovery of Baloch missing persons: promotion of Baloch and Balochi language: unity of the nation for the same cause: working on Baloch youth in editing their brokenly-written materials: an educated Baloch society: or what else? A self-determined region?
Then I recycled my imaginations. Who follows Sajid Hussain now or tries to do anything alike Sajid? Hardly ever any in the Baloch society, perhaps. Maybe, his goals are taken along, and I am unaware of that. Perhaps his tasks are shouldered by his comrades and not necessarily I should know it now: or maybe, as Banuk Karima states, we are opportunistic: perhaps things are different, maybe not.
But, where does Sajid Hussain stand today in the Baloch society? A dead man? A martyred? A deceased Baloch with his goal taken along in heaven? Or is Sajid Hussain the Baloch itself of the present? If Sajid Hussain is the Baloch itself of the present, why are his characteristics lacked in the modern-day Baloch? Sajid, you left so early, but questions on you do not.
One of his fellows shared a group of some links of his articles and stated that he was ‘killed’ because he talked of ground realities and wrote on existing facts – of Baloch, of Balochi, of Balochistan, of injustices and of inequality and discrimination. Does it mean writing and talking on existing realities lead to death in our society? Do writers and speakers of truth generally get killed here? Or was this rule only applicable on Sajid Hussain? Will other Baloch writers and speakers face similar consequences if they turn on to ground realities? Above all, one thing is damn clear, this fear has ceased many writers and speakers of describing the truth in our society. Had Sajid to fear of this also? If yes, who would not remain tacit?
If Sajid Hussain was alive, what would he do next? How would he promote Baloch and Balochi language? Would I ever know Sajid Hussain if he happened to be alive? Is his death an alarm, for Baloch like me, to wake up? But, how would we suppose to wake up? Would Sajid Hussain tell us how to wake up if he were here? Isn’t he here? Can’t he hear us now, at this very moment?
I read Sajid Hussain in his write-ups but, I regret, very lately. I would ask him a number of questions about writing, about his goals, about his works, about so many other things as journalism and literature. I do not know if he would have enough time to ever answer me, but I would have asked. He had goals and was fulfilling them with his open eyes– from dawn to dusk. He imagined a life worth living for his people. He was not selfish. He was a gem.
On this day, November 13, Sajid Hussain, I am sorry, because I am also an opportunist, as Banuk elaborated, remembering you today. But Sajid, should not I be? If I happened to be a silent-struggler, I wish I could resemble you. But as Shah Mir Baloch, a senior fellow journalist, says, you were Jean-Paul Sartre of Baloch, and I am sorry Sajid, I cannot be of that level. I cannot be one like you.
Your friend, Taj Baloch, says that you were a meaning to their life. “We do not know on whose absence our life became empty, but Sajid, after you left, life is tasteless.”
Sajid, you left Balochistan orphaned with a brave son very early. The mountains will ever feel proud of you. This nation has birthed too many brave sons like you. We hope your efforts and tasks will not go unfulfilled. Wherever you are, God bless you, Sajid.