Reading books not only tells tales but also fosters a love for knowledge and wisdom, and changes and makes the readers committed through their peaceful and comfortable environment. Books inspire creativity, shape thinking, empower understanding and embolden the self-interest of readers. Great thoughts, creativity and imagination are the outcomes of the culture of sharing knowledge – nevertheless, the books.
Baloch Student Action Committee (BSAC) is a profound Baloch student organization which works across the Baloch regions to promote a reading culture. BSAC is in quest of inciting an exclusive learning atmosphere, appreciated for its literary festivals and book stalls. Often, its literary festivals, known as “Saba Literary Festival” and its book stalls are documented as “Balochistan Kitab Karwan”, motivate students and people from all walks of life to engage themselves in a learning environment.
Meanwhile, as 2025 starts, BSAC announces to organize its book stalls across Balochistan, not only cities but also in marginalized areas, where getting education remains a challenge for students. In these stalls, people from all backgrounds, including children, showed great enthusiasm by participating in number. The willingness of participants speak the real interest that Baloch students deserve education, not arrests which followed on several stalls.
No doubts, Baloch have always prioritized reading as a key element for national development and consciousness. Several festivals witnessed great deal of love of the indigenous people for books, including the Atta Shad Festival and the recent BSAC’s festival and book stalls. Though the people are facing challenges as impoverishment, they could not succeed in snatching the thirst of the people for education and books.
When a call for a book ceremony comes, it becomes a festival for the Baloch. They rejoice the book reading culture and welcome it with warmth. However, the authorities find it the other way: a threat to their existence. The recent police crackdowns on peaceful book stalls are evidents how the state institutions have reacted to the reading atmosphere Baloch wanted to create.
In Gowadar, BSAC’s stall was raided, and books and students were arrested. The criminal sections were of “distorting the peace of the city” mentioned in the First Information Report (FIR) on students. For the administration, promoting the book reading culture is tantamount to terrorism, which is so vague and pathetic of the state institutions. Such egregious acts show state’s blatant against readers. A student whose primary task is to get engaged with books is forced to detach themselves from books.
The series of violations of students’ rights did not finish from here: on February 20, 2025, students were stopped at University of Turbat’s main gate with books. They were directed to enter only if they had no books with them. The directions, as varsity security clarified, were issued from the key varsity staff, including the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar. If students and books are not allowed in an educational institute, why are they referred to as educational institutions?
Colonizers are utilizing their pernicious power on the Baloch. Such unimaginable atrocities are being practiced against Baloch students on daily basis. As students, we will remember such monumental cruelties, as this caravan never stops, always striving for strength and unity through resistance.
