The development of Baloch intelligentsia has been a concerning gap in the Baloch circles. The political section has always been found “complaining” on it, while the literary group has never, or to a very little, taken politics – or let’s say, actual ground concerns – seriously as far as growth of intelligentsia is concerned. In the midst, the indigenous civilians have always been in a state of confusion regarding abundance of socio-political narratives, particularly, those with anti-Baloch intentions. Amid such a societal scenario, there emerges a young Baloch scholar, who carries the weight of literature and politics and institutionalizes the growth and development of Baloch literature with his untiring efforts – Allah Dad Wahid, a name that would echo for ages for his selfless struggle to bridge the gap between what we have been complaining of for years, or let’s say, decades.
He got birth in the Singani Sar area of Turbat City of Kech District in mid 1990s, and received his basic education from the Middle School Singani Sar and Model High School Turbat. He completed his Intermediate and Bachelors education from the city’s only Degree College, Atta Shad Degree College Turbat and turned to Karachi University for a Master’s Degree in History. For M.Phil, he joined the Quid-i-Azam University Islamabad but owing to hurdles, he left his degree incomplete and returned back to his native city, Turbat. During his education, he was closely connected with literary groups. He felt the gap of a required national literature on several events, statuses and conditions in Balochistan, and eventually worked to bridge the gap.
He knew he was not capable of doing it all alone, hence, went towards institutionalization. He met with people and convinced them for magazines comprising of research articles, targeting areas which remained untouched – and yes, in Balochi language. With gradual success, he met with several writers and tasked them of writing on key topics, with his own self visiting area to area to record what was never brought on board. He worked very closely with Baloch author, Amin Zaamin Baloch. Later on, he found a publication of his own – the Dodman Publications. Under the program, Dad was working with writers to translate important English texts and books into Balochi language concerning various fields of life. One on Law and another on western narratives, through Dodman Publications, Dad was intending to bring into Balochi a series of Balochi writings on various fields of study including Law, colonization, narratives, westernization, philosophy, history, myth, literature and every other field and area we missed collectively as a whole in our literature.
This seemed to haunt his killers, who eventually planned and succeeded to murder him on February 4th, 2025, at around 8:00 in the late evening from a hotel in Turbat city. Eye-witnesses believe the killers had masked up. Similar signs of people had already killed around eight persons those days in Kech and Gowadar, allegedly sponsored by the death squads under the payroll of the law enforcement agencies.
Though Dad departed too early, his dream remains to bear fruits. His fellows at Dodman Publications have very recently initiated a series in honoring Dad under the title “Dad Wahid Yatgeeri Rajank Rid” (Dad Wahid Commemorating Translation Series). His dream continues to inspire the younger generations and fulfill the remaining part which Dad could not be physically available to see. But as long as his dream lives, and shapes into reality, Dad continues to live alongside.
Announcement:
To pay homage to Allah Dad Wahid on his first death anniversary (Feb 4), we are open to write-ups on Dad, his life and struggle, and his personality. We will also consider write-ups against extrajudicial murders, Baloch intelligentsia (absence, challenges and growth) and anti-Baloch narratives concerning the above. Email us your writings at [email protected]
