Oppression of any nation does not only require political or military occupations, but also the intellectual murder of the people of such a nation. Therefore, Balochistan is facing intellectual crisis because the state of Pakistan has imposed an education system which only creates degree-centered and job-oriented graduates. In fact, the Pakistani education system never preaches critical thinking or looking between the lines in the course syllabuses through a curriculum which is in itself biased, remote and unimportant. Thanks to the Baloch national movement, Balochistan is en route to developing an intellectual class, which merely needs to be polished and nourished a way the state education is not. One among the very few scholars in the contemporary socio-political and literary circle was Allah Dad Wahid – a name that only echoes as a phenomenon of past now, unfortunately.
Receiving his education from the same public schools, Dad was nourished in the early phase of the Baloch movement starting with the dawn of 2000s. He was a firsthand individual who saw the rise of the Baloch movement, its weaknesses, fall and the resurgence. After a reemergence, Dad – like very, very few individuals of his time – realized that the need of hour had changed and there was a dire need of replacement of the means of politics and literature. Because he was studious and a bookworm, he had the idea that we needed to collectively understand the global phenomenon, the other struggles and, above all, respecting the national language(s). He firstly studied the various histories, movements and socio-political literature, and then received the idea of working forward. He knew he had to reform those ideas and work as per the prerequisites of Balochistan.
The very thing Dad understood about working was “institutionalization”. He knew that movements were only benefitted through strong organizations. He felt the gap between the standardization and, yes, appraisal of language and eventually began his efforts in the very line – Balochi literature. Initially, he had two goals: one, enrichment of Balochi language with dynamic literature. Two, standardization and valuation of the Balochi language among the Baloch circles. Because when Dad had realized the need to do so, Balochi was about to lose its essence in the political and literary circles. And one among the plenty other reasons was a lack of key literature in Balochi language.
Dad was of the view of working among tiny circles. He believed that one should not be much highlighted among the larger national circle, but the institutions, literature and contents should be. Hence, he never mentioned his name for several of his work, but the institution he was working or writing something for. For instance, he wrote editorials and forewords of several books – whether translations or original – but mentioned the institution, instead of his name. On one encounter, he mentioned some of his articles for some magazines he wrote, which were never published on his own name; he did not mention the name to me either, but did suggest me the way for contributing for the national cause.
He was someone who would always speak to one with the like potentials of literature production or translations. “You can translate a book, a chapter, or even an article regarding your field of study.” He would ask and tell them that he would take the full responsibility of editing, proofing and even publishing it thereafter. All he wanted was the efforts from individual writers and translators in their own language. And then, he intended that literature regarding every field of life should be available in the Balochi language so that we receive a flow of readers in the mother language. Intellectual growth is increased with the use of the mother language as the language of communication and education. Dad’s efforts were, from another angle, a means to bridge the gap for intellectual development in the Baloch movement.
With gradual success, Dad felt the need for an institution of his own where he would work directly with writers and translators. He, therefore, co-founded “Dodman Publications” which was for drastic literature in the Balochi language. Until now, Raajmaan (series 10), Fikr, Kissa o Hoshaam by Amin Zamin Baloch, Hindu Deeni Kissa o Dastan series, Philosophy of Law (Balochi translation by Wahag Baloch) and a chapter translation on Western Narratives (by Amin Zamin Baloch) have been published under the literary institution built by Dad and co. After Dad, the publication has initiated a series under the title “Dad Wahid Commemorative Translation Series” beginning with the Balochi translation of “Water and Air Colonialism” by Amin Zamin Baloch. The dream Dad had seen is bearing fruits, but it would have been very different and more influential had he been alive and leading it.
The basic thought Dad had was simple. He wanted an end to the intellectual crisis the Baloch movement was facing. For the very purpose, mother language is very important – not only to contribute in the growth of the intellectualism but also because Balochi is our national language and it be preserved at its best. He was dreaming of a Baloch society which had excelled well in their mother language and a proper literature production in the Balochi language. He knew that for the very same, our people should know how the rest of the world filled this gap and hence focused firstly on translations. The next phase he was dreaming of was writing books in the Balochi language which were productive and imperative for the movement and societal development and welfare. Therefore, he was found as a threat for the state and its notorious institutions. On the late evening of February 4, 2025, he was shot martyred by the locally-hired death squad-cum-drug-addicts inside Ghamshad Hotel in Turbat city.
Dad’s dreamy society was very simple: everything in our own language, intellectually developed citizens and Balochi as the medium of communication in both, speaking and writing. Though he physically departs leaving the gap for intellectual crisis wider, but the seeds he sowed are meant to bear fruits to their best someday. The someday for which the Baloch struggle is underway.
May your dreams live, Dad.