The Dad Series
“My name does not matter; I only want good literature to be translated into Balochi.”
These words of Allah Dad are engraved on his tombstone in Singanisar, Turbat.
I had never heard of Allah Dad before, nor was I aware of his bravery. But in times of war, speaking the truth itself is an act of courage and resistance. As Frantz Fanon said, “colonizers use every tool of power to silence the voices of the colonized.” It is, therefore, the duty of the intellectuals and scholars to resist this suppression and speak for their people. Every individual has a responsibility, and Allah Dad was among the Baloch intellectuals-cum-scholars who dedicated his life in promoting Balochi literature.
Amilcar Cabral’s “Our People Are Our Mountains” shows that the real strength of a nation comes from its people. He explains that a united, aware, and proud community is stronger than any army or weapon. He mentioned that education, culture, and shared struggle are the true tools of a nation. Cabral’s ideas inspire readers to value their people, their history, and their role in shaping the future.
Remembering our people is important, but even more important is preserving and continuing their legacy. Allah Dad taught us how to work for our literature and how to promote our culture. Among Baloch students, we have many personalities who have contributed significantly, including Waja Saba Dashtiyari, Sajid Hussain, Kambar Chakar, Ilyas Nizar, Raza Jahangir and many others. Their dedication reminds us that the work of an intellectual is guiding, inspiring, and defending the identity of a people.
As the Palestinian intellectual and founder of the theory of Orientalism, Edward Said, emphasized, “Intellectuals have the duty to speak truth to power and to represent the voices of those who are silenced.” In this sense, Allah Dad and others like him are not only figures of literature but also symbols of resistance and courage.
Today, the responsibility lies with all of us to carry forward what he began. Every student, writer, and thinker contributes to the preservation and growth of our culture. Continuing Allah Dad’s vision means supporting writers, encouraging translations, and sharing ideas that challenge injustice and empower the Baloch community. In this way, his legacy lives not only in the pages he helped create but in the active engagement of a generation committed to learning, speaking, and resisting for the sake of truth.
