By Ganjal Baloch
What is more beautiful and pure than human relationships? The bonds we share with our parents, spouses, siblings, children, and grandparents are truly extraordinary. From the moment we open our eyes, they surround us with love, nurturing us and shaping who we become. However, what surpasses even these powerful connections? What compels us to overcome such strong bonds without hesitation, as if in the blink of an eye, to embark on a journey that requires immense courage? There must be something beyond those relationships. Is it madness or love? Can love truly be called love if it doesn’t drive you to the point of madness, if it doesn’t make you restless for your beloved, if it doesn’t take you to the pinnacle of intensity, and above all, if it doesn’t allow you to touch the precipice of death?
Are these individuals who leave everything behind considered crazy? Their homes, families, personal lives, and all they hold dear? Are they driven solely by a love that defies words, carrying the dreams of a free land within their eyes, never looking back? Their sacrifice is indescribable, and it is beyond our capacity to speak of or critique. Those who believe themselves to be intellectually superior by discussing or criticizing them are, in truth, fools. Who are they on Earth to pass judgment on those who possess nothing but mountains and have no choice but to live and die for freedom? If you cannot worship these sacred individuals, refrain from speaking about them.
Those who choose war are not crazy, nor are they provoked or forced into it. Let me reiterate this a thousand times: no one can compel you to take your own life. It is a conscious and intellectual choice, a national duty that every man and woman should fulfill because freedom demands it. Rather than lose their national identity and land, it is better to fight for their identity, land, and culture. As Frantz Fanon wrote in his book “The Wretched of the Earth,” “For a colonized people, the essential value, because the most concrete, is first and foremost the land: the land which will bring them bread and, above all, dignity.” This war of independence revolves around the dignity of our identity, land, and people, and hundreds of precious lives have been sacrificed for it.
We must understand that the Baloch people have been at war not for a day, not for a few years, but for over 70 years since the State of Pakistan colonized this sacred land. Throughout this time, the Baloch have fought against colonial powers to preserve their existence in the face of a world that has looked the other way. Colonization brings consequences and oppression; it does not offer flowers or open skies to roam freely. Under that open sky, the colonizer kills you on your own land.
Colonizers have always been cunning, employing various tactics to occupy land and manipulate the minds of the colonized people. Sometimes, our people shake hands with them and collaborate in the massacre of our land and people. Others oppose the war of independence, but they operate silently, working towards a single agenda.
This reminds me of the words of Chinua Achebe in his novel “Things Fall Apart”: “The white man is very clever. He came quietly and peaceably with his religion. We were amused at his foolishness and allowed him to stay. He has won our brothers, and our clan can no longer act like one. He has put a knife on the things that held us together, and we have fallen apart.” In the end, when we have fallen apart, we find the resonance of the title ‘Things Fall Apart’ by Chinua Achebe. After being colonized, the strength of their clan derived from unity, but the colonizer cunningly exploited them, turning their people against one another and leading to their ultimate fragmentation. It is in this shattered state that the profound meaning of the title becomes evident. Unity, which once held them together, was severed by the colonizer’s manipulation, causing their world to crumble.
Unfortunately, today, not only do state-sponsored individuals propagate opposition to the war of independence, but even those who are part of the struggle themselves. While you may consider yourselves intellectually superior, it will take you decades to reach the level of those who actively participate in this war. History has no place for hypocrites who sit and critique while smoking their cigarettes, attempting to undermine the sacrifices of our national heroes.
I have nothing to say about the Baloch who have abandoned their conscience and work openly on the state’s agenda, participating in the genocide of Baloch people. However, I will speak about those who are somehow involved in this national struggle and consider themselves highly intellectual when they are not. They should study the history of warfare, past and present, as the world has modernized and so have warfare tactics. Regardless of what they say or do, this war will never cease.
In conclusion, this war of independence is the foundation that sustains our identity and existence. Without it, we would have faced the same fate as the Native Americans, vanishing into the annals of history. Today, the mere notion of being Baloch strikes fear into the enemy’s heart, not due to our population size, but because the state trembles at the thought of our active participation in the fight for independence. While it is not my intention to romanticize war, as it is a deeply painful and arduous endeavor beyond human imagination, it is important to recognize that this war is a matter of our survival, a fight for our existence. Baloch people must wholeheartedly engage in this struggle, as it is through the sacrifices of thousands of brave individuals that our land has been nourished with their blood. Their unwavering ideology inspires countless others, ensuring that brave souls are always ready to serve and protect our beloved motherland.
These freedom fighters are our national heroes, with heads held high like mountains and visions as vast as the ocean. They are the ones who will ensure the existence of Baloch identity and secure Baloch independence. Their mission, dedication, sleepless nights, hunger, raids, and the loss of comrades on the battlefield embody the unwavering spirit that keeps the fire of independence burning. Every Baloch man and woman should join this war of independence, for it is the time to pay homage to our land.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of The Balochistan Post or any of its editors.