Author: Wajid Baloch
In Balochistan, over 100 organizations are actively working to shape the minds of the youth according to a state-driven narrative. These organizations present themselves as benevolent entities focused on education or promoting a positive image of Balochistan. However, their true objective is far more Machiavellian: they aim to program young minds to adhere to the codes of power. Among these organizations is “Voice of Balochistan,” which is well-known in this agenda.
These organizations, though seemingly independent, are often indirectly linked to central authorities or other powerful institutions, receiving substantial funding to further their agendas. Social media has become a primary instrument in this Exercise. By enlisting singers, TikTokers, and other social media influencers, these organizations create cultural programs designed to attract and indoctrinate the youth. For many participants, this involvement becomes a source of income, further incentivizing their engagement with these state-sponsored activities.
The individuals who organize these events are often deeply embedded within these networks, which are interconnected and mutually supportive. They exchange accolades, creating a cycle where recognition and rewards are doled out within this closed system. Although these awards are largely symbolic, they motivate others to join, inciting a generation of youth loyal to the powers that be. This allegiance stifles critical thinking, reducing their aspirations to mere self-promotion and leaving little room for genuine engagement with the region’s complex issues.
Moreover, these organizations work tirelessly to obscure the harsh realities on the ground. They produce vlogs, music videos like the “Waja” song, and other media content, which are then heavily promoted online to project an image of Balochistan that aligns with their narrative. By controlling the narrative, they seek to convince the world that everything is fine in Balochistan, while the truth remains buried.
In stark contrast stands the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC), a powerful voice that has risen in response to the exploitation of resources and the misuse of power by the state. The BYC has successfully unified the Baloch people, rallying them against decades of systemic injustices. By highlighting the real issues and ground realities of Balochistan, the BYC has become a beacon of resistance. However, the state, threatened by this growing unity, has launched a coordinated propaganda campaign against BYC leaders. Through social media, they create false narratives, accusing BYC leaders of acting against Baloch culture or using religion to delegitimize their cause. Yet, these tactics have largely backfired, exposing the state’s attempts to undermine genuine movements through deceit and manipulation.
Despite this awareness, the younger generation remains caught in a relentless struggle, as this battle for hearts and minds plays out continuously in the digital sphere. This normative battle is particularly pronounced outside Balochistan, where there is a profound lack of understanding about the region’s people and intellectual landscape. Many self-proclaimed intellectuals from other regions, who cannot even pronounce the names of Balochistan cities correctly, confidently discuss Balochistan’s issues. This disconnection begs the question: if these “intellectuals” are so out of touch, what can be expected from the general public?
For students outside the province, encountering these skewed perspectives is often a jarring experience. They attempt to share the realities of Balochistan, only to face harsh, often hostile narratives. They are sometimes labeled as insurgents or even terrorists, simply because they challenge the dominant narrative perpetuated by the media and their elders. This alienation only deepens the divide, pushing these students further into isolation.
This scenario mirrors Gramsci’s concept of cultural hegemony, where those in power use cultural institutions to maintain control over society by shaping the beliefs and behaviors of the subordinate classes, as well as “common sense,” where the authorities try to shape the perceptions and beliefs of the masses to maintain their hegemony.
Just as Gramsci was imprisoned in an attempt to silence his ideas, similarly in Balochistan the state attempts to suppress independent thoughts by using force to silence those who dare to speak out for their rights. Young activists have been forcibly disappeared or killed, but these acts of repression only fuel the resistance. The more the state seeks to suppress dissent, the stronger the resistance becomes a dialectical process that continues to sustain the agitation in Balochistan.
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.