Author: Diljan Qadir
It is very difficult to put the thoughts about Shaheed Chairman Ghulam Muhammad Baloch into words.
Ghulam Muhammad’s personality is so versatile and comprehensive that a book can be written on each aspect. In politics, literature, nationalism, analysis, tact, intellectualism, Shaheed was very active in many fields, and we can see his vision and foresight in the current form of the Baloch independence movement. It is my privilege to write some words about such a personality who dedicated his entire life to the Baloch cause, and today we remember him as an inspiration, a committed individual, and a great leader.
I am convinced that the Baloch national freedom movement started from the first day of occupation. The long Baloch national movement has reached this point after going through great ups and downs. Unfortunately, I think that our leaders were not able to maintain the continuity of the movement during these periods, causing it to lose momentum. Ghulam Muhammad made a clear diagnosis of these causes and found remedies to ensure that the Baloch freedom movement does not once again suffer the same fate that caused irreparable harm in the past. Ghulam Muhammad realized that without an ideological foundation, it was impossible to achieve success. He gave a new name and constitution to the Baloch National Movement based on this philosophy. He identified the destination, provided the direction of the journey, and sacrificed himself for this great cause, blocking the paths of those who sought to exploit the Baloch cause for personal gain.
Ghulam Muhammad was a sea of nationalist sentiments. He was a child of the land and a lover of it to the point of madness. He proved the authenticity of his love by offering his blood, and until the end of time, the Baloch nation and the oppressed people of the world will continue to learn from his philosophy of sacrifice. It is thanks to his sacrifice that the faith of every Baloch is firm that Chairman Ghulam Muhammad’s blood will one day bring results, and the sun of freedom will rise on Baloch land.
A conscious person salutes sacrifices made in the movement. I salute every Baloch child who sacrificed themselves for the freedom of Baloch land. I believe the major role in politics lies in the formation of the thought and philosophy on which the whole movement is built. Ghulam Muhammad is the person who took the Baloch freedom struggle out of monopolistic hands and made it public. In this process, he fought courageously against both external enemies and internal betrayal. It was not only his courage but also his historical awareness that demonstrated the exchange of life to keep a nation alive is not a loss but a blessing. Ghulam Muhammad’s strength and energy were boundless. Baloch detractors who tried to obstruct his path hate his name, yet Wajah Shaheed has reached the heights of honor and greatness.
We know that in the name of Baloch nationalism or independence, this nation has been betrayed many times. National trust and confidence were shattered. It was Ghulam Muhammad who rejoined the broken chains by staying among the people. He restored a sense of trust and continuity to the movement, a series that self-interested individuals and opportunists had severely damaged with their hypocrisy. Restoring trust among people is challenging, but Ghulam Muhammad reached this pinnacle as well.
The Baloch National Movement has always emphasized the importance of party organization within the struggle. Even its harshest detractors have admitted at some stage that the lack of a cohesive party was the main reason for interruptions in the continuity of the movement. Ghulam Muhammad initiated efforts to ensure that the movement depended not on individuals but on an organized party like the Baloch National Movement. He adapted national politics to national and revolutionary scales, filled organizational gaps in the movement, and used his long political experience and education to establish a foundation that history will remember. Through this platform, decision-making power in the national struggle shifted into the hands of ordinary Baloch people.
Ghulam Muhammad had a clear political motive and a deep sense of history. I believe that without a visionary like Ghulam Muhammad, the ideological ambiguity within the Baloch national movement might have persisted far longer. Opportunists playing with the nation’s destiny would have prolonged their misrule. Ghulam Muhammad’s leadership liberated the Baloch movement from their grip.
Chairman Ghulam Muhammad always prioritized Baloch national interests throughout his political journey. When others sought personal privileges, engaged in land deals, or succumbed to corruption, Ghulam Muhammad resisted. Despite being offered wealth and comfort, he steadfastly refused and continued to lead a life of integrity and sacrifice. There was no contradiction between his words and actions. He stood by his philosophy of sacrifice, proving that freedom and blood are inseparable and that any other path to liberty is a delusion.
The martyrdom of Chairman Ghulam Muhammad was a difficult time for the Baloch National Movement and the Baloch nation. However, the enemy’s celebration of his death was short-lived. Chairman Ghulam Muhammad had inspired the Baloch people with a philosophy and vision that turned his martyrdom into a rallying cry for freedom. The wave of sacrifices that followed spread across Balochistan, making every Baloch a supporter of freedom. It was the greatest defeat for the occupiers since the inception of their rule.
It is the fruit of Chairman Ghulam Muhammad’s sacrifices that the Baloch National Movement endures despite the enemy’s oppression and brutality. Today, the Baloch National Movement has expanded from the borders of Balochistan to the international stage. Ghulam Muhammad’s foresight, love for the land, and dedication to achieving freedom are invaluable gifts to the Baloch nation, unmatched in Baloch national history.
Chairman Ghulam Muhammad was born on January 1, 1959, in Mand, the hometown of the national poet Mulla Fazul, in the house of Muhammad Ayub Baloch. At the time of his birth, the Baloch were living under the shadow of Ayubi’s martial law, facing bloodshed and oppression. Shaheed Nawab Nowroz Khan had taken to the field against Pakistani occupation. Initially named Naseer Ahmed after Noori Naseer Khan, but his name was later changed to Ghulam Muhammad after a dream experienced by his father. To celebrate his birth, the family offered sacrifices of gratitude.
Ghulam Muhammad began his education at Soro (Mand) School in 1965. In 1967, at the age of eight, he actively participated in the activities of the newly formed Baloch Students Organization (BSO), guided by Shaheed Fida Ahmad. Ghulam Muhammad showed remarkable intelligence and was recognized for his skills in poetry and academics. In 1974, he became the Zonal Secretary of Mand Zone amidst political turmoil in Balochistan. Despite adversities, including curfews and state oppression, he continued to work with strategic planning, reassuring his family of his unwavering commitment to the cause.
In 1979, after returning from Qatar, he sought guidance from Sher Muhammad Marri, a renowned Baloch guerrilla fighter. Marri advised him against aligning with certain leaders he deemed rebellious to the Baloch cause. Ghulam Muhammad completed his matriculation in 1980 and pursued higher education in Karachi in 1981, where he joined Sindh Muslim College. Balancing his studies and political activism, he became the General Secretary of the Karachi Zone in 1982.
In 1984, under Shaheed Fida Ahmed’s leadership, BSO reunited under its original ideology. Ghulam Muhammad was appointed as the provisional president of BSO Sindh. He emphasized organizational unity and ideological clarity. By 1987, amidst internal challenges, he co-founded the Baloch National Youth Movement (BNYM) with Shaheed Fida Ahmed, advocating revolutionary ideals and rejecting parliamentary politics.
In 1990, he became Chairman of BSO, reiterating the inefficacy of parliamentary politics for the Baloch cause. Following his tenure, he transitioned to party politics, joining the Baloch National Movement (BNM) in 1993. Despite internal conflicts, he remained steadfast in his commitment to the movement. In 2004, as President of BNM, he declared support for armed struggle and complete disengagement from parliamentary politics.
Ghulam Muhammad faced repeated state repression, including abductions in 2006 and 2009. Despite these challenges, he continued to advocate for national liberation. On April 3, 2009, he was abducted alongside Lala Muneer (then Vice Chairman of BNM) and Sheer Muhammad (then central committee member of BRP). A week later, on April 10, 2009, their bullet-riddled bodies were found in Murgaap.
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.