Baloch activists on social media paid tributes to Baloch intellectual and scholar Professor Saba Dashtyari on the occasion of his tenth “Martyrdom Anniversary”.
According to TBP social media correspondent, Baloch activists from different walks of life paid tribute to Professor Saba Dashtyari. Chairman of the Baloch National Movement, a political party struggling for the freedom of Balochistan, in his tweet said “Saba Dashtiari was martyred but his knowledge, practice, consciousness and the lessons of freedom will continue guiding the Baloch nation forever.”
Baloch student organisation – Azad a student organisation, said “Martyr Qandil Saba Dashtyari is one of the great intellectuals of this era who did justice with knowledge and education in the true sense of the word. The Qandil will always live, and his teachings will be the beacon for the Baloch nation, specifically for the Baloch students.”
Mir Mohammad Ali Talpur a Baloch writer and a close friend of Late Nawab Khair Baksh Marri in a tweet said “Shaheed Saba Dashtiyari was snatched from us 10 years ago in Quetta by those forces of darkness that have brought gloom to thousands of families in Balochistan in their bid to thwart Baloch Struggle for their Rights. Prof. Saba Shaheed still keeps lighting up the Hearts and minds.”
Adil Baloch, a Baloch activist tweeted and said “Today is the 10th martyrdom anniversary of Shaheed Saba Dashtyari who dedicated his entire life to Balochi literature, history, nationalism and freedom of Balochistan. He was assassinated in Quetta, #Balochistan by Pakistani army.”
Who was Saba Dashtyari ?
In 1953; Ghulam Hussain (Saba Dashtyari) opened his eyes in the lower middle class family of Mohammad Usman in the Maripur area of Karachi.
In the early days of his life, Ustad Saba was raised in the company of famous Baloch writer, novelist and Poetess, Banal Dashtiyari and the famous Baloch intellectual Syed Hashmi. Saba attained his earlier education from Lyari and did his matriculation from Okahi Memon School. He did his intermediate from SM commerce college Karachi in 1973. He graduated in 1976. Later Mr. Dashtyari obtained a Master’s degree in Islamic studies and Philosophy.
He started with his PhD in 1979 but got a job as lecturer in Balochistan University and preferred to help the nation through teaching instead of continuing his own further studies. From 1979 till his murder in 2011 he remained a professor of theology in Balochistan University. He was fluent in many languages including English, Persian and Arabic.
He started his literary work by writing poetry in Urdu. He wrote his first poem on the death of famous Baloch singer Ustad Jharok.
In 1984, inspired and encouraged by famous Baloch writer Abdullah Jan Jamaldini, Ustad Saba completely abandoned writing in Urdu language and solely adopted Balochi language for his literary works. He started writing poetry and short fiction stories for Radio Balochistan.
Professor Saba himself was very much inspired by the personalities of Syed Hashmi and Abdullah Jan Jamaldini. He considered them his teachers and gurus.
In 1983 he became a member of Syed Academy, a Balochi literary academy and became its Vice President in 1988. He was also appointed as the deputy editor of monthly magazine Balochi in 1988 and founded a literary organization Chaidag in the same year. In 1994 his fiction work Hon o Hosham was published. He was author of at least 24 other books.
Professor Saba devoted his whole life for the promotion of Balochi language and culture because he believed that until and unless Baloch nation does not realize the importance of their culture they could never surface as an independent and civilized nation in true meanings.
One of his greatest achievements was laying down the foundations of a premier Balochi language academy, Syed Hashmi Library, in 1996 in Karachi. Syed Hashmi Library started fully functioning in 2002. This library is considered as a treasure by many. It has thousands of books on Balochi literature. It is the only place in the world where more than 95% of all the published magazines or pamphlets of Balochi language are found.
During the last days of his life he was planning to form a Balochi encyclopedia committee and a research academy by the name of Balochelogy institute of Research.
Professor Saba spent most of his Salary on promotion of Balochi language and improvement of the library. He also used to pay the education fees of many Baloch students who couldn’t afford.
His talent and intellect was not only limited to literary works but he was also a great activist and big supporter of “Independent Balochistan movement.” After the murder of Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti in 2006, Professor Saba started participating in protests and activism for the legitimate rights of his people.
He was killed by unknown gunmen in Quetta in 2011. Baloch political groups claim he was killed by personnel of Pakistani intelligence agencies.