Mir Gul Khan Naseer – A Freedom Fighter By: Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo
Mir Gul Khan Naseer – A Freedom Fighter
By: Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo
A congregation held by Awami Adabi Anjuman on the occasion of Mir Gul Khan Naseer’s 73rd Birthday on 30th June 1987 in Liyari Karachi. The gathering was presided by Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo. The following is his address on the occasion which was compiled by Noor Muhammad Sheikh. It is being published in this book with courtesy to Awani Adabi Anjuman.
Respected friends,
Gul Khan Naseer lived a life comprised of all aspects. His life is filled with all colors like a bouquet made by the gardener himself. Whichever aspect of his life is brought into light it fills the observer with admiration and respect for him. Looking at him as a poet, his contribution to Balochi poetry has been that of reformer. He gave Balochi poetry a new direction and added new colors to it. Gul Khan was a great poet of his time but he spent his whole life facing hardships and troubles. One of the reasons that caused his sudden death was that he delayed his treatment. He had the support of several friends and relatives but his self reliance didn’t allow him to ask for financial assistance for his treatment at Karachi. I didn’t have the opportunity to attend his funeral neither could I see him for the last time before burial because I was in prison at that time. It was later when I came to know that he had not been able to make it to Karachi for his treatment in time and when he was brought to the city it had already been too late.
Exalted politicians and poets like Gul Khan who dedicated their lives for a noble cause and followed their models with utmost sincarety have a history of facing financial and social complications. Hence, that tradition treated Gul Khan in the same way.
My relation to Gul Khan wasn’t of an ordinary friendship neither was it of a year or two. In fact our affiliation was so strong that I praise Gul Khan it will be as if I am praising myself. Gul does not need any praises. With the passage of time and the current era of agony, libraries, research centers will be named after him and his tomb will be built. The speakers at this gathering have shared their views on different known aspect of Gul Khan’s life according to their understanding and acquaintance. His life from beginning to the end had bitter experiences. A few people like me and Gul Khan who were mentioned before by earlier speakers dedicated our lives to save the identity of those impoverished people who have their own land in Asia but have been divided by the powerful forces. We strived to protect their identity.
The darkest era of our history starts when czars head from Moscow to conquer Turkistan, Kirgizia, Turkmenistan and Bukhara. In the meanwhile British had reached Calcutta. Punjab and Sind were independent. Punjab was ruled by a Prince and Sind was under the control of feudal lords. The British were concerned with the possible advance of Czars towards India. Joining Sind and Punjab together they made it to Balochistan via sea. Balochistan shared cordial relations with its neighbor Afghanistan. Despite its intentions to indulge in armed conflict the British Army could not fight in Balochistan due to communication hurdles and was defeated. They attacked Balochistan again and this time with a conquest in their favor.
From that moment to now there hasn’t been a single day which can be called a day of happiness for the small group of those who strived for the rights of impoverished humanity. From the British conquest to 1920 several uprisings surfaced against the British rule in Balochistan. The mode of resistance against the British changed in 1920 and a few years passed without any opposition. However, from 1839 to 1920 there wasn’t a single year when the British didn’t face armed resistance. After 1920 the Baloch youth initiated a different mode of struggle towards democracy. They had learned from their experiences in the past that armed struggle didn’t pose enough trouble for the British. A political party “Anjuman e Ithihad Balochaan” was formed to struggle for the rights and freedom of people of Balochistan in a democratic way. Mir Aziz Khan Kurd, Yousaf Aziz and other renowned persons emerged from the party. We were also members of that caravan. We fomented alliance with Indian Freedom Movement. This was a change from the traditional ways of Baloch resistance. Since the democratic struggle was new to the Baloch, bitterness surfaced and at times complications arose to the level that some suggested raising arms again. But during this phase Baloch nation’s identity and its sufferings at the hands of the British were highlighted to the people on India and to the world at large. It was reminded to the people that Balochs are an independent nation under the suppression of British Empire and we will strive to end that.
However, with the withdrawal of British in 1947 the question of our status was raised. The Baloch made it clear to the Indian National Congress that geographically the do not belong to the subcontinent and are a part of Central Aisa. Therefore, any decision made for the subcontinent cannot be considered for Balochistan and its status should be considered in accordance with the pacts of 1839. Consequently, India was divided on 14th August 1947. Pakistan and India were declared as independent states. But before that on 11 August Kalat’s independence was announced. The British decided to leave Kalat to it its status of prior to 1839 and its status as an independent state was restored. We had disputes over a few areas but those were resolved and an agreement was signed by Khan of Kalat, Liaquat, Quaid e Azam and Nishter. It was decided that the disputes will be resolved with mutual coordination. But what happened later is known to everyone. With a country like this and with such gruesome circumstances how can a poet be mild with his words?
Pakistan was found on the resolution of 1940. It was a pact of different nationalities. The resolution clearly said that the states will be completely independent and autonomous in the federation. But when Pakistan’s structure was being created the pact we signed was ignored and not taken into consideration. We struggled for an independent Pakistan to liberate the muslims but neither the muslims of India nor those of Pakistan could attain freedom. The states of Punjab, Sind, Bengal, Balochistan and NWFP created Pakistan by signing the resolution of 1940. No one else but these were the founders of Pakistan.
These Generals were in the British Army and used to fire bullets on the freedom lovers. Today, these traitors of Pakistan and the enemies of freedom have become the owners of the country. Today these old rivals of freedom fighters treat us they enemies are treated. This is not the Pakistan we strived for. The servants of the British have become our rulers.
In circumstances as such how could Gul Khan talk about gardens and nightingales? He was a member of this caravan and spent his whole life in pain and anguish. Gul Khan’s poetry is of great value to those who understand the worth of freedom and its blessings. But to those who were brought up with care, who only know about gardens and nightingales but not about bullets, won’t understand any of Gul Khan’s poetry. Gul Khan wasn’t only a poet but a combatant in the fight for freedom. He used to say the following couple to me:
Poetry is for those
Who fight in the battle field
He said political struggle had been a cause of inspiration for him. He used to say that beauty in poetry belongs to those poets who are in the front row of the battle field and are the first ones to take the sword of the sheath. Unless you lead your companion in the battle field you can’t become a good poet. He used to tell me “your politics revives mine.”
Gul was a fighter in the struggle towards democracy, humanity and nobility. He struggled through his poetry and suffered imprisonment to achieve that cause. He kept fighting for humanity and human nobility. And undoubtedly for the cause of Baloch because Balochs too are part of humanity. If Baloch suffers and faces cruelty it is a shame for the whole of humanity. As long as fair play and kindness fails to prevail everywhere, humanity can’t prosper. I think attaining independence and self determination for the Baloch will bring pride to all humans. If tomorrow we stress towards the betterment of a particular section of humanity we won’t be at fault. To back a victimized Baloch is to support to the victims of Sindi, Punjabi, Pashtoon or other ethnicities. But human beings have also include some of the worst living beings. Our blood thirsty and imperialist backed agent rulers are worse than predators. They have hijacked the resources of the people and have usurped their right to self rule. No matter what ethnicity these people belong to, either they are Baloch or Punjabi they are worth being denounced. Whereas the Gul Khan of every nation should be praised and appreciated.
We believe in humanity. It to say that Baloch are narrow minded, biased and backward is totally wrong. Progressive and revolutionary people are always broadminded. The first step towards bringing revolution is to love humanity. But it is also the responsibility of the victims to try and cut that end of that deprives them from their rights. That is what the people of Balochistan think. We are not narrow minded neither are we backward but we realize our right to independence and we know how to fight for the protection of our identity.
Whatever I have said is all I can do for Gul Khan’s soul. I have elaborated his and his companion’s ways. I can have my say only in plain words because I can’t do poetry.