Book Review: Janmahmad's Essays on Balochistan

Name of the book: Essays on Baloch National Struggle in Pakistan; Emergence Dimensions, Repercussions. Author: Janmahmad. Publisher: Goshe-e-Adab , Quetta, Balochistan, 1988

By Shastuni Baloch: shastuni@gmail.com

www.balochinames.blogspot.com

Several years ago, I wrote some notes as a part of a coursework about the Baloch in East Balochistan, currently under Pakistani rule. I subsequently submitted the assignment to my college. It was well received and published in the students’ journal. Unfortunately, I did not keep any copy of my work. Based on my old notes, I have now put some information and comments as a ‘book review’. At the time, I found the information in Janmahmad’s book ‘Essays on Baloch National Struggle in Pakistan’ rather new and informative. I hope that the readers of Balochi Names weblog [Balochi naam o neshaan بلوچی نام و نشان] will find this short review useful and informative about East Balochistan. Please note that my aim is to introduce a source for research and academic purpose only. The views in the book are obviously those of Janmahmad, the author of the book.

Mr Janmahmad’s book “Baloch National Struggle” is probably one of the rare books, which covers a wide range of information about Baloch people’s struggle, their culture, language and history.

Mr Janmahmad, who was an assistant commissioner in Balochistan’s provisional administration, had access to various administrative and state’s documents in addition to a great deal of published and unpublished material belonging to individuals and socio-political organisations in Eastern part of Balochistan, now a province in Pakistan.

Having given an introduction on Balochistan and its people, the author discusses the concept of ‘nationalism’ and the ‘right of self-determination’. Janmahmad further explains the fragility of “Ideology of Pakistan” and the concept of “Muslim Nation”. He argues that Muslims belong to many different nationalities; and they can not, therefore, be regarded as a “single nation”. He strongly believes that the state of Pakistan has been masterminded by the British colonialists in order to safeguard their interests in the region.

Although the book covers a variety of detailed information, Janmahmad seems not to be a truly independent minded writer; and in my view, his bias views would damage his great work of research. He frequently refers to the remarks given by the Baloch veteran leader, the late Ghous-Baksh Bizenjo, especially to justify and confirm the views of the late Mr Bizenjo. Mr Bizenjo was a great player in the politics of Balochistan in 20^th century, but in hindsight, an author ought to express the historical events with a critical eye without being drawn to sentimental favouritism.

Janmahmad praises the [former] Soviet Union and its “socialist bloc”, in what he calls “progressive” policies towards the oppressed nations. He also supports the Afghan coup d’etat as a “Socialist Revolution”. In the meantime, quite amazingly, he criticises the Soviet bloc in their lack of support to the Baloch cause. Mr Janmahmad gives a very detailed picture of the Baloch in eastern Balochistan, but his books lack such a picture about events and history of Western part of Balochistan in Iran.

Janmahmad’s “Esays on Baloch National Struggle” is undoubtedly a valuable work which provides the reader with a nice collection of references and a selected bibliography about Balochistan. The book has also a modern layout and a good ‘index’, which helps the reader to use the book more conveniently. Janmahmad’s Essays is a valuable book; and it is recommended for every one who is interested in Balochistan’s affairs to read it.

It is assumed that the author’s full name is Jan-Mohammad Dashti, a baloch scholar, who later served as the President of the Balochi Academy in Quetta, Balochistan.

It is worth to mention that the book was written in 1985; and it was published in 1988. At the time, many Baloch intellectuals and political groups were pro-soviet.