Book Review: Janmahmad's Essays on Balochistan

Eaasys on Balochistan: A Book Review <!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

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 assignmnet 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 commnents 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.

Shastuni Baloch

[e-mail]

http://balochinames.blogspot.com

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Name of the book:

Essays on Baloch National Struggle in Pakistan; Emergence Dimensions, Repercussions

Author: Janmahmad

Publisher: Goshe-e-Adab , Quetta, Balochistan, 1988

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<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[1]<!--[endif]-->, 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administration, had access to various administrative and state’s documents in addition to a great deal of published and unpublished material belonging to individuals and socio-political organisations in Eastern part of Balochistan, now a province in Pakistan.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<!--[if !supportFootnotes]-->[2]<!--[endif]-->.

Mr Janmahmad gives a very detailed picture of the Baloch in eastern Balochistan, but his books lacks 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.

Shastuni, August 2007