A province without hope
04 October, 2012
The narrative of the Baloch youth is clouded over with hopelessness and pessimism. Young students can typically be heard lamenting the loss of peace, the failed education system and their lack of liberty. This sentiment mocks the loud claims made by the government of removing the many grievances of the Baloch people. Hopes and expectations have been raised time and again, only to be shattered when there is no real development made in making Balochistan a safer, more secure province. Peace has evaded the people here because of a lack of law and order and only foreign intervention seems to get the Pakistani government up and moving on our issues. Recently a UN mission was called in to take note of the missing persons issue. While sharing their views, some university students in Balochistan have pointed out the influential nexus between members of the powerful elite, allowing them to control the narrative of the province. One needs to beware of the "pitfalls of national consciousness", as explained by Frantz Fanon. Nationalism, as Fanon argues, often fails at achieving liberation across class boundaries because its aspirations are primarily those of the colonised bourgeoisie — a privileged middle class that seeks to defeat the prevailing colonial rule only to usurp its place of dominance and surveillance over the working class. It is true that the people of Balochistan have been robbed of their liberty but it is the liberty of free thought that they have lost. The Baloch must be liberated from the shackles of illiteracy, which is possible only by launching an educational campaign for the people of Balochistan. Considering the increase in Balochistan's budget, not much would be needed to resurrect the education sector. The Baloch must be brought into the mainstream after having lost their peace and liberty. Jalaaluddin Baloch
Quetta
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