The Costal Courier

  Mah chok’y baloch’ani Mah chok’y baloch’ani may thurs’a zameen larzith may bem’a kalath jask’an,, “We are the sons of Baloch We are the sons of Baloch The earth shakes with our fear The forts shake in fright Written by Majeed Gwadri in 1948 Song by: Faiz Muhammad I watched with pride as three people chorused this in unison. I was not attending a concert of the 1800s and 1900s when Balochistan was blessed with coveted poets and singers like Mir Gul Khan Naseer, Sayad Zahoor Shah Hashmi, Mullah Qasum, Mullah Fazul, Faiz Muhammad, Atta Shad, Noor Muhammad Nooral, Noor Khan Bezanjo and songs like,’ kale wale kale wale and Laila o Laila beya tara baran sayl’a ‘ ruled the entire literary circles of Baloch societies. But I was attending a concert on the Second March__Baloch culture day___ in the Balochistan University, Quetta. The program ended there and these words kept ringing in my mind for the whole day. The only thing I could ponder about was, is Balochi language improving? What ha...

  The endangered houbara bustard  As the Houbara Bustards have started to migrate from the central Asian Countries in the chilled winter season to the deserts of Balochistan, Sindh, KPk and Punjab, the Arab shiekhs with their entourage have too started arriving in different areas of Pakistan to hunt the endangered bird. Indubitably, these Arabs arrived here in the early 1970s who included Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, at the time when he ruled the UAE which included federations and sheikdoms of Ajman,Fujairah ,Ras al-Khaimah, Abu Dubai and Umm al-Quwain. Having been hunting for a long time in the winter season in different areas and regions of Balochistan, these Arabs were once again permitted to hunt the internationally threatened bird in various areas of the country. They hunt here during the winter season from the November 1st to January 31st. Per contra, the federal government annually issues 25 to 35 permits to the Arabs. Pakistanis are prohibited to hunt the bird be...

The Balochistan province is blessed with hundreds of thousands of species of plants and animals, varying from the ibex, black bear, brown rabbits, markhor, tortoise, migratory birds, including zaarhi, zark (chakor), Sisi and even the tiniest mouse of the planet Earth, the pygmas jerboa. With no doubt, Balochitherium is one of the largest land mammals ever existed on Earth and it extincted being discovered by a French paleontologist Jean-Loup Welcomme in the Province of Balochistan in Dera Bugti district. Pygmy Jerboa mouse, which is equal to the size of a cent was first discovered in the Chagai district of the province by J.A Anderson. From the salty seas to the barren deserts and from the deep oceans to the bleak plains, wild animals native to the province face the ongoing threat of cruelty and annihilation which is exceeding without any respite in Balochistan. A farmer from Kolahoo narrates, ” Druchk (Finch,a migrotory bird from Sibera to Balochistan in the summer season when wheat c...

  The Baloch history is full of secrets and adventures but unfortunately, with the lack of media and government’s attention, the issues and historical heritage still remains uncovered. The Baloch history is congested with exemplary incidents and events. The same like the Mughals’ rule in the Indian subcontinent, the Delhi sultanate or be it others. The Balochi love story of Hammal_o_Mahganj also remains one of the naked witness when it comes to the love. The love story of Hammal and Mahganj has passed generations to generations in the Baloch tribe. It is evident that one can find many ports in the coast of Makran. One of the very old port is the port of Kalmat. The area was green and tidy. Therefore, it was in the limelight throughout Balochistan. In the old days,this area was ruled by a very vigorous, familiar and brave Baloch ruler named Jeehand. That time the Portuguese had invaded Amman establishing an empire from Zenjerbar to Balochistan and Amman. The Portuguese knew about th...

  The Myna bird or Minah On a fine winter day on the Jan Muhammad Road in Quetta, as the sun peeked over the horizon, casting a golden hue across the landscape, my friend posed a surprisingly intriguing question upon observing two mynas in a cage outside a shop. This question, often uttered by our elders during our childhood, was: Why aren’t mynas found in Pidrak, Balochistan? My friend, a law graduate, sought a scientific explanation from me, given my status as an MBBS student and my familiarity with a chapter on the animal kingdom in biology class. Alas, I was at a loss for an answer.  This question, now woven into the cultural tapestry of Turbat, sparked a discussion in our room that extended late into the night. One friend said that it was merely a myth, asserting that people had indeed seen mynas in Pidrak, while another proposed various scientific reasons. Midnight came and went, and the enigma of why mynas don't like Pidrak remained unresolved. The following day, I enco...

  Koh-e-Murad, Zikri pilgrimage in Turbat, Balochistan  The followers of Mahdi are known as Mahdavia (Arabic: Mahdavi or Mahdavism, referred to as Zikri in Pakistan). This Mahdist Muslim sect was founded by Syed Muhammad Jaunpuri in India in the late 15th century, who proclaimed himself the Mahdi and a messianic reformer of Islam. The Mahdavia community is primarily found in India, Iran, and Pakistan. Unlike mainstream Islam, which expanded its population through conquests and conversions, the Zikris have maintained their numbers within their community. They did not engage in wars or conflicts with those who misunderstood their beliefs. Zikris regard Mahdi as a saint and their messenger. They recite their unique Kalima "La ilah ha il la la, noor pak noor Muhammad mahdi o rasool allah." Koh-e-Murad in Turbat, Balochistan, is their sacred site for prayers and Zikr (adoration). The central place of worship sees a large gathering on the 27th of Ramadan, where they perform "C...

  Video courtesy: Kennedy-Lugar YES Program, Pakistan  Travelling to a foreign land can be both thrilling and intimidating, as one is engulfed not merely by homesickness but also by the challenge of navigating cultural diversity. I was selected as a cultural ambassador for the Kennedy-Lugar YES program ( Youth Exchange and Study program), an American-based cultural exchange program funded by the US Department of State. It was the sweltering heat of June 2022 in the Kech district of Balochistan when I received a phone call congratulating me on my selection. Hearing the news of my selection brought overwhelming joy to my family and a deep sense of profound gratification down nerves. Shahjan Munir and Capitol Hill,  Washington D.C   Spending a year in the United States of America was very interesting. I learned firsthand why Americans have excelled in the fields of science, literature, and technology. Moreover, I observed their resilience in overcoming stereotypes ...