SABA: The Spark That Lit a Thousand Minds
“I will speak!! I will speak!! You cannot silence the voice of truth!”
Editorial
The voice of the truth has been historically suppressed by the wrath of darkness with force and violence, but who can stop the glitters of a conscious society which are meant to rise and enlighten the blaze of truth, consciousness and resistance. The pages of history have witnessed entities that have choked the throat of oppressed voices but in the midst of repression, rose the epitomes of resistance, challenging the oppressors with their defiant voices and struggle. Intellects grew among the oppressed voices endowing them with revolutionary consciousness.
Among these intellectuals, Saba Dashtiyari; Qandeel-E-Baloch stand as one of the voices of oppressed, carving his name in the chronicles of history—not with ink but with his own blood.
Saba dreamed of a society with conscious being, society free from the colonial mindset, society with critical thinking and knowledge for which he struggled tirelessly. He was aware of the struggle and hardships that he would face in turning his dreams of enlightening future into reality but these hurdles did not waver his commitment and dedication for his mighty cause. He not only thought but also practically participated in Baloch national struggle, he wrote against the brutalities of the oppressor and actively participated in protests, public gathering and other political activities.
It was not mere the passage of time, but the weight of mighty cause that shaped Ghulam Hussain Dashtiyari into Saba Dashtiyari. The name Saba was not just adopted, but was forged in the depths of resistance and hailed as a symbol of hope. Saba was a teacher, but his role as a teacher was not inclined to definitions of dictionaries nor his thoughts and ideas were bound by the parameters set by conservative curricula’s and pedagogies. His lessons of knowledge were not limited to classrooms with board and some furniture’s, rather his revolutionary teachings enlightened various circles of youth from the canteen of Shahrukh (which he referred as OPD) to the rallies of the oppressed Baloch nation. Thus, awakening the spirit of truth and ideological consciousness among the masses of Baloch society.
Saba, as an intellectual, deeply recognized the role of intellectual in colonial societies. He emphasized on the argument that intellectuals, in colonial era, are not mere observers but key stakeholders in reconstructing the pedagogy of education: tasked with teaching the youth critical knowledge and shaping them as consciousness minds, equipped with progressive ideas and the will to collectively work for a better future. Saba criticized the so-called intellectuals who confined their writings in the narrow boundaries of literature, detached from the realities of Baloch society, he denounced their failure on reflecting the colonial atrocities inflicted upon Balochistan, condemning such literature void of resistance, served the shadows of silence rather than liberation of colonial minds.
A central pillar of Saba’s struggle was to promote academic professionalism among Baloch society. He understood the necessity of research oriented institutions and academic professionalization in the context of the digital and intellectual demands of the 21st century. His vision was not confined to the limits of critiques: it transformed into practical and concrete action. Today, Sayad Zahoor Shah Hashmi library is a vital academic research space, providing resources to Baloch researches of various academics
Saba was destined to continue his struggle for his cause with the pen as his weapon, His rebellious voice that shook the existence of the oppressor, but the tragic day arrived on June 1st, 2011, when he was assassinated by state-backed individuals in Quetta. His voice was silenced, but his sacrifice immortalized him in the pages of Baloch history. In martyrdom, Saba Dashtiyari became more than an intellectual, he became a symbol of resistance, a martyr of the pen.
Baloch Students Action Committee
