Press Release | April 5, 2011 | Conference photos

London: Baloch Cultural Society - UK has held a conference on Balochi language and Culture in London United Kingdom. Distinguished speakers shed light on the importance of Balochi language and culture. Veteran Balochi language poet Waja Akbar Barakzai chaired the first half of the conference while the second half was chaired by Hoshang Naruee. A fair number of Baloch, and speakers of other languages attended the conference.

Waja Akbar Barakzai in his comments wished that the Baloch cultural Society had invited someone (A doctor) to speak about the anti Balochi language policies of states (Iran and Pakistan). He thanked the participants for taking interest and joining the conference and appreciated the speakers for their valuable time and contributions.

Dr. Agnes Korn: spoke about Balochi dialectology, history of research and present state. She explained about the different dialects of Balochi language spoken in different part of Balochistan. According to her presentation and sources that she presented, Balochi is an Iranian language.

Dr. Badalkhan Baloch: Mr Baloch's topic and presentation attracked several Baloch youth presented in the conference as he spoke about the the legendary Baloch figure Mir Chakar Khan Rind.

Dr. Hoshang Noraiee: Cultural Homogeneity or Diversity in Baluchistan. He also spoke about ideological aspects of culture. In his presentation he showed some picture which he thought were changing aspects of Baloch culture. According to his point of view Baloch culture was shaping in different ways due pressure of globilisation and modernity. He also presented a case study of religious ideology of Jundollah which he thinks is being infiltrated in Baloch culture.

Professor Carina Jahani's topic of speech was Balochi oral literature (traditional tales and their themes). She said that it is useful and important to continue to arrange such gatherings to promote Balochi language and Baloch culture. According to Carina Jahani's presentation Balochi is an Indo European language - most Baloch schalors hold the same view as Carina.

She also stressed and urged the Baloch youth to read more and more balochi books/write ups, articles etc to improve their Balochi. During question and answer session she also said that Baloch must make collective efforts to to promote their language and must come up with a common script to standerdise their language.

Dr. Shahsawar K: Mr Shahsawar's speech was mostly about the economic aspects of the language.

The Video presentations and papers of all the above mentioned speakers will be posted on Balochwarna and other Baloch sites as soon as they are ready.

Waja Hyrbyair Marri in his ending speech thanked the guest for their contributions and praised the Baloch cultural society for organising such an important event. He said it was important to continue to hold such informative events to introduce Baloch language and culture to International community.

Text of Hyrbyiar Marri's Speech: "Luckily, We Baloch are owner of a rich culture, deep rooted language valuable traditions. Our ancestor paid ultimate prices to uphold our culture despite the efforts of occupying states that have tried their utmost to dilute and distort our way of life and impose their alien languages and culture on us. The speakers have already explained the history of Baloch language and culture according to their understanding and knowledge.

I just would like to add that Patriot Balochs have sacrificed their lives to preserve the Baloch culture and traditions. Brave Baloch leaders like Mir Hammal Baloch, Prince Abdul Karim, Nawab Nauroz Khan, Ghulam Mohammad Baloch and countless others, all had upheld the Baloch culture of resistance in defense of their motherland - they fought against foreign invaders including the protégées, Mongols, the British, Punjabi and Persians to keep them off Baloch land and stop them from polluting the Baloch Culture. Similarly the current Baloch struggle is not only to regain Independence but it is also to protect the Baloch traditions, language and culture because if we do not struggle to safeguard our language today, Balochi might become extinct or influenced by other languages and become non-existence in its true spirit.

According to the Director-General of UNESCO, "Languages are indeed essential to the identity of groups and individuals and to their peaceful coexistence. They constitute a strategic factor of progress towards sustainable development and a harmonious relationship between the global and the local context..."

However, the occupying states of Iran and Pakistan are doing their utmost to eradicate Baloch language, Culture and traditional values by killing Balochistan's most learned youth including poets, students, lawyers and other enlightened members of Baloch society. Only two days ago they killed and dumped Ramatullah Shaheen - who was a Balochi language poet and a Journalist. The systematic mass disappearing and killing of the most conscience minded Balochs illustrate the mentality of occupying forces and their intentions to eliminate all those who are promoting Balochi Music, poetry, language and culture. The main purpose of destroying well-informed youth is that they [occupying states'] want the educated people to become obedient to them and promote their culture.

They are also trying to ethnically flood Balochistan by settling people of other cultures with intentions to influence Balochi language and change the demography of Balochistan. The announcement of the state to induct Baloch youth in army is meant to kill two birds with one stone, meaning, to divert the Baloch Youths' attention from Baloch patriotism and to make them fanatic uniformed Taliban.

Pakistan and Iran have historically enabled the eradication of Baloch identity and culture. The legacies of these states' violence against the Baloch people remain in the unsolved mass disappearances and the lack of justice and accountability for torture and other crimes against humanity. Baloch today still routinely face collective repression for speaking in their mother tongue and wearing their National dress. The persecution of Baloch activists for simply saying the words 'Baloch' and 'Balochistan' indicate the scale of the institutional violence of denying an entire people the right to speak their language and express their true identity. On several occasions people have been arrested and humiliated for wearing Baloch National Dress and growing breads or folding those in Balochi style, especially in Marri and Bugti regions. Moustaches and bread of several Baloch have been forcefully shaved by Pakistani officials in a bid to disgrace them and make them look like Punjabi occupiers.

All nations give priority to their language, culture and National identity so should we the Baloch. Baloch scholars such as Syed Zahoorshah Hashumi and Dr M Y Dorra Baloch, also known as MirDorra, tried to standardise Balochi language and introduce a common Balochi script but after their death not many people have pursued their dreams to complete the mission of these scholars. Today despite facing similar difficulties, Kurdish, Tamil, Sindhi and other occupied Nations' language' are Internationally recognised (to some extent) but unfortunately Balochi is yet to reach to that stage - which is an indication that we must work hard to promote Balochi language and culture. We should encourage and help those scholars who are genuinely working hard to promote Balochi language in Balochistan and on International level.

Before I finish, I once again thank the honourable guests for their contributions and I congratulate the organisers of this conference for this successful event. I do hope that Baloch Cultural Society will continue to organise meetings, conferences and study circles to promote Baloch culture, language and traditions".

Click Here to view the picture of the conference

For more information please contact:
Baloch Cultural Society-UK
At: balochsocietyuk@gmail.com