GWADAR: The four-day Gwadar Book Festival began here on Thursday with an introspective look towards the future of Balochistan.

Organised by a non-profit organisation, Rural Community Develop­ment Council (RCDC), the festival will continue till Sunday.

In its fourth year, the Gwadar Book Festival has been dedicated to writer and socio-political activist Abdullah Jan Jamaldini, who passed away last year.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, guests from Quetta, Karachi and Gwadar expressed their hopes, fears and perceptions about Gwadar.

RCDC vice president Nasir Rahim said that “we need to have a clear voice while addressing our political and social issues with regards to ongoing changes in the province”.

Chairperson of the Sangat Academy, Quetta, and writer Shah Mohammad Marri said that it was time for women to become an integral part of the political process in the province. “I had three wishes before coming here. I wanted to see my friend and comrade, Abdul Wahid Baloch; wanted to see his daughters at the book festival and I wanted to see women as an integral part of the political process. I believe that our women have the foresight required to take us forward.”

Writer and journalist Mohammad Hanif said that an acquaintance thought that he was going to buy property when he informed him that he would be travelling to Gwadar.

Talking about Mr Jamaldini’s monumental work on Balochistan, Mr Hanif stressed the need for spreading the message of the late writer. The country should benefit not only from the natural resources of Balochistan but also from the works of the writers of this province, he added.

Mr Hanif was critical of the media for what he called repetitively describing Balochistan by only a few terms such as, ‘mineral-rich’ and ‘angry Baloch’. Using only such types of terms for the province showed that the media was not interested in its history and culture, he added.

He said Balochistan had a rich culture and a fascinating history and it should be portrayed in these perspectives.

A. R. Dad, a professor of the Balochi language at the University of Balochistan, said that Makran was the cradle of the beginning of modern literature in the Balochi language. “Karachi is the junction where the literature was published and found its readership as well,” he added.

In his address, Gwadar Port Authority Chairman Dostain Khan Jamaldini thanked the RCDC for organising the event and recognising the services of his family.

Secretary of Anjuman Taraqqi-i-Urdu Fatima Hassan said that literary institutions needed to have their presence in Gwadar. She announced opening an office of the Anjuman in Gwadar.

A book titled Rishtaq by young poet Pullan Umer, who writes satire and humorous poetry, was launched during the ceremony.

Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2017