KARACHI: The eagerly waiting audience on Monday at the Mohatta Palace were filled with excitement when Naheed Jafri Azfar began talking about the rich culture, heritage and history of the region of Balochistan.

With pictures of everything she talked about being shown at a large screen, she described in detail her eight-volume work titled Balochistan Namah: A Cultural Odyssey.

Naheed’s voluminous work aims at demystifying the region of Balochistan by exploring it from various dimensions, focusing on its motifs and cultural symbols among other things.

It covers four cultural regions of Balochistan — western and southern Balochistan, including Lasbela and Makran; central Balochistan, including Kalat; northern Balochistan, including Quetta and Zhob, and eastern Balochistan, including Sibi.

Talking about the origin of the Baloch people, Naheed said there were many theories about it, but the one generally accepted was that of linking it with northern Iran. People came from different areas and settled in the region, but they particularly came from Central Asia and Iran.

The first volume deals with southern and western Balochistan, particularly the culture of Lasebal and Makran regions. Naheed explained the region’s relations and trade ties with other civilisations and cultures of the past like Mesopotamia, Dilmun, Magan and Melluha.

Then there is central Balochistan in the second volume, dealing mainly with Kalat region, where, according to the author, the population is predominantly Brohi. Here she talked about the Khans and other tribal leader in the region, the murder of Mehrab Khan, who is considered a hero by the people of the land, as well as the role of the British in the area.

The third volume deals with northern Balochistan, mainly the region of Quetta and Zhob. Naheed spoke about the history and heritage place of the regions as well as its exquisite nomadic embroidery and jewellery, particularly the Uzdh Kameez.

Each volume of her work has section that covers all regions’ cultural dresses and jewellery worn by the people there.

The unique and mix culture of eastern Balochistan is covered in the fourth volume. This region lies on the border of Sindh and southern Punjab and, therefore, the population in and around this region is Baloch, Sindhi and Punjabi, especially in Dera Ghazi Khan. She here discussed the history of Jhal Magsi and Taunsa Sharif (which is in southern Punjab).

As for the remaining four volumes, Hameed Haroon just gave their brief summary. The fifth volume is about the Khanate of Kalat from 1666-1893 and discusses the region’s transformation from a tribal chiefdom to a buffer state. Volume six covers the period from 1893-1933 and the heyday of Births imperial power whereas the seventh volume details on the period from 1933-1948 leading to the accession of Pakistan.

Lastly, volume eight is about the arts and contains many ballads of the region.

Before concluding the event, Naheed summarised the discussion and talked in detail about the distinct embroidery, pottery and jewellery of different regions of Balochistan among other things.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2024