In Search of Solutions is the title of the book in hand, said to be an autobiography of the late Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo, the father of Baloch leader Mir Hasil Bizenjo. I would not call it an autobiography for more than one reason. Firstly it is not written by Mir Sahib himself, rather it is based on the notes.
Secondly, it is more an eyewitness account of Pakistan, with particular emphasis on Baloch political history in the making, in which he himself was one of the main players.
Thirdly, it is edited by B.M. Kutty not translated. Kutty being closely associated with Mir Sahib and his party and more than anything else, being with Mir Sahib during the most crucial period of political developments in Pakistan, no body else could do the job better than him.
Bizenjo was a simple, straight forward and clearheaded person. Extremely tolerant to the extent, that when he describes his imprisonments there is no bitterness, perhaps he took it as part of a game.
The book is a valuable document for those who want to know the political history of the county. The narration is factorial and honest. One may differ with Mir Sahib's contention and the conclusions he arrived at, but nobody can accuse him of misstatement, misrepresentation or manipulation.
The book is divided into six parts; mostly in chronological order:
1- Early years, Twist of Fate, 2- Klate Balochistan, The Advent of British Colonialism and Birth of Nationalist Politics, 3- Beyond Balochistan Pakistan's Early Years, 4- Ayub Era, 5- Pakistan's First Crenel Elections and the Separation of East Pakistan, 6- The NAP Government in Balochistan and Finally Dismissal.
The seventh part gives Mir Sahib's reflections, a source to know him intimately and his beliefs, ideology and approach toward ethnicity, culture and language.
There are four appendices at the end. These include a- Interview with Zahid Hussain, b- A question-answer session (published in Viewpoint - Lahore) c- A paper presented at the Tashkent symposium.
For A Nuclear-Free and Non-violent World - d- Am Address at an All Parties Conference on Afghanistan, convened by Prime Minister Junejo in March 1988.
All these appendices introduce the reader with the wide horizons of international politics and world peace.
Here are some extracts to have an idea of Mir Sahib's vision.
"The British were under mounting pressure to quit the sub-continent. The naval mutiny, with its unmistakable nationalist motivation, was a slap on the face of British colonial rule in India. Too many Indians had received military training and seen several years of active service during the Second World War. With nationalist sentiments surging in civilian homes and army barracks alike, the Indian armed forces, on which the British depended heavily for over a century now, posed a potential their to these supremacy." (P55)
"Though the Generals' greed for power had to do much with this unfortunate turn of events, most of the politicians were so blinded by their hatred by Bhutto that they were willing to shake hands with the devil if that would help them get rid of Bhutto. They failed to realise that with all his personal faults and all the odious things his government had done to the country and its people, he still did represent some sort of democratic façade which was better than a military dictatorship."
"There is also a danger that our present foreign policy might compel us in future to become a part of the American strategy in the Gulf, creating serious problems for the independence and survival of the country. Then these 30 lakh Afghans are not in anyway under the control of our government, but are more under the influence of the United States and other reactionary regimes. There is every likelihood that if Pakistan, in its own interest, ever tries to settle the Afghan issue or normalise relations with the South Asians countries against the wishes Washington and the reactionary regimes of the region, well-trained armed refugees might be used against Pakistan itself."
"I am not among those who raise extremist demands. Nor do I support any step which could lead to the weakening of Pakistan or its disintegration. But I would like to make it categorically clear that I am not one of those who would submit to any attempt to enslave the nationalities. In that case you will find me in the fighting line."
Consider the chronology of events he had gone through and reads the last paragraph of his reflections. The apathy shown by the ruling classes sometimes leads me to think that the position taken by my comrades, and which I have been dismissing as subjective, is perhaps not so. On the contrary, I now tend to ask myself, am I the victim of a flawed line of thinking? Is it a sense of frustration that inhibits me from correctly evaluating the reality-driven standpoint of my comrades? The intelligentsia and the thinking segments of the smaller nationalities are finding it increasingly difficult to hear the burden of persistent denial and suppression of their rights by the dominant ruling nationality, by force of sheer numerical majority and its predominant position in the bureaucracy and armed forces. They argue and I cannot but agree with them, that no one can or will tolerate a life of slavery for all times."
Reread the last quote and think over the recent past and present situation.
Anything that invokes one's thinking is indeed most welcome. So is the In Search of Solutions.
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Book : In Search of Solutions: An Autobiography of Mir Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo
Author : Mir Ghaus Baksh Bizenjo
Publisher : Pakistan Study Center, University of Karachi
Pages : 270
Price : Rs 400
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