The year 1914 was quite significant in Baloch history as Mir Gul Khan Naseer, one of the most influential persons in the history of Balochistan, was born this year. The personality of Mir Gul Khan Naseer was multifaceted as he has played multiple roles in life. For instance, he was a sharp politician, an exceptional poet, a true historian, and an authentic journalist. Naseer was highly inclined towards socialism and outrighteously opposed the tribal system. His contributions to raising the Baloch political consciousness were significant, so much so that he directed all his efforts toward the political guidance of the common Baloch people. Naseer’s poetry has played a profound role in this regard as it was laden with the ideas of Nationalism, revolutionism, and progressivism, which were essential in raising the Baloch consciousness.
The versatility of Naseer’s work is characterized by his love for Balochistan and its courageous people, who not only have deep historical roots but also fought against evil forces throughout history. Consequently, the plight of the Baloch people and their concerns to preserve their language became the central message of Mir Gul Khan Naseer’s poetry. In his efforts to bring the problems of Balochistan to the limelight, Naseer not only used poetry as a tool, but also worked in politics, journalism, and historiography to channel his skills and energy towards the Baloch cause. One thing that influenced him to take this multidimensional path was the literary atmosphere of Lahore during his student life, which had a profound impact on his mindset. Upon his return to Balochistan, Naseer observed the growing movement for political freedom, which had already struck a chord with the people, leading to a visible surge in social and political consciousness.
After coming back to Kalat, Naseer joined Anjuman-e-Itihad-e-Balochistan, which aimed to fight for the rights of the Baloch people. By 1936, the Anjuman-e-Ithihaad-e-Balochistan became inactive, which compelled the Baloch youth to establish another organization called “Anjuman-e-Islamia Ryasat-e-Kalat”, and Naseer was made its President. Unfortunately, the other political stakeholders got insecure about the popularity of this organization, so they conspired against it and finally banned it from the Kalat state. Subsequently, the Baloch youth regrouped and formed a new political organization known as the “Kalat State National Party” (KSNP) on February 5, 1937, and made Naseer the Vice President.
KSNP was disbanded in 1948, following the Kalat’s accession whereby the Khan of Kalat, Mir Ahmed Yar Khan joined the Muslim League and approached Mir Ajmal Khan and Gul Khan Naseer to convince others, including Mir Ghaus Bakhsh Bizenjo to join the party as well. Both Naseer and Bizenjo felt that the Muslim League would be the platform to highlight the concerns of the Baloch people, but they soon realized that they were wrong so, they permanently severed ties with the party. Consequently, Pakistan National Party, the largest left-wing political party emerged in the Pakistani political arena in the 1950s. Naseer became a member of the party and in the general elections of 1970, he won the seat of provincial assembly from the ticket of PNP. After assuming the position of a senior minister, Naseer worked ambitiously in the Education, Health, Information, Social Welfare, and Tourism sectors.
In recognition of his literary services, Mir Gul Khan Nasir was posthumously awarded the Sitara-i-Imtiaz (President’s Award) in 2001. It is important to note that his vision of Baloch’s identity went beyond mere racial considerations and incorporated class-based elements. He did not represent the Baloch people superficially, rather his representation was embedded in the progressive ideologies of revolution and nationalism coupled with the historical roots of the Baloch people, which also became a major part of his poetic achievements as well.
