We recently visited the Syed
Hashmi Library in Malir, thanks to our friend Mr. Waleed Sikandar Baloch. The
Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi reference library was formed by Professor Saba
Dashtyari. It is the world’s largest library on Balochi literature. He funded
this library with his own salary. The name of the library was after Professor
Syed Hashmi.
It is situated on main
Shahrah-e-Faisal just after Malir halt and Anwar Baloch restaurant. On our
arrival we were greeted by the administrator of the library Mr Ghulam Rasool. It consist of a
small garden, two small office rooms and the main library hall, which is quite
small due to the lack of space and Mr. Saba Dashtyari’s office containing his
pictures and books.
Students at the Syed Zahoor Shah Hashmi Reference Library
On our request the administrator
of the library gave us a brief account of life history and the services of
Professor Saba Dashtyari. Mr. Dashtyari is regarded as a leading Balochi
language writer and intellectual whose literary works appeared in leading
journals and magazines. He had authored several books and laid the foundation
of a premier Balochi language academy in Karachi. He held a Masters Degree in
Philosophy and Islamic Studies and taught Islamic Studies in Balochistan
University. He was fluent in English, Persian, Urdu, Arabic and Balochi
Language.
He was killed while walking in
Quetta on June 1, 2011. We also found his blood stained clothes hanging in his
office in the library. We were told that his belongings were kept, especially
his blood stained clothes, to keep them reminded and motivated about Mr.
Dashtyari’s struggle and his contributions to the people of Balochistan and
their rights.
To sum up, we would like to
reproduce Jinnah’s words from his speech on August 11, 1947 for those who
realize:
“You are free; you are free to
go to your temples, you are free to go to your mosques or to any other place or
worship in this State of Pakistan. You may belong to any religion or caste or
creed -- that has nothing to do with the business of the State. We are starting
in the days where there is no discrimination, no distinction between one
community and another, no discrimination between one caste or creed and
another. We are starting with this fundamental principle: that we are all
citizens, and equal citizens, of one State”
For the pictures please click
here
