The year was 1914 and somewhere in the dusty deserts of Nushki, a renowned poet, eminent historian, notable politician and journalist of Balochistan was born. Mir Gul Khan Naseer was son of Mir Habib who belonged to the Paindzai sub-tribe of Mengal. His mother, Bibi Hooran was the sister of chief of Rakhshani Badini tribe. She was a fairly learned woman who could read Persian and understand the Quran. This was considered a huge achievement for a woman in her era, as such depth of literacy was rare for a man even, let alone a woman. She had a vital role in the upbringing of her sons.
Mir Gul Khan Naseer studied in Nushki til 4th Grade and moved to Quetta afterwards where he got admission in Government Sandeman High School. After completing matriculation, he went to Lahore in pursuit of higher education and got enrolled in Islamia College Lahore. Back then, Lahore stood as the hub of knowledge, political and social activities. He was greatly influenced by the literary movements, political vibe and strong socio-economic culture of the city. Unfortunately, all his plans were shredded during his second academic year at college when a piece of coal got into his eye followed by a devastating infection. Soon therein, he abandoned his studies and returned to Quetta.
Mir Gul Khan Naseer had two daughters, Gohar Malik and Gul Bano. Gohar Malik was afflicted with polio in childhood. His wife told him to marry again because they had no male progeny, to which he said, “Why should I marry again, all Baloch people are our children.”
Mir Gul Khan is a well-known figure in Balochistan’s history of politics and journalism. Apart from that, Mir was also an inspirational poet. He wrote poems in English, Balochi, Persian, Urdu and Brahui. But most of his poems are in Balochi. Mir’s poetry is filled with anti-imperialist and revolutionary themes which reflect upon his socialist and activist role. Mir Gul Khan Naseer stepped into the world of philosophy and literature in 1940s when the Progressive Movement was at its peak.
Through his poetry, Mir Gul Khan exhibited his strong dislike towards the chauvinistic minds and behaviour of the rich towards the poor. He absolutely detested the class difference that prevailed at that time and to some extent, still do.
Urdu was the first language he used for his poetic expression but soon began to pen down poems in his mother tongue, i.e. Balochi.
His first collection of Balochi poetry came into existence in 1951 named ‘Gulbang’. It was the first ever, collection of modern Balochi poetry.
As he was inspired by the Progressive Movement, the poetic figure of a poor man who is deprived from attire, appears in his poems time and again. He dreams for a world where everything is just, there is no suppression and indiscrimination.
A famous quatrain of one his poems goes as:
“Wáhde pa ĝaríbáñ ki jaháñ tang bibít when the world starts to constrict around the poor man
Láp húrak, badan lúč pa badrang bibít His mutilated naked form is left to fend for his hungry gut
Haq int ča čušeñ wár o azábeñ zindá Then it’s better from this life of misery and torture
Máří bisučant, sar birawant, jang bibít If war ensues, heads roll & lavish palaces are burnt to the ground “
A famous quatrain of one his poems goes as:
“Wáhde pa ĝaríbáñ ki jaháñ tang bibít when the world starts to constrict around the poor man
Láp húrak, badan lúč pa badrang bibít His mutilated naked form is left to fend for his hungry gut
Haq int ča čušeñ wár o azábeñ zindá Then it’s better from this life of misery and torture
Máří bisučant, sar birawant, jang bibít If war ensues, heads roll & lavish palaces are burnt to the ground “
Mir Gul Khan Naseer was very good friends with Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Once Faiz offered to translate Mir Gul Khan’s poems into Urdu but he refused the offer. Mir Gul Khan Naseer’s status in Balochi literature is the same as Habib Jalib’s in Urdu.
Habib Jalib once said, “Had Mir Gul Khan Nasir been born in Punjab he would’ve become Faiz Ahmed Faiz and if Faiz had been brought up in Balochistan, he would’ve become Gul Khan Naseer”.
It may seem strange but despite his close relation and association with Baloch tribal leaders, he openly condemned the deep rooted tribal society of Balochistan, the only Baloch poet who had the audacity to do so.
He was posthumously awarded Sitar-e-Imtiaz by Government of Pakistan, for his meritorious services.
Below is one his Urdu poems ‘Kab Tak’;
Mir Gul Khan Naseer’s daughter Gohar Malik has her own story of courageousness. Despite being physically paralysed, with her father’s moral support she earned a notable name in Balochi literature.
Mir Gul Khan Naseer is the dawn of modern Balochi poetry. He spoke for the common folk and expressed it openly with his words. He was one of the few people who spoke out and stayed determined to the Progressive Movement until its last breath.
After getting diagnosed with a chronic disease, Mir Gul Khan Naseer died on December 6, 1983. He was laid to rest in his native village “Killi Mengal, Nushki”.
