Have you ever heard of a friend who said that he was a Baloch? Have you ever heard of Balochistan, a land that stretches from Pakistan to Iran and Afghanistan?
The Baloch are one of the most oldest communities of South Asia who have been living in Balochistan, a large area of land that stretches from Pakistan to Iran and Afghanistan. A large population of the Baloch reside in the Middle East and Central Asia, including Oman, Qatar, Bahrain and UAE, preserving a rich culture ,language and traditions. Their culture, language and traditions are rooted in deep quotes, poetry and oral wisdom.
The Balochi language is one of the greatest treasures of this heritage, a symbol of pride and identity. With in it, is a collection of poetry, proverbs and quotes. These quotes aren't only words but words of wisdom and knowledge. They carry simplicity and identity, reflecting how the Baloch whether he is from Oman or Iran, sees life, relationships and communities.
In this article, we would explore some quotes with their translation into Balochi, their explanation and how do these relate to the lives of these fascinating people.
Knowledge never ends; it keeps flowing like a river.
Explanation:
This quote suggests how knowledge is endless. It keeps flowing like a river because learning is a never ending and a constant process, just like a river that keeps flowing until it meets another body of water, the oceans. Rivers give water to the sea and knowledge waters our mind. The more knowledge you put into your mind, the sharper it becomes. No matter how much a person learns, there is always more to discover. This proverb also teaches us about humility, saying that we must not be ignorant of knowing everything because knowledge is infinte and always keeps expanding.
Suppose a girl from Islamabad learns to read poetry from her elders. Later at the university, she learns science and technology. For her masters, she opts for English literature in London on an scholarship. Each stage adds to her knowledge, proving that knowledge expands and that the river of knowledge never dries.
Cultural Context:
From the poetry of Mast Tawakali to the verses sung by Noor Khan Bezanjo( NBK) and to the modern Balochi and Bhravi scholars, learning has always been cherished. Balochs often show respect to their poets and authors. They love the keepers of their traditions. In the tribal system, the elders of the family are considered to be the carriers of knowledge while the poets and singers preserve language through stanzas and verses.
Enemy becomes hell, friend becomes paradise.
Explanation: When a good and honest person becomes your friend, your life would be very beautiful and pleasant while a bad friend would definitely bring unhappiness, scar, suffering and pain. An enemy would bring unease and hostility while living in hostility would be like burning in Fire, a restless state of mind which would never let you sleep. While a friend brings joy and comfort in your life like a safe haven. Therefore, it is very beneficial to make friends who you thrust the most while avoid making people your enemy becuase this would be like inviting restlessness in your life.
Cultural Context : As far as tribal Balochs are concerned, social bindings matter the most. A single friendship would bring joy while an enemity brings years of conflict. It is said that tribal Balochs often think thousands of times in making friends and then live their last breath spending time with them and wars often end taking time. History remains a witness and reflects the story of the battle between the Rind and the Lashaar Tribe which lasted for years, resulting in many casualties and deaths between them. Living in harsh and mountainous environment, survival in their land often rests on thrust and alliances. Therefore, chosing an enemy or a friend would decide your destiny.
A little contentment is better than endless wealth
Explanation: This quotation teaches about contentment which means to appreciate no matter how less you have. It is indeed a universal truth that wealth doesn't guarantee happiness. A person who chases after money, possession and status is often unsatisfied. On the other hand, somebody who appreciates the smallest of the things enjoys peace and tranquillity in his life. Contentment here is portrayed as a valuable greater than gold.
For instance, a shepherd in the far away outskirts of the Matung district has a small number of sheep while another in Gwadar has hundreds of them. If the shepherd with less number of sheep enjoys his life by drinking tea, eating bread with his family is much more richer than the person who has hundreds of them and desires more.
Cultural Context: Balochs are known for their simplicity. They have lived in Balochistan as nomads or as small farmers, relying on their fields and livestock. In the times of economic hardships, Baloch elders often use this proverb to encourage their youth not to despair. Even if jobs are scarce or they don't have a penny to spend on a business, they remind them about inner peace and contentment. Because they believe that inner peace comes from contentment, not just from money.
One's language is ones pride
Explanation:
Languages which humans speak closely relate to their identity, culture and traditions. It is a way of expressing ourselves and valuing our long traditions. A language reflects where you come from. For example, a Russian speaking Russian loves speaking the language because it would tell us about the large area of the land which extends to Asia and Europe.
Suppose, if you hear someone speaking Hindi in the Times Square of New York, India would pope up into your mind or a person speaking Urdu would bring Pakistan into your mind. A person speaking Pashtu would remind you about those icy and cold areas of Afghanistan and Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province.
To cut it short, a language is entrusted to you by your ancestors and therefore it is mandatory to speak it, preserve it, and then pass it to the generations after you.
Cultural Context: Balochs speak Balochi and Bhravi. They love the languages and Balochi resembles Persian Language. Though, I still struggle to speak and read Bhravi but I love it as much as I love Balochi. Tribal Balochs deeply value their language as a link to their poetry, music and oral traditions. In a sophisticated world, where larger languages like English and Mandrian dominate, this proverb teaches the world to preserve smaller languages from fading away. Though Balochi and Bhravi language speakers make 4 per cent of Pakistan, they are spoken largely around the world, including Iran, Afghanistan, the Middle East and the west. Just as other nations love their Language, Baloch deem their language as a badge of honor.
Note: you can also go through Prophet Muhammad’s Quotes about how wisdom is respected across cultures.
A friend is like one's hand
Explanation: A true friend is always there to assist you just like the two hands of our arms without which daily life would seem difficult. Your hands assist and do many things__saving, lifting things and holding heavy stuff. In like manner, a true friend helps you in tough times. This Quote reminds us that true friendship isn't about companionship but about thrust and reliability. Think of two students in Quetta. One is good at sciences while other solves maths problems in the blink of an eye. By helping each other during the exams, one lending science notes and the other explaining algebra__ they act as two hands, proving the real essence of this proverb.
Cultural Context: Friendship is direly accepted in the Baloch tribal codes. Friends are honoured while guests are welcomed as part of the family. This reflects how Balochs deeply respect true friendship. A tribal Baloch believes that a true friend isn't somebody who you meet occasionally but someone who stands besides you in times of grief and sorrow.
Conclusion:
The true wisdom of these fascinating people runs deep through these proverbs, each valuing knowledge and their experiences. These quotes that I have collected echo about true friendship, knowledge, contentment and the pride of ones language. Balochs are very brave, with their youths well-concerned about their identity and language.
The wisdom rooted in their language have been preserved by eternal singers and poets like Gul Khan Naseer and Mast Tawakali. They have carried forward weaving their honor, bravery cultural traditions through poetry.
✨ Through this article, we came to connect one of the least known traditions and nations of the world who have craven history. If you enjoyed these quotes, you might also love our Quotes Collection, which also includes the quotes of the Prophet Muhammad ( P.B.U.H) and more. ✨
Post a Comment