INTERVIEW WITH TAJ BALOCH

INTERVIEW WITH TAJ BALOCH

 

Vote is the power of an individual : Taj Baloch

 

BY: AYAZ AHMED LAGHARI

 

Taj Baloch is a renowned personality of Mirpurkhas. Taj has been doing great work of rights activism since student times. He was engaged in left politics and was leader of Sindh National Students Fderation in early seventies. Nowadays he is working for SINDH GRADUATES ASSOCIATION (SGA) at Mirpurkhas in which he is working on education network in Sindh. Taj’s specialty is self involvement as voluntary in social projects which distinguish him as unique from other prominently personalities of the Mirpurkhas Taj Baloch also involved in student politics when he experienced he saw lots of ups and downs of Sindh’s politics. Specialty of Taj Baloch is determination for doing efforts for his homeland. Let see what more I going to know about him during interview.

 

Q: Sir who is Taj Baloch in your own words?

 

A: In my own words, I would say I am activist for human development and as a professional I am retired entomologist in the Health department in Mirpurkhas. Right now I am working with SGA Sindh Graduate Association Mirpurkhas district, a social organization for betterment of the society.

 

Q: sir put some light about your education?

 

A:  I got my early education from my native village Gul Mohammad Rind near Mirpurkhas then I went Government High School Mirpurkhas for matriculation in 1967, for intermediate I got admission in Shah Lateef Degree College . I passed Bachelor science in Zoology from college side then I went to University of Sindh Jamshoro and did M.A English.

 

Q: would you like to put some light on your student life and socio-political scenario of that time and your participation?

 

A: I have seen lots of ups and downs of Pakistan ’s politics, either martial law or democratic movements, I was very active in politics in my student times, I was good orator and I won almost all debate competitions. In my all speeches my views were just reflector of masses particularly the peasants because I had keenly observed the problems of peasants and poor people. As far as social conditions concerned, I must say it was very different, in old times communication was very slow and people has no awareness about their rights and laws. Due to giant network of media made easy communication and media is helping for awareness in the masses today. It is other fact, people of my time were small in quantity but we were very loving and caring. I think love has vanished from the earth or at least from my society. In this global village I cannot find my native village where I had found peace, no bomb attacks no assassinations, inflation and many social evils as yet we have in our society. Since my studentship I used politics to make a good democratic society therefore I joined Sindh National Students Federation Mirpurkhas chapter where I and many other student did struggle for better education and better governance in the country. I still remember when Sindhi Boli bill was approved by Sindh assembly then some students waved black flags at college building then we waved red colored flag to show the celebrations. In university times I was also part of Labour Movement then joined Hari movement under the leadership of Hyder Baksh Jatoi at Hyderabad in which I was active in protests, demonstrations and marches for rights of farmers and peasants.

 

Q: What you have done for your society and briefly tell us about your successful projects?

 

A: Yes I struggled a lot, education and health always been my first consideration because education is only the medicine to end the cancer of social evils. Unfortunately since creation of the country our education system is useless. I use SGA as my medium for spreading the network of education in every city of Sindh .

School system named Roshan Tara associated with SGA helping the students to get better education. My village in which water was the major problem so TVO named organization financially helped us but due to big project money became less for the project then my villagers in my leadership collected money for completing the project. I think not only the villagers but whole country should be united then we can remove every hurdle.

 

Q: Which facts of the society make hurdles to do social working?

 

A: Well there are lots of hurdles to doing social working, first of all criticism on social workers, whether doing as job or as voluntary. We always moved forward and ignored the useless criticism. Actually it became psychology of certain individuals of our society that “if I did not do then I will not let other to do”.

Next, feudal impact is very strong in our society like I have right according to constitution to make a welfare organization anywhere but if I am trying to make it in any village without permission then kamdar came and does inquiry, if wadero or raees likes then its okay otherwise they made many hurdles. Gender differences are also on the problems because many people did not allow their women to get education. There are many hurdles but I including my organization try level best for better social organizations and activities.

 

Q: What you want to comment on current students politics in Sindh?

 

A: I became very sad whenever I read any news of assassination of any student in the university. Today every party leadership have student wings which use them for their problems and distract students from education, it is not the democratic way. If students do politics then they should attend every class first, when I was student, I went every protest but after attending every classes. Without better education you cannot be the good for your country. Students do protest for their rights first, and do more struggle in politics after completing the education. I really want to say every student politics is very important for society but education is first because education made mind to make strong ideologies for betterment of leadership of the country.

 

Q: How can an individual play his/her role for the society?

 

A: every individual has an impact on society, every individual has right of vote through which he or she can make a good leadership for the country. Individuals should make a new better mindset, they should promise with themselves of not doing corruption and do not run for greed. And in last, with such promises we will see a better society.

 

Q: Sir any message for students of the university?

 

A: I am feeling glad that I am giving my message to my youth. Youth is the name of courage and we are included in the country where youth are in excessive amount, unfortunately huge amount of our youth have forgotten their way which was given by our national leaders. I want to say students, pay full attention on education and learn about their laws and rights and keep away from social evils and try to build a new and better leadership. Support our province and learn about our resources and their utilization for the country.

Department of Mass Communication Sindh University. Writing pieces practical work done under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi. Batch MC-2k10