The Remarkable Journey of Mir Hazar Khan Mari - Ammar Masood and Khalid Farid

I decided to call the foreword of this book “Confession” and the Afterword: “The Beginning.” The book is an effort to capture the interest of the youth of Balochistan, in the prime of their lives, pondering over the future of Balochistan. Through this biography, I also wish to address the youth of other provinces who are still unaware of the plight of Balochistan but willing to learn more. This book also addresses the intellectuals and analysts who consider the Baloch uprising from a tiny peephole, a confined perspective. The book is also aimed to pique the interest of those who wish to comprehend the historical context of this turmoil. The book also offers food for thought for those who are unable to distinguish between the battle for regional rights and the battle of separatism. This book identifies the factors that cultivate the seed of rebellion in the fertile minds of Baloch youth. The book at hand also delivers intellectual insights and delineates some guiding principles for those who seek to understand the issues and find ways to resolve them.

After going through the pages of this biography, it is up to the readers’ discretion whether they find Hazar Khan’s personality appealing or not. However, you cannot deny the fact that this was a tale of courage that should not have been left untold - for the generations to follow, for the times to come.

This book is an acknowledgment of our shortcomings. It is a confession that we - the residents of big cities - barely ever spare a moment to learn about our largest province. It is an admission of guilt that we as a nation, failed Balochistan. It is also an assertion that Bevergh’s grandfather Mir Hazar Khan was a prominent figure in the rich Baloch history. One whose ever-evolving struggle may serve as the basis for shaping the modern history of Pakistan - specifically Balochistan.

With those words, I invite you to explore the saga of this charismatic Baloch leader Mir Hazar Khan aka ‘Waddoo’; as narrated by his grandson Bevergh and his longtime friend Khalid Farid. I am a mere writer who put that into words.

Ammar Masood