Death anniversary: Intellectuals, writers pay tribute to Dr Baloch

Prof Dr Qasim Rind says Dr Baloch was dynamic leader, loyal to the land, language, literature and national conscience.

Intellectuals and writers paid glowing tributes to Dr Baloch at a literary gathering here on Saturday.

Honouring the intellectual, thinker and seasoned researcher, they said that although Dr Baloch was no more, his kindness, humility, noble ideas and contributions to language and folk literature will never be forgotten.

The gathering was arranged by the Pakistan Intellectual Forum (PIF) on the eve of his third death anniversary, which will be commemorated on Sunday.

They said that Dr Baloch was truly a great son of Sindh.

Prof Dr Qasim Rind said Dr Baloch was a dynamic leader and loyal to the land, language, literature and national conscience. “He feared God and loved humanity,” he said.

Noted writer Dr Khadim Hussain Soomro said the late Dr Baloch was amongst the great Pakistani scholars, historians, researchers and educators who quietly provided guidance to many leading scholars and researchers to conduct research on language, literature and the folk wisdom of the Indus Valley Civilisation. “This he did without publicity, which is a shining example of one of his most notable qualities — humility.”

Hashim Abro of the PIF said, “Dr Baloch was a versatile scholar, prolific writer, innate researcher and distinguished academician and educationist.

“He was a national and world asset. It is impossible to pay too high a tribute to such an exceptional human being in a brief literary gathering.”

Abro proposed that the Sindh government establish a university in Baloch’s name, either in his home district or any other appropriate place in the province, besides initiating three scholarships in fields related to languages and literature, and education for deserving students and researchers.

Prof Ali Sabri said, “Dr Baloch gained international prominence for his work in sociolinguistics and mother-tongue education. He was indeed a prominent intellectual.”

Published in The Express Tribune, April 6^th, 2014.