It’s ‘living dangerously’ for Hindus in Pakistan
20 May 2013 5:53 PM IST
Though Hindus have richly contributed in the economic prosperity and development of Pakistan’s restive Balochistan province since pre-partition days, they are at present faced with the dilemma of survival and living ‘dangerously’.
Historically, it is not clear in documents to assert how and when Hindus originally settled in Balochistan.
But the Balochistan-based Baloch and Hindu historians and writers agree that Hindus have been living here since time immemorial along with Buddhists, according to columnist Muhammad Akbar Notezai of the Daily Times.
He says Hindus ruled Balochistan before the invasion of the Arabs in 712 A.D.
In his article, ‘The Balochistan Hindus’ dilemma’, Notezai says these days ‘Hindus are considered low caste. They are treated unequally and as second grade citizens. They are living isolated lives in their separate localities. They do not have the right to vote. The standard of their children’s education is abysmal.’
In Balochistan, Hindus have two ancient sacred places - the Hinglaj Shrine in Lasbela district, and Kali Devi, dedicated to Goddess Kali, in Kalat town.
During partition, communal riots were rampant in the subcontinent but Hindus lived harmoniously and peacefully in the princely state of Balochistan, which was under Yar Muhammad Khan, the chief ruler of the Kalat state. He respected the indigenousness of Hindus while giving them economic and religious freedom. Thus, the Hindus did not leave Balochistan during partition of the subcontinent.
Though Hindus lived amicably with the Baloch and Pashtuns, many had to leave Balochistan’s Pashtun belt to settle in Baloch-populated areas or migrated to India after partition. In 1941, the Hindu population was 54,000 in Balochistan’s Pashtun belt which soon dwindled by as much as 93 per cent after 1947.
Historically, it is not clear in documents to assert how and when Hindus originally settled in Balochistan.
But the Balochistan-based Baloch and Hindu historians and writers agree that Hindus have been living here since time immemorial along with Buddhists, according to columnist Muhammad Akbar Notezai of the Daily Times.
He says Hindus ruled Balochistan before the invasion of the Arabs in 712 A.D.
In his article, ‘The Balochistan Hindus’ dilemma’, Notezai says these days ‘Hindus are considered low caste. They are treated unequally and as second grade citizens. They are living isolated lives in their separate localities. They do not have the right to vote. The standard of their children’s education is abysmal.’
In Balochistan, Hindus have two ancient sacred places - the Hinglaj Shrine in Lasbela district, and Kali Devi, dedicated to Goddess Kali, in Kalat town.
During partition, communal riots were rampant in the subcontinent but Hindus lived harmoniously and peacefully in the princely state of Balochistan, which was under Yar Muhammad Khan, the chief ruler of the Kalat state. He respected the indigenousness of Hindus while giving them economic and religious freedom. Thus, the Hindus did not leave Balochistan during partition of the subcontinent.
Though Hindus lived amicably with the Baloch and Pashtuns, many had to leave Balochistan’s Pashtun belt to settle in Baloch-populated areas or migrated to India after partition. In 1941, the Hindu population was 54,000 in Balochistan’s Pashtun belt which soon dwindled by as much as 93 per cent after 1947.
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