On one side, the state degrades student unions and organizations, and on the other hand, the youth themselves avoid student politics, calling it a ‘dirty game’ that plays with the psyche of the youth and the nation. We cannot complain to the state for the harshness it practices on Baloch student politics, while the sidelining of Baloch youth amidst the present humanitarian or Baloch crises is justifiable in one sense and illogical in the other. It is justifiable in the sense that student politics in Baloch society is portrayed in a way that only serves a particular group or party’s interests. However, it is illogical because, given the present scenario, they can opt for organizations working solely for common Baloch interests in one way or another. The line of difference is already defined between the two forms of present Baloch student organizations.

Baloch politics has a long route, beginning from the 1920s (while some claim it even earlier) with Abdul Aziz Kurd’s ‘Young Baloch,’ which was banned in the next phase due to adopting radical policies. They continued working underground until Yousuf Aziz Magsi’s Anjuman-i-Ittehad-i-Balochan was formed ten years later. The journey went on to form scientific Baloch political parties, including the strong Baloch pro-independence Kalat State National Party. When Kalat State gained independence in 1947, it had to face ‘forced merger’ in March 1948, after which things turned the other way. However, Baloch youth realized their responsibilities again with various student groups forming in the 1950s and 1960s, including Warna Waninda Gall. Then came the Baloch Students Educational Organization (BSEO) in the 1960s, which paved the way for the formation of the historic Baloch Students Organization (BSO) in the same decade, later turning out to be the mother organization of the Baloch movement in its past and present forms.
Baloch students, on the platform of BSO, shaped the way for Baloch politics as a whole. They supported the National Awami Party (NAP) in the first and last transparent Pakistani general elections in 1970. But after nine months, the NAP government was overturned in Balochistan, and strong Baloch voices were imprisoned, including Nawab Khair Bakhsh Marri, Sardar Atta Ullah Mengal, and Ghous Bakhsh Bizenjo. At such a time when strong Baloch political advocates were imprisoned, BSO took the responsibility to lead the ground and supported the then Baloch insurgency (1973-77).
The thing that disheartens every Baloch student political worker even today is the division of BSO into various spheres. BSO has been a strong advocate of Baloch rights and making strong political cadres, and every party and group has tried to manipulate and influence BSO in their way so that BSO only works as a wing for them. From Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the past to the present-day political parties, BSO, in its various fractions, has been aimed to serve a party interest by becoming the spokesperson for a party, which has negatively affected Baloch student politics, whether in the past or in the present.
Observing the same scenes in the early 2000s, a group went on to form a new sphere of BSO, aiming to radicalize it which, within a decade, attracted a large number of members from across the Baloch areas. However, owing to their radical approach towards the state, the organization received a ban from the state in 2013. As a result, many student leaders and members from the organization had to face state crackdowns and enforced disappearances, among whom Zakir Majeed and Zahid Kurd Baloch are two leading names. From 2013 to 2018, Baloch student politics was occasionally active in the institutions in Baloch areas. The gap not only deprived Baloch students of their political rights but also inserted various diseases (apart from physical diseases). As a consequence, Baloch youth began to deem student politics as a ‘dirty place.’
Within such a time when students were getting ‘misdirected’ politically, the Baloch Students Action Committee (BSAC) emerged as a full-time organization on the surface. It has been working for the political rights of Baloch students within institutions and has begun to recreate Baloch political literature to guide the Baloch students and reshape Baloch student politics. In the last five years, BSAC has been actively engaging more Baloch students in study circles, creating literature (particularly in Baloch national languages), promoting a scientific culture among Baloch students, shaping and working with Baloch students ideologically, conducting sessions and festivals in Baloch areas, and engaging Baloch students in ideological, scientific, educational, and practical debates and actions.
The scope of politics is often eyed from the perspective of others defining student politics. But since its emergence, Baloch students have been defining Baloch politics in their way to move towards a better end. As Baloch, we are never disconnected from the ground realities around us. At a time when Balochistan is going through a massive humanitarian crisis, limiting student politics to institutions is directly tantamount to opposing the Baloch interests.
Misfortune follows us here where an atmosphere of misconception and confusion has prevailed, under which not only Baloch youth are sidelining themselves from actual student politics but are opposing it from the direct end, which is yet another narrative to keep Baloch youth away from the reconstruction of the nation. Because the future of the nation is today’s youth. And without political experiences, they will have a lesser grip over the changing national situations, which will further enhance the chances of the youth not recognizing the actual Baloch politicians who are working for Baloch national interests.
The only possible way to challenge such narratives is for Baloch students not to refrain from standing neutral because neutrality does not exist in societies that do not make their decisions on their own. For a student living in a colony, politics becomes a worship. Even if it is dirty, should we wait for a person from another part of the world to come and make it clean for us? No. We need to understand that no third party will come and do it for us. Baloch youth need to step in to make an impact for national interests and define Baloch student politics as it ought to be on the Baloch ground.