Yarjan Badini’s travelogue offers a compelling exploration of Baloch culture, traditions, and the enduring presence of Baloch communities across Central Asia and beyond. A noted Balochistan-based journalist and editor of Balochi Zind, Badini has long devoted his literary work to tracing the historical journeys of Baloch communities scattered across regions such as Africa, the Middle East, and the Gulf. This book, originally written in Balochi, continues that intellectual pursuit with depth and sensitivity.
Historically, the Baloch nation has never been confined to present-day Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan alone. Centuries-old patterns of migration, trade, inter-tribal conflicts and shifting political landscapes have led to the formation of vibrant Baloch diaspora communities across distant geographies.
Badini’s work situates this reality within a broader historical and cultural framework, offering readers both narrative richness and analytical insight.
Stylistically, the prose is both vivid and reflective. One of the book’s most notable strengths is its nuanced portrayal of cultural resilience. Badini carefully captures how core elements of Baloch identity such as oral storytelling, traditional dress, social fabrics, and a deeply rooted code of hospitality continue to survive even in unfamiliar socio-political environments.
Historically, the Baloch nation has never been confined to present-day Pakistan, Iran, and Afghanistan alone
Importantly, the narrative does not romanticise this preservation; rather, it subtly acknowledges the cultural challenges and economic pressures that complicate the maintenance of identity in an increasingly modernised world.
In the Foreword of the book, the renowned Baloch writer and novelist Muneer Ahmed Badini pays tribute to Yarjan Badini’s literary contributions, noting that his work has left an enduring imprint that time cannot erase. He likens Badini’s intellectual curiosity to that of an explorer, restless, inquisitive, and driven by discovery.
Title: Thàel Kàptagén Méshani Shóhàz
Author: Yarjan Badini
Publisher: Balochi Làbzanki Déwaan, Quetta
ISBN: 9789697-974078
Pages: 136
This observation aptly frames the spirit of the book, which transcends conventional travel writing and unfolds instead as a meditation on identity, memory, and belonging.
One of the most moving aspects of the book is its human dimension. The author recounts the remarkable story of two families, those of Jumma Rakshani and Zardad Rakshani close relatives who had been separated for decades without any contact, living respectively in Nushki (Balochistan) and Turkmenistan.
Through the course of Badini’s journey, they were reunited, offering a powerful reminder of the enduring bonds that link Baloch communities across borders. This episode is not merely anecdotal; it reflects a broader truth about a people whose shared heritage continues to unite them despite geographical distances.
A central theme of the book is the idea that culture transcends geography. The Baloch community in Turkmenistan stands as a powerful example of how identity can endure beyond borders, sustained by collective memory and shared values.
What makes this work particularly compelling is its shift from conventional travel writing toward a deeper ethnographic reflection. The author does not merely observe; he engages, listening to stories, participating in everyday life, and documenting traditions that have withstood the test of time and distance.
Badini in his travelogue, masterfully stay focused mainly on extracting the historical roots of Baloch communities in Turkmenistan, a Central Asian country that was once part of the Soviet Union. The Baloch population is largely concentrated in the southeastern regions of Turkmenistan, particularly around Mary Province and the Lebap region. As the author travels through these lesser-known areas, he observes village life shaped by simplicity, where many people reside in modest wooden-built huts, where agriculture remains a primary source of livelihood echoing older patterns of life once common in Balochistan.
Despite linguistic and cultural assimilation over time, many Baloch descendants continue to preserve their ancestral traditions, especially their renowned hospitality.
The author also notes that during the Soviet era, the Balochi language was taught academically in Turkmenistan, reflecting a unique historical phase of cultural recognition. At the same time, many Baloch families have gradually assimilated linguistically and culturally, often speaking Turkmen and Uzbek alongside Balochi. During his travels in Turkmenistan, the writer also visited Ashgabat University, where he found a number of Baloch students who were academically inclined and keeping pace with the modern education.
Interestingly, tribal distinctions among Central Asian Baloch particularly in Turkmenistan appear less rigid than in Pakistan or Iran. Identity is often expressed more broadly as “Baloch,” rather than through strict tribal affiliations such as Rind, Marri, Bugti, Gichki or Lashari. This broader identification underscores a collective Baloch identity that transcends internal tribal divisions or racial segregation.
The book also situates the Baloch diaspora within a wider historical context. The spread of Baloch populations beyond their traditional homelands can be traced to centuries of migration, trade, and military service, often linked to shifting empires and regional conflicts. Historically recognised as skilled warriors, the Baloch have been praised in classical literature, including by the Persian poet Firdausi, who depicted them as brave and loyal in times of war. During the Mughal period, Emperor Humayun is also known to have sought the support of Baloch tribes in his military campaigns.
Beyond Central Asia, significant Baloch-descendant communities have long existed in Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and parts of East Africa, including Kenya and Tanzania. Oman, in particular, has served as a major centre of Baloch settlement since the 18th century, with many Baloch, especially from Makran serving in the military of the Al-Bu Said rulers, including Sultan Qaboos bin Said al-Said (1940–2020). Even today, a substantial number of Omanis of Baloch origin retain aspects of their linguistic and cultural heritage. Similarly, during Omani rule over Zanzibar in the 19th century, Baloch soldiers were stationed there, many of whom settled permanently and became part of the region’s social fabric.
Ultimately, this travelogue is not merely a journey across landscapes, it is a journey into the resilience of a people and the enduring strength of their cultural identity across time and space. It is a wonderfully compelling and insightful read for those interested in travel writing, anthropology and the dynamics of cultural continuity. By weaving together history, personal narrative, and ethnographic insight, Yarjan Badini offers readers a meaningful reflection on the resilience of Baloch culture in an ever-changing world.