As a fan of Tamil culture and literature, and armed with a decent understanding of the India's great Dravidian language, this writer was keen to hear spoken
Brahui, in an attempt to at least decode a few words.
The AIOU is only University in the country that provides learning facilities in regional languages, Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashto, Balochi,
Brahui and Saraiki at the same time.
Turkmen (3%), Aimaq (4%), Baluch (2%), and small communities of
Brahui, Nuristani, Pashaie, Pamiri, Khirgiz, and Qizilbash are also represented.
In the end, the
Brahui army did not go to Maskat to help Saiad Sultan, but at length Mir Naseer Khan lent him Gwadar on trust.
However, like Shah Jahan, Modi wanted to speak about Balochistan - the land where the Baloch,
Brahui and Pashtun reside.
Seventy-five percent of Baluchi and
Brahui speaking parents have children who live in an absolute poverty.
The other smaller ethnic groups include Turwalis, Kafiristanis, Burusho, Hindko,
Brahui, Kashmiris, Khowar, Shina, and the Kalsh, etc..
1.1.1
Brahui is primarily spoken in Balochistan Province of Pakistan, in a belt running through the
Brahui Hills from near Quetta through Kalat and up to Las Bela, and in adjacent areas of Afghanistan and in pockets in eastern Iran, as far as the Marv oasis in Turkmenistan.
The lower high land is formed by the slope of the Suliaman Range on the east and Central
Brahui Range and the Kirthar Range further in the south, running in north-south direction ( Ahmad, 1992:3).
Swidler who studied
Brahui shepherds in Baluchistan, suggests that concerns of expediency and convenience set upper and lower limits to grazing units (Swidler, 1972).
There are also smaller ethnic groups such as the Kashmiris, Hindkowans, Kalash, Burusho,
Brahui, Khowar, Shina, Balti, and Turwalis, which are mainly found in the northern parts of the country.
(36) Also, with distinct languages and dozens of sub-dialects, non-Pakhtun tribes of Baluchis, Ketranis, Nuristan,
Brahui, Munjis, Chitralis, Shinas, Gujaris, Hazaras, Kowars, Savis, Tajiks, Hindkosh, Dameli, Kalamis, Urmurs, Wahkis, the Gawar-Batis, Badeshi, Khirgiz, and Burushos dwell in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border area.
Area: 803,940 sq km (499,545 sq miles) Surface area: Port andamp; Harbors: Capital: Islamabad Official language: Urdu Languages spoken: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun, Urdu, Balochi, English and many other local languages Religions: Islam (97%), Hinduism, Christianity and others (3%) Population: 177 million Punjabi 48%, Sindhi 12%, Siraiki (a Punjabi variant) 10%, Pashtu 8%, Urdu (official) 8%, Balochi 3%, Hindko 2%,
Brahui 1%, English (official; lingua franca of Pakistani elite and most government ministries), Burushaski, and other 8%Official languages: English and Urdu Population below poverty line: 43 million Literacy rate: Male: 63%; Female: 35.2%; Total: 49.9%
Other languages include Gujarati, Memoni, Kutchi, Khowar, Thari, Persian/Dari, Luri and
Brahui. At present, this language speaking strength has been changed very much.
